Community

We bring substantial economic benefits to the communities in Canada where we operate by employing people, buying goods and services, collaborating with other businesses, and paying taxes and royalties. But we understand our contribution to society needs to go beyond hard economics. Supporting the communities where we operate is part of how we do business.

We partner with several community organizations via a combination of partnerships, sponsorships, funding and voluntary employee contributions to make a difference in the areas of health, education, arts and culture, and the environment.

Since 2018, we have contributed approximately $16 million to local and regionally relevant initiatives that help build community capacity and sustainability. Some of these contributions have been directly aligned with the nature of our business, such as investing in research and education in the areas of metals recycling and battery electric vehicle technology.

While some partnerships are directly aligned with our business, other partnerships underline our commitments to the local communities where we operate and reflect our values and culture, such as activities promoting health and wellness.

We continue to foster strong, progressive relationships with Indigenous communities near our operations.

Most notably, our Raglan Mine, constructed in a remote, off-grid location, and founded on the first Impact and Benefit Agreement (IBA) with an Indigenous group in Canada, continues to embody, and further evolve, the principles of the Raglan Agreement it signed with five Inuit partners in 1995.

We invite you to watch the various videos below that showcase Tamatumani ("second start" in Inuktitut), which takes its roots in the Raglan Agreement and outlines several initiatives for all employees and contractors to attract and retain the largest possible number of Inuit employees.

Meanwhile, at our Sudbury INO in Ontario, we have a Participation Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding with each of the four Indigenous communities surrounding our operations that are built on mutual respect, integrity and transparency, and serve as a foundation for working relationships. These communities include the:

• Wahnapitae First Nation 
• Sagamok Anishnawbek
• Métis Nation of Ontario
• Atikameksheng Anishnawbek.

We’re proud of the work we have carried out with these communities and invite you to read about a few initiatives that have resulted from our relationships with them.

Once a mine, smelter or refinery closes its operation in Canada, we uphold our environmental and community commitments by undertaking the closure process in accordance with all regulatory and corporate requirements.

Beyond meeting regulatory requirements, the closing of a mine means the closing of an important chapter in the community where it takes place. In 2022, our Matagami Mine officially wrapped up its operations in the small community of nearly 1,400 residents in northern Quebec and a fitting celebration was in order to acknowledge the end of an era.

Further to Matagami Mine, Glencore Canada looks after a significant legacy of closed sites. These sites—over 35 in North America—are mostly located in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Brenda Mine, Brunswick Smelter and Matagami Mine are just a few examples.

These sites developed a highly skilled and mobile workforce, whose skills were, and still are, recognized around the world.
 

We are fortunate to have a deep history and connection to the communities we have helped build across Canada and are eager to continue to help build them into the future.