CST Coal - Greenview No 16, Alberta

Courtney I. F.

Originally posted 8 months ago I edited for increased accuracy of what occurred.

I had an incredibly disappointing experience beside CST Coal in Grande Cache. My car broke down (tire pop) right in front of their factory/environmental destruction site, and I was stranded for over four hours. During this time, countless employees that night could clearly see me and my family stuck. Not a single employee stopped to check if we were okay or anything. Even though we were waving them over everytime they'd stare at us.

For a company that continously profits off the land, which was taken through colonization, you'd think they'd show more respect and humanity for the local people of this area. It's disheartening to see such disregard for basic humanity (sadly common mindset amongst settler trades workers towards indigenous people) especially when they owe so much to the land and its original stewards/caretakers. Their lack of compassion and responsibility speaks volumes about their values.
Adding to this, the couple of local Indigenous people they do hire seem to be token hires they use to claim diversity, yet they only get lower positions compared to settlers working at the same site. It’s insulting and emblematic of a deeper lack of respect for the people of this land.

To end this review,
Attached is a photo of a wild fox we suspect your employees have been illegally feeding. While her dad was in and out attempting to mend the vehicle’s tire, my daughter had to keep chasing this fox away as it repeatedly tried to jump into our back seat. Came walking right from the factory.

Overall CST coals lack of compassion, responsibility for its rough roads (as its the only exit that way) , and low/non existent respect for wildlife and first nations locals speaks volumes about their values. I seen a mountain sheep and its baby COVERED in all the black soot just walking through also, it was SO sad to see it's eyes clearly irritated. I can only assume this is why all the wildlife has disappeared that I remember being a youth here. Coal soot exposure is harmful to all living beings around it including plants, and Yet it's freely coating the entire mountains surrounding this area.

Coal soot contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), toxic heavy metals (such as mercury, arsenic, and lead), and other harmful chemicals like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These pollutants can have significant short- and long-term health effects, including:

Respiratory Issues: Inhalation of fine particulate matter can irritate the respiratory system, leading to asthma, bronchitis, and reduced lung function.

Cardiovascular Problems: Particulate matter can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Cancer Risk: PAHs and certain heavy metals in coal soot are known carcinogens, increasing the risk of lung cancer and other cancers.

Neurological Effects: Exposure to heavy metals like mercury and lead can cause neurological damage, particularly in children, affecting cognitive development and behavior.

Premature Death: Long-term exposure to air pollution, including coal soot, has been linked to increased mortality rates due to heart and lung diseases.

General Health Effects: It can worsen pre-existing conditions like diabetes, reduce overall life expectancy, and lead to other chronic health issues.

Vidal B.

Jake B.