People & Places
Eric Goss, Superintendent, Maintenance Quebrada Blanca Phase 2
Andrés Castillo, Senior Geologist, Highland Valley Copper
Fernie, British Columbia, Rob Klein, Senior Engineer, Projects, Water Quality Management, Sparwood office
Bern, Switzerland, Angelique Rosenthal, Environmental Engineer, Trail Operations
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Eric Goss
Superintendent, Maintenance
Quebrada Blanca Phase 2
When did you start at the company, and at which site/office?
I started working for Teck in 2008 at Trail Operations as a Maintenance Engineer. I did a short rotation at Elkview Operations in 2010, and have also done some collaborative work at Red Dog and Highland Valley Copper. I am currently working in the Santiago office as part of the QB2 Operational Readiness team.
Could you provide a brief description of what you do in your role?
In my current role, we are building the maintenance program for QB2. It’s very exciting in that it is a greenfield start-up so we have the opportunity to build in best practices from the start.
What is your favourite part about your job?
My favourite part of my job is definitely the people I get to work with. Some of my best friends I have I met through work at Teck.
What is your most memorable moment working at Teck to date?
The most memorable moment for me is the 2014 KIVCET major shutdown at Trail Operations. It was really neat seeing people come together in a high-pressure job to make great things happen.
What is your favourite activity outside of work, and why?
My favourite activity outside of work is spending time in the outdoors with my wife and three sons. We spend a lot of time camping, fishing and hiking.
Andrés Castillo
Senior Geologist
Highland Valley Copper
When did you start at the company, and at which site/office?
I started in 2006 in Exploration, based in the Santiago office. I had the opportunity to work at Quebrada Blanca from 2008 to 2011 and again in 2013, then at Carmen de Andacollo in 2014 and in northern B.C. in 2015.
Could you provide a brief description of what you do in your role?
I support the HVC geology team by providing geoscience and exploration expertise related to this type of copper deposit.
What is your favourite part about your job?
Working with different groups of people—departments, nationalities, cultures—because it’s amazing what we all can learn from each other. Also, the advances related to innovation and technology at Teck in geosciences are exciting.
What is your most memorable moment working at Teck to date?
I had the opportunity to explore two incredible places by helicopter—Fenix mountain range in Chile and Schaft Creek in northern B.C. I could not believe I was seeing places no one had ever been before!
What is your favourite activity outside of work, and why?
My wife, Romina, and I are relatively new to Kamloops and are currently adapting to the culture here. We have a couple of Chilean friends who we like to catch up with on the weekends.
Fernie, British Columbia
Rob Klein, Senior Engineer, Projects, Water Quality Management
Sparwood office
What is the area’s point of pride?
The mountains—if you don’t like playing outside in the mountains, Fernie isn’t for you!
Is there anything the area is famous for?
Fernie is famous for winter—the Elk Valley is nicknamed Snow Valley. That said, the local saying is “come for the winter, stay for the summer”. I moved here for the skiing, but now summer is my favourite time of year.
What is the area’s best-kept secret?
Heiko’s Trail—it’s a world-class hike.
If I ever moved, I would come back to Fernie just for this hike! Another good one for kids is the Montane hut; it has a great view and is a quick, low-grade 45 minute hike.
What is your favourite restaurant in the community?
It’s in my kitchen when I’m making pizza with friends, but if I had to pick a restaurant, I love coffee and breakfast with my wife at Mugshots or the Blue Toque. But the best drink in the world is a Mayan Mocha from the Beanpod.
What is a typical weekend like there?
In the summer it’s the bike park with the kids in the morning, then finding a beach in the afternoon, then a barbecue on the deck.
Bern, Switzerland
Angelique Rosenthal, Environmental Engineer
Trail Operations
What is this holiday location best known for?
Cheese, chocolate, the Swiss Alps, and trains that run on time!
What time of year do you like to visit?
I like to go in the winter, but it is beautiful at all times of year.
What is your favourite thing to do while on holiday here?
Bern (and actually the whole country) is so picturesque! My favourite thing is to travel to the Swiss Alps for a day hike or to ski. Mountain destinations are very close to the city and accessible by transit. The weekend markets are also lovely to walk through, and the Old City in Bern is beautiful.
Is there a local food specialty or restaurant you recommend trying?
Try some fondue, of course! There are many varieties of fondue by region. In Bern, the cheese shop zur Chäshütte sells an excellent fondue mix.
What is special to you about this holiday location?
My sister and my entire extended family live in and around Bern, so my vacations to Switzerland are full of family time—catching up over cups of coffee and family meals. Seeing my family is the best part of visiting Switzerland.
