Why We Mine

It’s no secret the mining sector has experienced some recruitment challenges over the years. Things like public perception and a lack of trust, which we’ve explored in previous episodes, certainly deserve some of the blame. But if we’re going to ensure we have the materials we need for the green energy transition, the industry needs an influx of fresh talent. 

In this season finale episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley sits down with three young up-and-comers from the University of British Columbia’s Geological Engineering program for a frank conversation about the pros and cons of a career in modern mining. They also discuss how the appeal has grown in recent years as the industry evolves, both technologically and philosophically. Finally, Robin is joined by Doctor Charlotte Gibson, the Associate Head of The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University, to find out what schools are doing to put young people on the path to a career in mining, and what they could be doing better.

What is the role of Indigenous Peoples in the global race to secure the critical minerals we need for the green energy transition? And how can the mining industry and Indigenous communities work together to forge an equitable future?

In this episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley speaks with two people with an intimate understanding of the nuanced relationship between Indigenous communities and the mining industry: Christy Smith — Senior Vice President of Indigenous Engagement and Human Environment at Falkirk Environmental Consultants, and John Desjarlais — Executive Director of the Indigenous Resource Network. Together, they tackle some important questions, like where trust has been broken in the past? They also discuss the “Seven Generations” mindset with respect to resource projects, and explore how that way of thinking can further these important relationships, now and for decades to come.

Please note: This episode includes some sensitive topics, including trauma, suicide, and residential schools. If you or anyone you know is facing mental health issues, you can find resources HERE. You can also click these links to learn more about the work of the Indigenous Resource Network and Falkirk Environmental Consultants.

It’s one of the first metals human beings ever mined, and the first to be smelted, cast into molds, and alloyed with another metal. And today, copper has become just as important to humankind as it was to those early Sumerian, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations. But why is it so critical, and why do we need so much of it?

In this episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley explores copper’s pivotal role in the green energy transition, and why we need to mine more of it in the next 30 years than we have in the past 5,000. With the help of Professor Shaun Barker, the Director of the Mineral Deposit Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, and Tyler Mitchelson, a Senior Vice President at Teck, Robin also learns why copper is so unique, what the mining industry is doing to meet the growing need, and why this is a challenge we can’t simply recycle our way out of. 

The term “critical minerals” has been getting tossed around a lot lately. Most people know that certain elements are essential to many modern conveniences and technologies we take for granted, like our smartphones and electric cars. But which metals are we talking about exactly, why are they so important to the green energy transition, how much of them do we need, and what’s the mining industry’s role in helping meet that demand?

In this episode of Why We Mine, host Robin Stickley explores the growing global demand for elements like lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, graphite, and zinc, with the help of Dr. Peter Tom Jones, Director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals in Belgium. She also speaks with Mark Zacharias, the Executive Director of Clean Energy Canada, to find out why governments around the world, including Canada, are crafting specific strategies to ensure they have adequate access to these metals in the future.

When it comes to how industries are portrayed in pop culture, mining companies probably wouldn't make the Top 5 list of the villains everyone loves to hate - but they might make the Top 10. From science fiction tentpoles like Dune, Avatar, and Star Wars, to TV shows like The Expanse and True Detective, and even fantasy franchises like The Lord of the Rings, characters and companies that mine are often depicted in a less-than-flattering way.

In this second season premiere episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley delves into the sticky stereotype with the help of geologist, mining futurist, and podcast host Emily King. They discuss why the perception is so pervasive, and how the mining industry can change the narrative. Robin also speaks with the leader of a “real life” mining town, Mayor Robin Smith of the District of Logan Lake, British Columbia, to learn how her community has benefited from mining in the past, and how that partnership will continue to pay dividends for decades to come — despite what you might see on the silver screen.

What is trust? How do you measure it? And more importantly, how do you earn it back once you’ve lost it? Those three questions are at the root of a growing conversation within the mining industry.

In this episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley sits down with Rohitesh Dhawan, the President and CEO of the International Council on Mining and Metals, who delivered some straight talk to the industry: it has a trust issue on its hands. Together, they explore the origins of that trust gap, and the importance of empathizing and engaging with skeptics. Robin also hears from Katie Fedosenko, Teck’s Director of ESG Engagement, Asia and Europe, to learn how the mining industry is evolving to be a better listener, and how companies are actively working to earn public trust, to help further society’s shared goals related to the green energy transition.

What are critical minerals and why are they so important to the green energy transition? How can the mining industry work with communities, including Indigenous Peoples, to foster trust and further Reconciliation? And why does mining always seem to get a bad rap in movies and TV shows?

Those are just a few of the big questions at the heart of season two of Why We Mine as host Robin Stickley explores the mining industry’s role in our economy, society, and future. 

And she’ll have plenty of help, from the head of the International Council on Mining and Metals to the Director of the prestigious KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals. Robin will also sit down with the next generation of miners to find out what attracted them to the industry, as well as what the sector needs to do better to ensure it has the fresh talent it needs going forward.

What happens after a mine site closes? We all know mining disrupts land, so proper land reclamation is a critical part of the process. Modern mining companies aren’t just cleaning up after themselves. The goal is to leave an area better, stronger, and more diverse than they found it.

We talk to Carleigh Whitman, Director of Environment at Teck Resources, about how the industry prepares a site for restoration long before it's mined, and how that process continues to evolve to meet local and global climate goals. Additionally, Daniel Desjarlais, Sales and Marketing Manager at Twin Sisters Native Plant Nursery, reveals why planting native plants and flora is the best thing for former mining sites...and why the days of spreading grass seed and planting conifers are officially over. It's time to hear how we're making the world better than we found it...one seedling at a time!

The world is a collection of global communities, which begs the question: How do mining companies give back and invest in the places they operate? The process of investing in these communities has changed, but how? To answer that question, we'll speak to Amparo Cornejo, Vice President, South America at Teck about programs and initiatives at work in Chile and Herman Urrejola, Social Management and Communities Director at Teck Chile about Teck's work on the ground.

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Water. It's an essential resource for people, communities, and the environment, and it’s also critical to the mining process. We talk to Laura Volden, Hydrogeochemist from SRK Consulting, about the science behind water's role in mining and Chris Kennedy, Director of Water at Teck, about how sustainable mining practices are elevating the conversation. It's more complex, intricate, and nuanced than you ever imagined...

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Copper has long been used in cooking, roofing, and making beautiful jewelry. It’s also a key component in the transition to an electrified future, and its antimicrobial superpower is the focus of scientific study. As copper works behind the scenes to stop the spread of germs, what will it mean for public health over the next hundred years? We talk to Dr. Marthe Charles, Head Of Division Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control at Vancouver Coastal Health, about the role of copper in public health and Catherine Adair, Manager of Community Development at Teck about their work to ensure that Copper Stops the Spread.

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The future is here. It's emerging faster than we can keep up with. We talk to Chris Adachi, Director of Climate Change at Teck, about the demand for more resources to power the exploding electric vehicles sector, and the challenges with charging everything from cars to fleets of buses. We also talk to Mark Rabin, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer at Portable Electric, about the green future and how we’ll transition to clean energy. Join us as we explore these questions and their complex answers!

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When was the last time you stopped to think about all of the components that make up every single product you use each day? From the device you’re reading an email on to your favorite kitchen appliance, mining touches every aspect of your life. And yet, so often we don’t connect the importance of the products of mining to our modern existence. Is it time to rethink our attitude towards mining? We talk to Professor Brett Gilley, also known as the “GeoDude,” about how the natural world supports our everyday lives, and Greg Brouwer, Teck's Senior Vice President of Technology and Innovation, about how mining companies are evolving to ensure the industry meets the technological demands of the present and the future.

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Join our host and journalist Robin Stickley as she digs into some fascinating conversations about what, how, and Why We Mine. Think about it - practically everything around you that isn’t born or grown is mined. The toothpaste you brush with every morning, the vehicle you use to get around, even the screen you’re reading this on right now contain minerals extracted from the earth. As the climate warms and we race for sustainable solutions, we know you’re asking questions: How can mining help us hit our emissions targets by 2050? How do we continue to build an inclusive workforce and prosperous communities? How will we sustainably mine enough copper for the all the electric cars? Robin explores the answers and takes a closer look at Canada’s innovative mining technologies and community-driven approaches to ensure a sustainable future for everyone.If you want to understand more about “Why We Mine,” this podcast by Teck Resources is for you.