Proud Communities Inspiring Conversation

The metallic minerals in this sample include chalcopyrite, bornite and pyrite. These ore minerals are mined for copper and lead, which are essential to our energy transition. They play critical roles in renewable energy storage and electric vehicles.

What looks like a dirty chunk of rock contains the key to our clean low-carbon future! Rocks like this are rare and unusually enriched in elements such as zirconium, niobium, strontium, barium, lithium, and rare earth elements.

Rare earth elements are critical to everything from power generation and aerospace applications to health care and personal electronics.

“Living authentically is incredibly important to me, and I feel very fortunate to live in a progressive country and to have worked for progressive companies. Not everyone has been this lucky, and I am reminded of this when I travel to different countries (both for work and for leisure). We absolutely still need activism so that everyone can be themselves both inside and outside of the workplace. Acceptance is critical: if people are spending energy concealing their true selves, they won’t do as well at their jobs. Besides, diversity drives innovation and gives companies a competitive advantage!”

“As a kid, I searched for dinosaur fossils with my grandad. As an adult, I search for deposits of copper, gold, nickel and other metals we need for everyday life. I am an exploration geologist, and I’m gay. Coming out at work is tough, but its is something that happens over and over again when you get to know a group and they make friendly enquiries about your home life. At that point you have a choice to lie or tell the truth, and hope that, even today, the truth does not ruin – or end – the relationship.

I choose honesty while doing work that I love and think that is important. This is something that my heterosexual colleagues do not have to deal with and it surprises them when I give examples, but discrimination and the potential fall out is still alive and well. It’s not easy but we are all entitled to a safe workplace where we feel comfortable being our whole, true selves and I hope that I can lead by example and be judged by my geological expertise like every other member of a team rather than my marriage to a same-sex partner.”

The spectacular green mineral in this sample is malachite, a secondary copper mineral formed when primary copper minerals are exposed to air and water. 

Copper is essential to our energy transition, playing critical roles in energy storage, electric vehicles and renewable energy.

“I was very lucky in 1985 that Teck gave me the opportunity to manage Silver Standard and that allowed me to manage my destiny. At that time in 1985, one could be terminated from employment for being gay. To attract the talent that we require to discover and mine the sustainable resources for the world, we will need a much larger tent and to open those tent flaps wide to create an inclusive environment where everyone is invited to work and they are respected, valued and empowered, as I have been.”

“Coming out at work was one of the most difficult decisions I made in my early career, largely because at the time, there were no clear and visible signs that made me feel confident I would be accepted as my true self. Being a woman working in a male dominated industry, and an immigrant to Canada, made my decision even more difficult because it was one additional factor that made me stand out as different from most of the people I worked with. 

Creating a work environment that fosters a sense of belonging is extremely important so that everyone, regardless of their cultural background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender can feel safe, confident, and empowered to be their true and authentic selves without fear of judgement or exclusion. I feel very fortunate that my company is openly and visibly supportive of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, making it easier for employees to bring their whole selves to work. For me, personally, not having to hide parts of my identity in my workplace gives me the freedom and energy to focus on the aspects of my job that I enjoy the most, such as contributing to technological innovation and ESG initiatives.”

Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate mineral that ranges from light pink to bright red, surrounded by ore minerals for lead, silver, copper, zinc and others.

Without manganese, we could not make steel, the world’s most important engineering and construction material. Tiny amounts of manganese are critical to steel’s strength, which supports our cars, construction products, refrigerators, washing machines, cargo ships and surgical scalpels.