Northern Mine Safety Champs For the third year in a row, the Gahcho Kué Mine Rescue Team has won the Northwest Territories/Nunavut Regional Surface Mine Rescue Competition.
This time out at the 62nd annual competition, Gahcho Kué topped five other teams competing. Gahcho Kué captured the difficult Surface Obstacle, Surface Written, Surface Smoke, and Surface Practical Bench and had high scores in all the other events to repeat as Top Overall Surface Team. The team followed up its Northern result by claiming the National Western Region Overall Surface event at the biennial mine rescue competition in Fernie, B.C.
Gahcho Kué earned the overall title by winning two of the seven surface events, including the challenging Surface Smoke Search and First Aid challenges, placing second in the Fire competition, and scoring well in all other categories.
At the event, 10 mine rescue teams from across western Canada and the northwestern United States took part from Sept. 6-7.
Nunavut Mining Awards – During the 2019 Nunavut Mining Symposium, the Nunavut Mining Awards were presented to recognize excellence in the territorial mining and exploration industry.
Each year, the awards are considered for review in the categories of Corporate, Individual, Government and Trailblazer.
The 2019 winners included: Corporate Award – Sarliaq Holdings Inc.; Government Award – NRCAN CNGO; Individual Award – Teresa Meadows; and, Trailblazer Award – Actua.
Nine women share US $43,200 in De Beers Scholarships – De Beers Group has awarded US $43,200 in post-secondary scholarships to nine Canadian women as part of its commitment to advancing women and girls in its producer countries.
The scholarships, each worth US $4,800, will help seven recipients in the NWT, one in Nunavut and one in Northern Ontario pursue education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and STEM-like disciplines during the 2019-20 school year.
“By reducing financial barriers and showcasing the importance of education in communities where we operate, especially in STEM and STEM-like fields, we hope to encourage more women to consider careers which are traditionally dominated by men,” said Mpumi Zikalala, Managing Director of De Beers Group Managed Operations. “Diversity is a cornerstone for healthy and successful communities and companies alike.”
Amaruq Whale Tail opens with $1M Baker legacy – Agnico Eagle commemorated the official opening of its new Amaruq Whale Tail project by announcing a $1 million donation to four community initiatives that will improve the quality of life for people in Baker Lake.
1) A donation of $500,000 over the next five years to the Baker Lake Abluqta Society to establish a food bank and help address food insecurity in the region.
2) A donation of $250,000 to the Hamlet of Baker Lake Fire Department to purchase a garage to house and secure its new ambulance.
3) A donation of $150,000 to Baker Lake Search & Rescue for the acquisition of sophisticated drone technology and other equipment.
4) A donation of $100,000 to Baker Lake’s Department of Recreation for the purchase of a new sound and lighting system.
NWT Honours Its Own – The NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines, in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories, handed out the Northwest Territories Mining and Exploration (MAX) Awards last fall. Winners included: Distinguished Service, Gren Thomas – explorer and mine finder; Economic Leadership, De Beers Canada – Gahcho Kué diamond mine operator; Environmental & Social Responsibility, Ni Hadi Xa – environmental monitor for Gahcho Kué mine; Indigenous Achievement, Cece Hodgson-McCauley – development and community supporter; and, Special Achievement (shared), Diavik Dike Design, Construction and Operations; and, the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Ice Road.
The NWT MAX awards recognize individuals, organizations and accomplishments that have made major contributions to a variety of aspects of the territorial minerals industry.
Yellowknifer Competes in Russia –
In many ways Heather MacKenzie is a leader. The Diavik instrumentation technician who lives in Yellowknife has been participating in mine rescue competitions for several years now and helped co-found the first all-female mine rescue team, with fellow competitor Kari Lentowicz.
The team, Diamonds in the Rough, competed last year in Russia in the community of Ekaterinburg near the Ural Mountains. The Canadian team finished 15th overall out of 25 teams, including a fifth place finish in the underground search event, and picked up a couple of awards.
“It went exceptionally well,” says MacKenzie. “We won the People’s Choice top team and also a special award in commemoration of our influence on mine rescue and us being the first all-female team.” MN
