A look at Teck’s COVID-19 response and relief efforts making an impact in the communities in which we operate.
In April, Teck announced the creation of a $20 million fund to support COVID-19 response and future recovery efforts across a range of critical initiatives. Across our sites and offices, we’ve seen incredible work being done in support of local COVID-19 relief efforts, with many examples of our people embodying the spirit of reaching out to help one another. Here, we highlight a few of the ways Teck’s operations have reached out to their communities during these challenging times, with work on more initiatives already underway.
Red Dog
In Kotzebue, Alaska, volunteers have sewn over 50 double cloth masks with a filter pocket and donated them to the hospital and essential workers in the community. Red Dog Operations helped their efforts by donating thread, elastic and 22 bolts of cotton fabric to be distributed to 11 communities in northwestern Alaska.
Highland Valley Copper
Highland Valley Copper (HVC) identified 150 N95 masks that could be donated without compromising the health and safety of HVC employees. These masks were delivered to Interior Health to support frontline healthcare workers.
HVC is also working with local business around prevention measures for COVID-19.
When Chad Lindsey, USW local 7619 Health and Safety co-chair at HVC, learned that Kamloops Forager Distilling Company had begun producing hand sanitizer for local non-profit organizations, he made inquiries and found that supply was available for purchase. Chad brought this local procurement opportunity forward to HVC’s Health and Safety Superintendent, Ryan Thomson, and HVC’s Superintendent of Materials Management, Scott Hacquoil, and soon after the locally-made hand sanitizer product was added to the mine’s current supply.
In addition, HVC paid for the production of an additional 100 liters of hand sanitizer, produced through a collaboration between Forager and After Dark Distillery. This new supply was then distributed to local communities of interest and non-profit organizations.
Trail
At Trail Operations, banners showing support for frontline workers as part of its Take Heart campaign were posted on external fencing in areas visible to the public, as well as around internal locations for employees and third-party transport drivers to see. Additionally, the Trail Operations team placed Take Heart advertisements in community newspapers and on the local radio station, thanking frontline workers.
The operation also made more than $72,000 in community investment donations to a number of regional organizations directly impacted by COVID-19, as well as donations of medical PPE to the Interior Health Authority, an emergency dental clinic, a community organization supporting at-risk clients, and a seniors’ care facility.
Steelmaking Coal
Teck’s operations in the Elk Valley have provided a wealth of support to their surrounding communities in a variety of forms, including:
- Helping secure and deliver food to the Crowsnest Pass Food Bank, the Shuswap Food Box program, and through the Crowsnest Pass Meals on Wheels program
- Donating medical PPE to Interior Health, the Elk Valley Regional Hospital, emergency responders and dental clinics
- Donating medical PPE and several iPads for residents to use to communicate with their families via video to Lilac Terrace, a seniors’ residence in Sparwood; medical PPE and physical distancing decals to Rocky Mountain Village, a seniors’ residence in Fernie; and hand sanitizer to the Crowsnest Pass Community Support Society
- Supplying laptops to the Shuswap Indian Band administration staff to support work-from-home physical distancing
- Providing the use of Teck tents to the Elk Valley Regional Hospital and other locations
- Providing physical distancing decals to local businesses, municipalities and organizations
Carmen de Andacollo
The Andacollina Teck Community (CAT) – an association comprised of 14 community organizations, local authorities and Teck – came together and approved the redirection of $400 million of their resources previously designated for other projects towards COVID-19 crisis relief in the region around Carmen de Andacollo (CDA) Operations.
The first part of this funding will be allocated to health and social assistance programs for the neighbouring community of Andacollo, with special emphasis on supporting the most vulnerable groups. The second stage of funding will be directed to economic recovery initiatives.
Implementing these measures will be a collaborative effort between CAT, the municipality of Andacollo and the regional health authorities. A number of steps have already been taken, including the purchase of healthcare supplies and PPE, as well as the donation of 3,000 boxes of staple foods for distribution to families in need in the community.
Paulo Barraza, Community Relations Manager at CDA, expressed his gratitude for the solidarity among the members of the organization in their decision: “We believe that in this moment we must come together in our emergency response and prevention efforts. The health and safety of our people always comes first.”
Teck Community Response Fund
Teck has created a community investment fund for local organizations in areas where Teck operates that are directly involved with COVID-19 response or those directly experiencing impacts from COVID-19. A portion of this fund will be specifically dedicated to support for Indigenous communities, in addition to Teck expediting payments to local and Indigenous suppliers to support their ongoing economic resiliency.
To learn more or to apply for the fund, visit: communityinvestment.teck.com/community.
Team Teck Community Giving
Employees who are making donations to support their communities are also encouraged to make use of the Team Teck Community Giving program contribution matching, which has been increased to support COVID-19 relief efforts.
Team Teck Community Giving is a company-wide, employee-directed program that provides an equivalent amount to employee donations made to eligible community organizations of their choice. Teck will contribute up to a maximum of CAD $3,000 per calendar year for each eligible employee, up to the total program budget amount. The minimum donation for an equivalent contribution is CAD $30. All donations must be actual and not pledged; a receipt is required and may be requested.
To request a donation match, visit: giving.teck.com.
For questions or more information regarding Team Teck Community Giving, please contact Rachel Dekker or Gustavo Heidtmann.
Doing Our Part
As part of Teck’s $20 million contribution to COVID-19 response, donations include:
- One million masks for healthcare in British Columbia: Working in collaboration with government agencies and utilizing its supply chain network, Teck has procured 1 million KN95 masks to donate to B.C.’s healthcare system.
- Healthcare services in Chile: Teck will support healthcare services in the Tarapacá and Coquimbo regions of Chile, including funding medical supplies, equipment, facilities and professionals at the Iquique hospital; family and primary health services in Pica, Pozo Almonte and Chanavayita; and healthcare services in La Serena.
- Investments in the use of copper in infection prevention initiatives: Through the Copper + Health program Teck will continue to collaborate with public agencies, and is making an additional $1 million available to advance the use of copper products to support infection control and prevention.
- Contributions to Canadian relief efforts: Teck is providing $250,000 to the Canadian Red Cross towards supporting health services and public health in the battle against COVID-19, including the deployment of the Red Cross’s Emergency Response Unit field hospital and the supply of medical equipment.
- Support for international relief efforts: Teck has contributed to international aid efforts, including $500,000 to UNICEF (in collaboration with the World Health Organization Solidarity Response Fund) to provide critical medical and sanitation supplies, equipment and training in over 180 countries, and $250,000 to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to support children in rural communities in China.
