Creating Valuable Partnerships With the Community
Throughout our over 100-year history in Canada we have sought to be a valued member of the communities where we operate by providing financial support in a variety of means.
We acknowledge that we operate on the unceded territories of the Smilq’mixw People, as represented by Upper Similkameen Indian Band and Lower Similkameen Indian Band. The Copper Mountain mine has participation agreements in place with the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and the Lower Similkameen Indian Band as well as support from the town of Princeton and the Province of British Columbia.
Our Local Community Business and Employment Engagement Policy shows our commitment to hiring people and procuring goods and services from local and neighbouring communities to the extent practical.
Our Communities of Interest (COIs) Identification and Engagement Policy defines the procedure for identifying and engaging communities of interest for consultation and addressing issues and/or questions brought forward by the communities of interest.
The Copper Mountain mine hosts the annual Princeton Mining Day, a public event with vendor information booths set up in town to educate the public about the mine and to provide a forum to share information. In addition, Hudbay hosts public tours of the mine with specific information sessions on the mine, mill, maintenance, tailings management, and environmental protection.
Community and Indigenous Support in British Columbia
- Diverse and Inclusive Workforce: Hudbay boasts a workforce in British Columbia that embraces diversity, with 14.3% of employees self-identifying as Indigenous
- Sustainable Mining Commitment: Hudbay’s dedication to Indigenous partnerships and community engagement is underpinned by our “A” rating within the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) framework
- Local Workforce Focus: A majority of our employees come from the local community, and we are actively expanding employment opportunities for local First Nations while emphasizing their growth through internal training and development programs
- Advancing Gender Equality: We are committed to advancing gender equality, and we have made significant strides by increasing female employment within our workforce. Women now constitute 17.1% of the mine workforce, showcasing our commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our operations
- Indigenous Collaboration: Participation agreements with the Upper Similkameen Indian Band and the Lower Similkameen Indian Band reflect our commitment to meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities
- Strong Community Support: The Copper Mountain mine receives robust support from the town of Princeton, surrounding communities and continuous backing from the Province of British Columbia
- Transparent Communication: Hudbay’s unwavering commitment includes transparent communication and the cultivation of mutually beneficial relationships with local communities
- Industry Recognition: Our dedication to training and development is underscored by recognition from the BC Industry Training Authority for our outstanding Industrial Trades development program, a testament to our commitment to skills and career growth
Case studies – social impact
- In November 2021, a state of emergency was declared in the town of Princeton in response to the severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall that caused the Tulameen river to overflow its banks and breach dikes. During this difficult time, Copper Mountain provided mine equipment and rip-rap material to help stabilize the Tulameen River banks while Copper Mountain employees were stationed in town to work with the Emergency Operations centre to coordinate response efforts. Copper Mountain also provided food, water, emergency supplies, heaters, blankets, and mattresses throughout the community
- The British Columbia Training Authority recognized Copper Mountain mine for the excellent Industrial Trades development program and commitment to training apprentices and investing in B.C.’s skilled-labour workforce. As part of this program, Hudbay pays for tuition, textbooks, living-out allowance, and wages for all employees accepted into the apprenticeship program. Since the program’s inception in 2012, apprentices have successfully achieved the Red Seal standard of excellence in various skilled trades