Watershed Region
Community Organizations Supported in 2024
Watershed
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BC Freshwater Fisheries Society
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Burns Lake Chamber of Commerce
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Carrier Sekani Family Serivces
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Cheslatta Carrier Nation
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Chinook Emergency Services
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Glenannon Community Association
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Lakes District Fall Fair
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Lakes Outdoor Recreation Society (LORS)
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Nadleh Whut'en First Nation
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Nechako Environmental Watershed
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Stewardship Society
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Nechako Valley Rodeo Association
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Omenica Safe House
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Sam's Foundation (Bear Lair Youth Camps)
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Santa's Anonymous
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Skin Tyee Nation
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Stellat'en First Nation
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The Board of Education of School District 91
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The Link Burns Lake
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The NeighbourLink
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Tweedsmuir Recreation Commission
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University of Northern BC - Breaking Barriers
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Vanderhoof Chamber of Commerce
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Vanderhoof International Airshow Society
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Zone 1 Robotics
Foundry Announcement: A New Era for Youth Health Services
We are proud to partner with Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) in bringing a Foundry youth health and wellness centre to Burns Lake. This initiative is part of our $600,000 social investment over three years through the Rio Tinto Aluminium Canada Fund, aimed at improving access to vital health services for youth in the region.
Foundry BC is a province-wide network that provides integrated health and wellness services for young people aged 12-24. These centres offer mental health and substance use support, primary care, peer mentorship, and social services—all under one roof. By making these critical services more accessible, the new Foundry in Burns Lake will provide early support for young people, preventing health challenges from escalating into bigger concerns.
Beyond the in-person services, youth will also have access to the Foundry BC app, where they can schedule virtual counseling appointments, find peer support, and explore a library of wellness resources. This digital access ensures that even young people in remote areas can get the support they need, when they need it.
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In March 2024, CSFS hosted a partnership appreciation event in Burns Lake to recognize the contributions of Rio Tinto and other key supporters of the project. Our Communities and Social Performance team attended the event, reinforcing our commitment to long-term community impact. It was inspiring to hear local leaders speak about the significance of the Foundry initiative—how it will create a safe, welcoming space for young people to seek help without judgment and connect with the resources they need to thrive.
Foundry Burns Lake is an investment in hope, resilience, and a stronger future for young people in the region. The grand opening is set for Q3 2025. At Rio Tinto, we are committed to investing in the well-being of our communities, ensuring that the next generation has the support and resources they need to succeed.
Salmon Fest: Honouring a Vital Tradition
We at Rio Tinto BC Works, took part in the Stellat’en First Nation’s annual Salmon Fest in 2024—an event that celebrates the return of salmon to the Stellaquo River. This gathering is a time for reflection, learning, and strengthening relationships with the communities that have long depended on this vital resource.
Salmon Fest is a powerful reminder of the connection between culture, community, and nature. Salmon have sustained the Stellat’en people for generations, serving as both a cultural symbol and an ecological cornerstone. Being part of this event allowed us to witness firsthand the deep respect and gratitude the community has for the salmon and the Nechako Watershed.
Throughout the event, we had the opportunity to take part in traditional ceremonies, storytelling, and hands-on activities such as drum and rattle making. One of the most significant moments of the festival was the ceremonial return of salmon bones to the river—a sacred practice that symbolizes the completion of the salmon’s life cycle and the community’s commitment to sustainability.
Participating in Salmon Fest was an important step in building meaningful partnerships with our communities. The Stellat’en First Nation has been a key voice in advocating for the health of the Nechako Watershed, and events like this provide an opportunity for open dialogue and collaboration.
As we continue our environmental initiatives while working alongside communities to protect critical ecosystems, ensuring the long-term sustainability of salmon populations remains a shared priority. Salmon Fest reinforced how critical it is to respect and support Indigenous stewardship of the land and water that sustain us.
Investing in Our Future: Sturgeon Interns at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre
We take pride in our ongoing commitment to conservation, sustainability, and community engagement. One of the most rewarding ways we contribute is by supporting summer internship positions at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre (NWSCC). This year, we were thrilled to welcome Jasmine Hamill (Jazzy), Leeam Tivers, Penelope and Kate Roberge, passionate students who spent their summer working at hatchery operations, field research and community outreach and education..
For over a decade, we have funded these internships through the Nechako Environmental Enhancement Fund (NEEF), helping young professionals gain valuable field experience. Sturgeon are a red-listed species at risk, and the NWSCC plays a crucial role in preserving their population. Our interns help with essential tasks like juvenile assessment, broodstock collection, spawning research, and hatchery maintenance.
Jazzy and Leeam jumped right into the action as research intern. For Leeam, who came to Vanderhoof with little knowledge of fish culture, the experience was eye-opening. "I had no idea how much goes into hatchery operations," he shared. Jazzy, who had previous experience working at the Summerland Trout Hatchery, applied her skills to sturgeon conservation. "Sturgeon are so different from other fish. Learning about their life cycle and conservation needs has been incredible."
Swiftwater Rescue Training & Research in the Field
A major milestone in their internship was completing Swiftwater Rescue Training Level 2 in Prince George. This two-day course equipped them with the skills needed to safely operate on the Nechako River, where they assisted in broodstock collection—catching adult sturgeon to use for breeding at the hatchery. Both interns experienced the thrill of catching their first sturgeon, that reinforced the importance of their work.
They also contributed to wild egg collection, an innovative method used to study natural spawning activity in the river. Using specialized egg mats, they helped gather samples from key spawning locations. "It was amazing to be part of something so important," said Jazzy. "Knowing that our work could help future generations of sturgeon survive made every early morning and long day worth it."
Beyond their hatchery work, Jazzy and Leeam represented the NWSCC at public outreach events in Prince George and Vanderhoof, engaging with the community about sturgeon conservation. The highlight of the summer was the Annual Public Sturgeon Release at Riverside Park, where over 900 students from School District 91 came to learn about the Nechako River ecosystem. The event featured speeches from Minister Nathan Cullen, representatives from the District of Vanderhoof, Saik’uz First Nation, and MLA Shirley Bond.
Programs like the Sturgeon Internship support critical conservation efforts while investing in the next generation of environmental stewards pursuing careers in sustainability and wildlife protection.
Strengthening Relationships at the Cheslatta Carrier Nation Campout
At Rio Tinto BC Works, we recognize the deep and lasting impact that the creation of the Nechako Reservoir had on the Cheslatta Carrier Nation. When infrastructure was built to support our operations, the Cheslatta people were forcibly displaced by the Canadian government, and much of their traditional territory was flooded. Today, many Cheslatta members reside within the traditional lands of other nations, making access to their ancestral homeland difficult.
Each year, the Cheslatta Carrier Nation hosts an annual campout on the shores of Cheslatta Lake, providing members with a space to reconnect with their land, language, and cultural traditions. The event has grown into a powerful gathering of community, history, and resilience, with new activities added each year to deepen cultural connections.
The 2024 campout was a vibrant and meaningful event, filled with activities designed to honour and preserve Cheslatta heritage. Community members participated in drum and rattle making, beadwork, language lessons, and a fishing derby, while elders shared knowledge through storytelling and guided tours of historical sites by water.
A key moment of the gathering is Partner’s Day, when the Cheslatta Nation invites Rio Tinto and other partners to join them in immersing in their traditions and learning more about their history and culture. We are honoured to attend this event each year, and our presence is a reflection of how far our relationship with the Cheslatta has come. Our participation is an opportunity to listen, learn, and strengthen our commitment to reconciliation. As we continue to build trust and collaborate on shared priorities, we remain committed to supporting Indigenous voices, respecting their history, and working together.
