People & Places
Keith Klimchuk, Senior Environmental Specialist, Trail Operations
Solange Dussaubat, Superintendent, Water Resources, QB2, Santiago office
Huatacondo, Chile, William Albornoz, Heavy Equipment Operator, Quebrada Blanca Operations
Noatak, Alaska, Eli Mitchell, Surface Operator VI, Red Dog Operations
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Keith Klimchuk
Senior Environmental Specialist
Trail Operations
When did you start at the company, and at which site/office?
I started as a chemistry co-op student in 1988 at Trail Fertilizer Operations (TFO). The TFO Manager at the time was Peter Hemmes. He took an interest in my academics and co-op work terms and offered co-op placements at different locations throughout Trail Operations to support my program. I took him up on the offer and completed four work terms at Trail.
What other sites/offices have you worked at?
I work at Trail Operations but I have conducted project work at other sites, including pond coal recovery test work at Fording River and Elkview operations.
Could you provide a brief description of what you do in your role?
I am a Senior Environmental Specialist at Trail Operations and the Air Lead. My role involves managing the three air permits at Trail that include specific monitoring requirements for air emissions at site and in the receiving environment. It also includes project work, support for operations and other reporting.
What is your favourite part about your job?
Collaboration at site and across Teck sites. Bringing together a variety of skills, knowledge and experiences contributes to great ideas and ultimately better outcomes for project work and for advancing opportunities.
What is your most memorable moment working at Teck to date?
Being part of a team that developed a business to treat end-of-life electronics at Trail. Electronics that were no longer being used were separated into material streams at a primary processing facility, with select material streams sent to Trail. We were the first downstream processor to recycle end-of-life electronics in Western Canada, and our work catalyzed recycling electronics in Canada and the rest of North America. This work earned us an Excellence Award for Innovation as a team in 2008.
What is your favourite activity outside of work, and why?
Fitness. I roll out of bed and into my gym. I started weightlifting when I was 12 to benefit my competitiveness in sports including hockey, swimming and tennis. I learned through trial and error. My boys started early as well. We share this passion for fitness and sports, and participate individually and as a group at times.
Solange Dussaubat
Superintendent, Water Resources, QB2
Santiago office
When did you start at the company, and at which site/office?
I started at Teck in 2015 at the Santiago office as Water Leader for the Environmental Impact Assessment for QB2.
Could you provide a brief description of what you do in your role?
Currently, I support all aspects of water management related to Quebrada Blanca (QB) and the construction of QB2, as well as with the environmental and permitting team working on the project, and for other projects in the region, such as NuevaUnion and Zafranal.
What is your favourite part about your job?
I really enjoy the opportunities I have within my work to interact with different teams and departments at Teck. I like that with that, new things are happening every day, which bring both new goals and new challenges—and it means that I never get bored!
What is your most memorable moment working at Teck to date?
The two most memorable moments during my time at Teck were receiving the Environmental Permit for QB, and then QB2. We’d worked very hard and waited a long time for both, so it was a very exciting result.
What is your favourite activity outside of work, and why?
I love going to Algarrobo Beach. I find it relaxing, getting outside and enjoying the beautiful landscape and nature, and it allows me to rest and return to work re-energized.
Huatacondo, Chile
William Albornoz
Heavy Equipment Operator
Quebrada Blanca Operations
What is the point of pride for people in the area?
We’re a very close community, and we’re very proud of our people and the events we have together, like religious celebrations. In Huatacondo there are just a few families, but we’re always working to help each other out and support one another.
Is there anything in particular the area is famous for?
There is a lot of remarkable history here, such as petroglyphs, which are human and animal-like figures that early people carved in the rock, the petrified waterfalls formed by water with high mineral content, and even dinosaur footprints, which are 140 to 150 million years old.
What is the best-kept secret in the area?
There is an ancient lost city located just a few kilometres from Huatacondo. It´s a prehistoric village that has been dated back to the year 960 BC. You can still see remains of houses, canals and other structures and artifacts.
What is your favourite restaurant in the community?
There are no restaurants, but there are local people who cook for tourists. I recommend my mother’s house, Nelly González—she often hosts guests who are staying in the region. The typical dish served at this type of dinner in Huatacondo is roasted pork.
What is a typical weekend there, and is there anything else you would like to tell people about your community?
On the weekends, people like to play soccer and spend time together. Huatacondo is generally a happy place and we´re always inviting people to our town. People who visit for the first time say that local people are very friendly and warm with tourists.
Noatak, Alaska
Eli Mitchell
Surface Operator VI
Red Dog Operations
What is the area’s point of pride?
The Noatak River, and the abundance of Native subsistence food we gather from the river and land all year round, including fish, caribou, moose, grizzly bear, berries, waterfowl, roots, sourdock, and medicinal plants. In the winter, we also harvest fur for warm parkas from wolves, wolverine, otters and muskrats.
Is there anything the area is famous for?
Nature’s beauty – trees, canyons and crystal clear water in the fall. Rafters come from all over the world to float more than 150 miles from upriver down to our community. They have unending stories after experiencing our backyard playground.
What is the area’s best-kept secret?
I would say our best-kept secret is the scenic views all along the river and all the untouched prehistoric sites and valuables in the area.
What is your favorite restaurant in the community?
We don’t have a restaurant in our community, but we do enjoy indulging in all the subsistence food that we set on our tables: fish, caribou, moose, bear, whale muktuk, beluga maktak, seal oil with all the trimmings, salmonberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, and Eskimo ice cream, topped off with tundra tea.
What is a typical weekend like there?
For the ones who have a job, the weekend is their only chance to go out and harvest for the long winter, so that’s when it’s very busy all along the river in the spring, summer and fall. Some families who don’t have transportation will help and follow others to harvest and divide the catch.
