MINING 2022 your business Issue 1
E-NEWSLETTER | A NORTH OF 60 COMPANION publication
Advancing Canada’s only Carlin-type gold district Restarting a high-grade gold producer near Yellowknife Helping youth discover their place in mining
miningnorthof60.com
MINING your business
IN THIS ISSUE
DEL Communications Inc.
Message from the editor, Shayna Wiwierski – 4
www.delcommunications.com President & CEO
Yukon mining outlook looks bright – 6
David Langstaff
Advancing Canada’s only Carlin-type gold district – 8
Managing Editor
Back to basics:
shayna@delcommunications.com
Shayna Wiwierski
Restarting a high-grade gold producer near Yellowknife – 10
Director of Online Marketing
PDAC 2022 Convention returns to Toronto in person and online – 13
mic@delcommunications.com
Gold Terra drilling program targets
dayna oulion
high-grade gold on former Con Mine Property – 14
Sales Representatives
Forgotten silver – 16
Cover Photo Courtesy of
Canadian mining companies recognized for commitment
Contributing Writer
MIC PATERSON Advertising Manager
brent astrope | brian gerow gold terra corp.
to sustainability and outstanding environmental
Brook Thalgott
and community engagement achievements – 18
© 2022 DEL Communications Inc.
Helping youth discover their place in mining – 21 Powering up: Recycling critical metals from lithium batteries – 24 New guideline for reducing diesel particulate matter in underground mines – 26 Sodexo Canada provides remote camp services to the second-largest work site in North America – 28
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Arctic Blaster...........................................................................25
Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd................................................9
Aurora College.....................................................................5, 27
NAPEG........................................................................................17
Calm Air.......................................................................................7
Northbest Distributors Ltd.......................................................9
Desgagnes Transarctik.............................................................3
Onyen Corporation.....................................................................5
Gold Terra Resource Corp......................................................15
Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd..................................................11
message from the editor
shayna Wiwierski I can’t believe it’s already halfway through 2022. Our last issue of Mining Your Business e-newsletter came out in November 2021 but it feels like just a few months ago that we were putting the final touches on it and preparing to release it to the world. In this issue, we take a look at what a few different exploration companies are doing in Canada’s north. On page 8, ATAC Resources Ltd. talks about their Rackla Gold Property in the Yukon and the discovery of Carlin-type gold, which is usually found in Nevada. Over in the Northwest Territories, on page 10, Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd. is planning to continue underground development of its former-producing Mon Gold mine this year, with an anticipated full production next year.
Those stories are just a taste of what we have in store for you in Issue 1, 2022 of Mining Your Business. I hope you enjoy this e-newsletter and we hope you will help us spread the message about this exciting publication to your colleagues and friends. Also, if you haven’t signed up already, we invite you to share this and to sign up for our newsletter at miningnorthof60.com/ mining-your-business/. Finally, we wish to thank all the companies who have contributed a story for Issue 1, 2022 of Mining Your Business. Special thanks goes out to the following contributors: • The Government of Yukon • ATAC Resources Ltd. • Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd. • Gold Terra Corp. • The PDAC
SEARCH BY CATEGORY OR SEARCH BY KEYWORD – GET LISTED FOR FREE The buyer’s guide is a searchable index of northern mining companies serving the Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Northern Canada. Search by category or search by keyword for: northern mine sites, north of 60 consulting services, mining supplies, mining services, construction companies, exploration companies, welding services, drilling and blasting, trucking and transport and other industrial services to the Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Northern Canada mining industry.
Three listing levels – Free Listing, Logo Listing and Enhanced Logo Listing
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• Alianza Minerals • The Mining Association of Canada • The MiHR • SRC • Workplace Safety North • Sodexo We invite all interested companies to share their news and editorial ideas with us. If you would like to contribute a story for future issues of Mining Your Business e-newsletter, please contact Shayna Wiwierski at shayna@delcommunications.com. Also, if you haven’t read it already, the 2022 issue of our flagship publication, North of 60 was released earlier this year. You can read it via our official site, miningnorthof60.com. Enjoy! 7
providing skilled graduates for the mining industry Environmental Officers & Managers Surface & Underground Mining Trainees Mineral Processing Operators Finance Officers & Clerks Administrative Managers & Assistants Heavy Equipment Operators Skilled Tradespeople
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Planet earth’s ESG reporting solution Onyen Corporation is pleased to announce that it has been selected as 2021’s Best ESG Reporting Solution and Best RegTech Startup of the Year by the Canadian RegTech Association/Association Canadienne de la technologie réglementaire. Onyen provides a data collection system enabling companies to compile information on their Environmental, Social and Governance performance and practices, measure their performance against multiple international standards and prepare reports for internal tracking and external publishing. Aurania Resources Ltd., one of many Onyen customers who provided a supporting reference letter to the nominations, said:
“We found the Onyen platform to be cost-effective and very user friendly. As a junior company with limited funds and resources, this was a great fit for us. It took complicated information and broke it down into manageable sections. We are always striving to do the right thing from an ESG standpoint and we welcome input on what we can do better – the Onyen platform highlighted what we have been doing right and helped us look at the areas in which we can improve going forward. “ This is the inaugural year of the awards, sponsored by Ernst & Young Canada. The winners were selected by a panel of leading industry judges. Onyen commends the Association and Ernst & Young Canada for their initiative in supporting and recognizing the work of Canadian RegTech firms and is proud to accept these two prestigious awards.
onyen.com 5
Yukon mining outlook looks bright
Victoria Gold Corp.’s Eagle Gold mine in 2019.
High mineral prices have helped the territory’s economy weather the pandemic The Yukon’s economy has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic better than many other jurisdictions in Canada, and the latest public forecasts look bright as well. Activities related to mining have been a major driver of Yukon’s recent economic growth and are expected to continue to be a key driver of the economy going forward. The territory’s real gross domestic product is expected to see robust growth of 9.6 per cent this year, according to the most recent fiscal and economic update published in March by the Government of Yukon’s Department of Finance. This growth in 2022 would build on estimated real GDP growth of 5.2 per cent in 2020, the highest in the country, and March’s growth forecast of 4.8 per cent for 2021. Mineral production is a big driver of 2022 growth, and the March forecast calls for production to remain elevated over the 6
medium term. The Yukon’s three major mines all expect to increase production this year. Victoria Gold Corp.’s Eagle Gold Mine, which poured its first brick of gold in 2019, is expecting production to be between 165,000 and 190,000 ounces in 2022, up from just over 164,000 ounces in 2021. Production beyond 2022 is expected to increase as Victoria Gold has initiated Project 250, which is aimed at increasing the average annual gold production of the mine toward 250,000 ounces in 2023. Minto Metals Corp.’s Minto Mine and Alexco Resources Corp.’s Keno Hill project, meanwhile, both anticipate to boost production. A positive preliminary economic assessment released in May 2021 doubled the remaining life of Minto to 2028 and improved its near-term production outlook. Keno Hill is similarly expected to increase production after
reopening last year and the project is expected to approach its target of milling 400 tonnes per day this year. To date, the Yukon’s major mines have managed to avoid major disruptions caused by COVID-19. Following strong gains in 2019 and 2020, placer gold production fell seven per cent to just above 64,000 ounces in 2021. While down, production was well ahead of the average of just under 53,000 over the previous 10 years. The March forecast has annual production remaining near the 2021 level in all years of the forecast. The March forecast also had total mineral revenues in the territory increasing to $1.1 billion this year, up from an estimated $770 million in 2021. The outlook for mineral production value remains strong, with annual levels expected to exceed $1 billion annually out to 2026. Strong mineral prices have helped fuel exploration in the Yukon. Last year, Natural Resources Canada estimates the exploration industry spent $135.1 million in the territory, up almost 62
per cent from 2020’s 15-year low of $83.6 million. Nearly 82 per cent of that exploration was in search of precious metals, while the remainder was for base metals. Exploration spending this year is expected to further build on 2021’s activity with NRCAN currently estimating spending intentions of $157.9 million for 2022. There could be several new major mines on the horizon. Newmont Corp.’s Coffee Gold project recently cleared environmental assessment. The project, which would involve four open-pit gold mines, is expected to produce two-million ounces of gold during 10 years of operation. During its peak of construction, the mine is expected to create nearly 700 jobs. The project still needs to obtain authorizations for construction and operation.
Another possible mine is BMC Minerals Ltd.’s Kudz Ze Kyah project, a proposed open pit and underground mine that would produce zinc, silver, copper, gold, and lead. If it were to go ahead, production could start in 2025 and continue for at least nine years. As the Conference Board of Canada notes in a recently published economic outlook for the Yukon, such a scenario would offset falling production at Minto and Eagle Gold during the second half of this decade. The mine is expected to employ more than 400 workers during construction and production.
one, is bullish on the project’s prospects.
Western Copper and Gold’s Casino project, meanwhile, would be substantially bigger than any other mine operating in the Yukon if it’s built. Construction would cost more than $2.5 billion over four years and employ about 1,000 workers. The Conference Board, for
most recent annual survey of mining
It forecasts commercial production beginning in 2029 and continuing for at least 22 years. Rio Tinto Canada recently bought a $25.6 million stake in the project. For now, the Yukon continues to boast one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. As the Conference Board notes, “that is welcome news for job seekers, but a headache for employers.” Mining companies themselves are also upbeat about the territory’s economic prospects. The Fraser Institute’s companies saw the Yukon score 82.43 out of a possible 100, a five-point increase over last year. That puts the Yukon third in Canada and ninth in the world as an attractive destination for mining investment. 7
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Realgar and Orpiment at the Osiris Deposit.
Advancing Canada’s only Carlin-type gold district In 2010, ATAC Resources Ltd. made a new grassroots discovery
package. Due to the remote nature of the project, a significant
at the east end of its 185-kilometre-long Rackla Gold Property.
investment in infrastructure was carried out, with construction
Carlin-type gold is a mineralization style previously thought
of an airstrip and a 50-person camp. Drilling continued in the
to be unique to Nevada, where the Carlin trend itself lies. The
following seasons, with more phenomenal results, including
discovery had all the hallmarks, from abundant and visually
18.44 g/t gold over 42.93 metres drilled in 2012. With four
striking realgar and orpiment in limestone host rocks at surface,
primary zones of mineralization identified, work shifted to
to extensive geochemical anomalism in gold, with associated
definition drilling, with the goal of preparing an initial resource
pathfinder elements. With a late-season drill campaign quickly
estimate.
assembled, the first hole returned 4.65 g/t gold over 65.20 metres, and ATAC knew they were onto something big.
8
In 2018, the company defined a maiden inferred resource for the Osiris deposit, reporting a total of 1.7 million ounces of gold at
Over the following years, the company continued to aggressively
a grade of 4.23 g/t. This resource comprised both open-pit and
explore the immediate area, while conducting extensive
underground components, at the four primary zones: Conrad,
grassroots exploration across the broader district-scale land
Osiris, Ibis, and Sunrise. Mineralization demonstrates strong
“ This project has immense district-scale potential, with gold discoveries along a 25-kilometre trend. Anchored by our resource at Osiris, we see a bright future for the project, with many more discoveries yet to be made.” continuity across a large vertical extent, with surface results at
improving market conditions in the gold sector, the company will
Sunrise at 1,800 metres elevation down to the deepest Conrad
be getting back to drilling this season with an eye to building on
drilling at 600 metres elevation. All zones remain open at depth
the existing resource base. A priority for follow-up is a 2018 drill
and further potential exists along strike. Despite the remote
hole at the Sunrise zone which returned 12.95 g/t gold over 26.70
nature of the project, all-in discovery costs for the resource were
metres outside the existing resource boundary. Funding is in
C$32/ounce, a globally competitive cost.
place and the drill should be turning by early June.
The company also made a series of additional discoveries 10
“We’re very excited to be back on the ground working out
kilometres to the west at the Anubis cluster. While work is
at Osiris,” said Graham Downs, ATAC’s president & CEO.
at a much earlier stage in this area, 13 gold-bearing targets
“This project has immense district-scale potential, with gold
have already been identified, with sporadic drilling along 2.5
discoveries along a 25-kilometre trend. Anchored by our resource
kilometres of the Anubis fault – a key mineralizing structure.
at Osiris, we see a bright future for the project, with many more
Results in this area include 19.85 g/t gold over 8.51 metres,
discoveries yet to be made.”
demonstrating the strength of the system. While the project has seen minimal work since 2018, with
Golden Pursuit Resources Ltd. is actively exploring in the Gordon Lake area of the Northwest Territories.
For more information on ATAC and their projects, visit www. atacresources.com. 7
A 100% NORTHERN-OWNED COMPANY
The Gordon Lake area is an historic gold mining area that saw numerous small mines and exploration projects developed between the 1930s and the 1980s. Golden Pursuit has consolidated all these projects for the first time and is applying modern methods to this historic district.
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(867) 873-2364 F: (867) 873-6516
E: northbest@theedge.ca 9
Aerial view of the Mon Gold Mine, North Portal in September 2021.
Back to Basics.
Restarting a high-grade gold producer near Yellowknife Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd. (CSE:SXTY, FKT:2F4, OTC-Pink:SXNTF) plans to continue underground development of its former-producing Mon Gold Mine in 2022, developing stopes in preparation for anticipated full production in 2023. The Mon Gold Property is located 45-kilometres north of Yellowknife, NWT. Past production in the 1990’s extracted 15,000 tonnes of ore to depths of only 15 metres below surface, recovering an estimated 15,000 ounces of gold. The overall size, grade and form of the Mon mineralization, as well as its host rock assemblage, is similar to the Discovery Mine (located 50 kilometres to the north) where one-million tons of ore were mined and one-million ounces 10
of gold were recovered between 1949 and 1969, to a depth of 1,200 metres below surface. History of the Mon Property During the initial staking rush in Yellowknife in the 1930’s, a high-grade quartz vein was discovered outcropping along the side of a hill 45 kilometres north of Yellowknife, NWT. Cominco identified a 42-metre-long folded quartz vein with the fold grading 121.7 gpt gold over 1.5 metres, and the planar western limb grading 14.4 gpt gold over 0.7 metres. Subsequent exploration attempted to trace the vein to the west with limited
success. In 1988, it was recognized that the vein was folded into a horseshoe shape and drill holes intersected 50.7 gpt gold over 2.8 metres, and 35.3 gpt gold over 1.5 metres. Mining over the next six years extracted 15,000 tonnes of ore grading >27 gpt gold to a depth of 15 metres below surface, operating on a seasonal basis, with gold prices generally averaging between US$350 and US$400 per ounce. It closed as gold prices declined to below US$300 per ounce. Drilling has traced the gold bearing vein to a depth of 60 metres below surface where it remains open. Sixty North Gold Mining Ltd. signed an earn-in agreement on the property in 2016, and in 2022 acquired a 100 per cent
interest in the property, with licenses, claims, permits, and other assets being transferred from New Discovery Mines Ltd.
Current activities
The project is permitted to operate at 100 tpd, similar to what the Discovery Mine and Con Mine started producing at, before growing to 230 tons/day and 1,400 tons/day, respectively. The concept of starting a mine at 100 tpd proved to be very successful in Yellowknife in the past at the Con Mine, Giant Mine, and Discovery Mine, where nuggety, high-grade gold mineralization was difficult to assess using diamond drilling. The diamond industry demonstrated that the grades of very nuggety deposits are best assessed using bulk samples. Drill holes confirm that deposit’s location, and that it is mineralized but not used to develop a grade model.
Sixty North Gold has sampled the crown pillar of the hinge zone over 45 metres with results shown in chart. The Mon Project is permitted to mine, process, and dispose of tailings. A winter road was constructed to the site in 2021 and a camp, equipment, and supplies were mobilized to site. The winter road was used again in early 2022 and an additional 90,000-litre fuel tank, underground drill, fuel, explosives, and other supplies were hauled to site. The north portal was re-opened in 2021 and the main ramp was widened to threemetres-by-four-metres to accommodate the larger mining equipment then what was used in the past. A total of eight personnel were on the property in 2021. Plans for 2022 are to recommence mining
Trench
Intersection (metres)
Au Grade (gpt)
17-1
0.28 0.50
20.3 3.4
17-2
0.50 0.80 0.50
688.8 273.1 2.6
17-3
0.40 0.60
5.6 15.9
17-4
0.40
1.8
17-5
0.50
8.4
17-6
0.50 0.50 0.60
4.9 390.0 3.0
17-7
0.50 0.90
16.3 1.2
17-8
0.90
143.9
17-9
0.50 0.50 0.70
65.0 311.6 198.8
17-10
1.00 0.90
60.2 27.7
MON GOLD PROPERTY Near Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
Restarting a Past-Producing Mine • Mon Gold is the only gold project in the NWT permitted for production • Bulk sampling program commenced with owned mining equipment and camp on site • Similar to the regional 1m oz, 1 oz/ton gold Discovery Mine • Crown pillar grades up to 688 g/t gold over 0.5 m; 98.8% met recoveries • Further exploration potential for VMS and shear zone gold
SIXTY NORTH GOLD MINING LTD. CSE: SXTY
FRANKFURT: 2F4
OTC-PINK: SXNTF
Contact: Dave Webb, Ph.D., P.Geol., P.Eng., President & CEO p: 604-818-1400 • e: dave@drwgcl.com
www.sixtynorthgold.com 11
2022 supplies delivered to site with A Zone in background with front end loader.
by driving an additional 70 metres of three-metre-by-four-metre ramp to the high-grade portion of the A-Zone, 20 metres below the historic stopes where 15,000 tonnes of 30 gpt ore was mined and processed. Crews are being lined up to restart operations as soon as possible. Historic diamond drilling supports the size and grade of the vein at our target location. Several thousand tonnes of vein material are planned to be collected during this phase for sampling, testing, and ultimately processing in early 2023. Cross-cuts will be driven in to the vein and two to three stopes will be developed in preparation for anticipated full production and milling in 2023. Underground diamond drilling below the level of the new stopes will better define extensions of this high-grade zone for future production planning. When planned milling starts in 2023, an additional four personnel would be needed, with a similar number of people off property on rotation. 12
Exploration opportunities While the company’s focus remains the development of the A-Zone into becoming a producing gold mine, it has other exploration opportunities on its property: Gold Shear Zones. The broad mineralized shear zones that made the Con and Giant Mines world-class deposits (combined 13 million ounces of gold mined) transect the same rocks here on the Mon Property. We have trench results of up to 7.22 gpt gold over 6.0 metres (see NR August 29, 2018) that have never been drilled. These zones will be targeted for follow-up this summer. VMS Zones. The Nelson Lake volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits discovered in 2018 extend over 2,500 metres in length on the Mon Property, and likely extend onto the recently optioned Hangstone Property. Eight grab samples collected from an exposed lens on the Mon Property in 2018
average 253.3 gpt silver, 1.61 gpt gold, 2.45 per cent lead, and 1.66 per cent zinc. These VMS zones have never been drilled, and additional geophysics on extensions across the Hangstone Property will be completed and evaluated prior to a larger drill program. New Nickel-Cobalt PGM Zone. This is the first reported nickel showing in the Yellowknife Gold Belt. An unusual nickel-cobalt PGM (platinum group metals)-rich zone is associated with the 600-metre thick less than threekilometre-long Eastern Mafic Trend on the Mon Property. A new discovery is located 1,800 metres south of the A-Zone where a prospecting program followingup on anomalous biogeochemical samples produced grab samples returning less than one per cent nickel and 0.19 per cent cobalt, together with 0.43 gpt gold from a rusty gabbroic phase. Future exploration on this zone would include mapping, sampling, geophysics, trenching, and drilling. 7
PDAC 2022 Convention returns to Toronto in person AND online
The international mineral exploration and mining industry is once again gearing up for the annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) Convention in Toronto, following its first virtual convention in 2021. This year signifies the return of the in-person event from June 13 to 15, as well as an online portion from June 28 to 29. This is the first time in the PDAC Convention’s 90 years that it will be offered as a hybrid event, and a fitting way to honour the milestone. “The pandemic has had us on a roller coaster over the past couple of years and the feedback we are consistently hearing from our stakeholders is that they want to get back to doing business in person, and for anyone connected to the mineral exploration and mining industry, that means getting together face to face for the PDAC 2022 Convention,” says Alex Christopher, PDAC president. While the pandemic created challenges, it also demonstrated the resilience of the sector as it navigated health and safety, accessibility and supply chain obstacles, while conversations turned to the security of precious metals and the industry’s role in the transition to a low carbon future. “We have watched precious metals and gold prices soar to record highs, applaud conversations recognizing the industry’s critical role in the clean energy transition, and, throughout the pandemic, have watched companies offer support to Indigenous and remote communities where it may otherwise have not existed,” adds Christopher. “This is just a small glimpse into the importance of the minerals industry, and as the world reopens, professionals — including analysts, executives, geologists, prospectors, investors, students, and government officials — need timely and relevant programming and short courses that can be tailored to their needs, and the PDAC 2022 Convention offers exactly that.”
The PDAC Convention provides a platform for experts to connect and talk, learn and collaborate about the opportunities and challenges faced by the industry. Highly-acclaimed topics — such as Capital Markets, Indigenous, Student & Early Career, Sustainability and Technical — will return to in person and online programming, along with Short Courses, the seventh annual International Mines Ministers’ Summit (IMMS), Events & Networking, and a newly expanded Keynote Program for experts to present on commodities, the mineral outlook, innovation and new discoveries. More than 800 exhibitors will display their expertise and latest core samples in Core Shack, Investors Exchange, Prospectors Tent and Trade Show. But the excitement is not limited to only in person with an outstanding lineup of programming scheduled for the online portion. “It is important that we can offer the online portion of PDAC 2022 for a very important group of stakeholders across the world who want access to information directly from their home or office, and we are excited to be able to give them that,” says Lisa McDonald, PDAC executive director. “But it is the in-person element that is being craved this year and we can’t wait to welcome the world’s mineral exploration and mining industry to PDAC 2022 after all this time, we’ve certainly missed everyone.” For the latest information on #PDAC2022 head to www.pdac.ca/ convention. The health, safety and wellness of attendees remains PDAC’s top priority and Canadian and local government directives will be followed at all times. Visit the COVID-19 Information Page for latest updates. 7w 13
Gold Terra drilling program targets high-grade gold on Former Con Mine Property that produced 6.1 million ounces at a grade of +15 g/t gold Visible Gold in Drill Hole GTWL22-002/MP5875-F – 20.3m (Main Zone).
including 6.1 million ounces from the Con Mine itself. In addition, historic reserves and resources have been left behind when the mine was closed in 2003 while gold was $370 per ounce and the mine was no longer economic. Furthermore, Newmont supported the deal with a CA$1.5 million strategic investment for 3.7 per cent of the outstanding shares. The goal of the company is to add additional ounces to their current 2021 mineral resource of 1,207,000 inferred ounces. Gold Terra is advancing their Yellowknife City Gold project through their option to purchase 100 per cent of the former Con Mine property from Newmont. The former Con Mine is a key strategic land play for the company as this property contains a significant part of the prospective Campbell Shear, a source of more than 14 million ounces,
14
Gold Terra is currently drilling in two areas on the property – north of Yellowknife in the Mispickle Deposit area and on two sites south of the Con Mine along the Campbell Shear, which is now the main focus of the project. South of the Con Mine, the Yellorex zone will be drilled on a 50-metre spacing to bring the deposit into an updated mineral resource, and deeper, it will be drilled at a 200-metre spacing at around -1,000 metres to explore
Drilling location map.
the Campbell Shear in underexplored area. The potential for more discoveries remains high as the two-kilometre stretch along the Campbell Shear remains open at depth and along strike. The aim of the drilling is to delineate a potential gold mineral resource to add as potential anchor resource which could drive a mine development study, such as a pre-feasibility study. The Yellorex Zone sits in the Campbell Shear immediately south of the former Con Mine. The Yellorex Zone has the same signature as the high-grade zones in the former Con Mine and is on the southern extension of the Con Mine’s gold-bearing Campbell Shear structure that produced five-million ounces of gold from the mine. The company has had very positive drill results, such as in hole GTCM21-022, which intersected two high-grade zones at Yellorex: 19.74g/t gold over 5.44 metres and 10.12 g/t over 3.73 metres. While the focus is to continue drilling along the Campbell Shear south of the Con Mine and advance the high-grade Yellorex Zone towards a mineral resource, Gold Terra is also having very positive drill results in the former Mispickel area located approximately 20 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife. The initial drill results from this smaller winter drilling program along the new MP-Ryan zone are very positive with visible gold reported in 10 drill holes and hole GTWL22-002 intersecting 19.00 g/t gold over 4.0 metres, including 73.9 g/t gold over one metre. The Mispickel area is of great importance as it has the potential to serve as a satellite deposit to the main area of focus along the Campbell Shear south of the Con Mine. If Gold Terra can demonstrate the continuity of gold deposits associated with the historic gold envelope of the Con Mine, the benefits for the City of Yellowknife would be great. Historically, the mineral sector has been the primary driver of the Yellowknife economy and Gold Terra’s project has the potential to add support to the future of the local economy. With a large drilling
Yellowrex location map.
program and positive drill results, Gold Terra is on track to reestablish Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. Gold Terra offers a rare opportunity to invest in a world-class high-grade discovery on the doorstep of Canada’s most prolific past gold production. For more information and company news, please go to our website at www.goldterracorp.com. 7
GOLD TERRA RESOURCE CORP. TSX-V: YGT; FRANKFURT: TXO; OTC QX: YGTFF
Multi-million ounce potential in Yellowknife Gold Belt. Drilling to delineate gold underway on Campbell Shear south of the former Con Mine.
www.goldterracorp.com 15
Forgotten
silver
View from the top of Mt. Haldane towards the Eagle mine, workings visible in the distance on the right.
The Keno Hill Silver District is endowed with a century’s worth of stories of prospectors, miners, and colourful figures that inevitably inhabit frontier mining towns. Keno City and Elsa owe their existence to the discovery of silver in the region in the early 1900s, shortly after discouraged Klondike prospectors had ventured into the region and discovered gold on Duncan Creek prior to the turn of the century. One such Klondiker, Jack Davidson, had discovered the original silver-rich galena on Galena Creek, but the richness of the ore he found wasn’t appreciated for another decade and silver mining started in 1913. A staking rush covered Galena and Silver Hills, where more silver was discovered in 1918. Keno City was established shortly thereafter, and the region saw almost continuous mining from 1919 to 1989, when the Keno mines were shut down due to low silver prices. The district produced almost 220 million ounces of silver at an average grade of 1,389 g/t silver over that period. Today, the Silver Trail, the road that brings 16
prospectors, miners, and now tourists to the region, is alive once again, with Alexco Resource Corp. having restarted Keno mining operations and Victoria Gold’s new gold mine, Eagle, which opened in 2019. Yukon Energy recently upgraded the Stewart-Keno transmission line from Mayo to McQuesten, spending $34 million to 138 kV to better service the mines. With the increase in vehicle traffic between Mayo and the various mining and exploration camps, even the Silver Trail itself is slated for a $63 million upgrade. With two operating mines in the area, exploration companies are searching the region with great success for both silver and gold. Alianza Minerals’ Haldane Silver Project lies in the western portion of the district, on the slopes of Mt. Haldane. Mt. Haldane informally marks the start of the Keno District as one drives the Silver Trail, sitting prominently at the halfway point between Mayo and Keno City. Here, the most westerly exposures of the favourable Keno vein host rocks are found, the Basal Quartzite member of the Keno Hill
Quartzite. The original showings on Mt. Haldane date back to the early 1900s with the first documented work in 1918. In parallel with the activities 25 kilometres away at Keno, small-scale mining took place at Haldane at the Middlecoff vein where reportedly 24.7 tonnes of handsorted ore grading 3,102 g/t silver and 59 per cent lead were produced. At the same time, work was taking place on the Johnson Vein on the north side of Bighorn Creek, including a short adit. In 1926 and 1927, these workings produced a total of 2.1 tonnes at 4,602 g/t Ag and 57.9 per cent Pb, also of hand-sorted ore. Likely due to the rugged nature of the Bighorn Creek valley and the slopes of Mt. Haldane, these occurrences were largely forgotten about except for a short flurry of activity in the 1960s. Today, exploration is still focused near the Middlecoff and Johnson veins, where Alianza is exploring its West Fault target. Alianza’s initial hole at West Fault in 2020 intersected 444 g/t silver over 4.48 metres. Subsequent drilling in 2021 targeted the vein on 50 metre step outs on
View from the Eagle Mine access road towards Mt. Haldane, with electrical substation in the foreground.
strike and down dip returning high-grade silver mineralization, including 1,315 g/t silver over 3.14 metres and 3,267 g/t silver over 1.26 metres, with this new vein target emerging as a significant occurrence in the district. Like the rest of the Keno District, exploration potential is high, with additional targets available to Alianza, including the centuryold Middlecoff where potential exists to expand beyond the current underground workings and limited drilling. Alianza has also proved the enticing possibility of brand-new vein discoveries at the Bighorn target, where a single drillhole testing a large soil geochemical anomaly intersected four separate vein structures with one returning a very encouraging intersection of 2.35 metres of 125 g/t silver. The Keno District was known as one of the richest silver camps in world but today, perhaps like Jack Davidson’s original Galena Creek discovery, its value isn’t fully appreciated. With Keno’s resurgence well underway, it is not difficult to imagine it regaining that prestige. 7
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Canadian mining companies recognized for commitments to sustainability and outstanding environmental and community engagement achievements The Gahcho Kué mine received this year’s prestigious Towards Sustainable Mining® (TSM) Excellence Awards.
The Mining Association of Canada’s (MAC) Community of Interest Advisory Panel has selected the Gahcho Kué Mine, owned as a joint venture between De Beers Group and Mountain Province Diamonds, and Copper Mountain Mining Corporation, leaders in Canada’s mining sector, to receive this year’s prestigious Towards Sustainable Mining® (TSM) Excellence Awards in recognition of their innovative sustainability projects focused on community engagement 18
and environmental stewardship. The
to ESG and responsible practices form
companies were presented their awards
the backbone of our country’s mining
on May 2, 2022 at the CIM Awards Gala
industry and this year’s TSM Excellence
in Vancouver.
Award winners highlight outstanding
“We are extremely proud of the work that was accomplished this year by Copper Mountain and the Gahcho Kué
practices that prioritize both community engagement and environmental stewardship.”
Mine, both have set a very high bar
With Canada producing some of the
when it comes to sustainable mining
lowest carbon-intensity mineral and
performance in Canada’s mining
metal products in the world, there is no
sector,” said Pierre Gratton, MAC’s
doubt that it can and should play a much
president and CEO. “Commitments
more significant role in providing the
materials the world needs to get to net zero. MAC’s members are leading the way through TSM, a program originally created in 2004 to drive performance improvement across a range of social and environmental issues where it mattered most — at the mine site level. This focus on mine site performance makes TSM a go-to system for investors and manufacturers looking to invest in and purchase responsibly mined materials. TSM supports mining companies in managing key environmental and social risks. A national independent community of interest advisory panel oversees the program, with representatives from Indigenous communities, environmental organizations, labour, finance, local mining communities, social and faithbased organizations and academia. TSM goes beyond principles and requires mining companies to annually assess, publicly report and verify their performance at the facility level. Performance is evaluated across a set of detailed environmental and social performance standards, including tailings management, climate change, water stewardship, Indigenous and community relationships, safety and health, biodiversity conservation, crisis management, and preventing child and forced labour. Established in 2014, the TSM Excellence Awards include the TSM Environmental Excellence Award and the TSM Community Engagement Excellence Award. To be eligible for the awards, mining companies must be actively implementing TSM. The community of interest advisory panel provides guidance and advice on the development and implementation of TSM and selects the winners of the TSM Excellence Awards. “With the increasing overall awareness on the role mining plays in providing the
materials required for the global energy transition, it is clear that our sector is being recognized as essential more now than ever, specifically the leadership role Canada can play in providing the minerals and metals needed in the tech we depend on,” said Gratton. “Our high environmental and labour standards, exemplified through TSM, are a competitive advantage when it comes to responsibly filling the growing need for mined materials.” TSM Community Engagement Excellence Award 2022 Winner - Ní Hadi Xa Initiative supports community environmental collaboration at Gahcho Kué Mine The Ní Hadi Xa initiative, meaning “People Watch the Land Together” in the Chipewyan Dëne Sųłné language, was established in 2014 by Gahcho Kué
Mine and six Indigenous communities. Together, they conduct environmental and traditional knowledge monitoring at the diamond mine located in the Northwest Territories. Gahcho Kué is a joint venture between De Beers Group and Mountain Province Diamonds. Ní Hadi Xa is managed by a sevenmember governance committee, with six of the seven members representing local Indigenous signatory communities – Deninu Kué First Nation, the North Slave Métis Alliance, the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, the Tłı̨chǫ̀ Government, the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. One seat on the committee is held by Gahcho Kué. The program employs five Indigenous individuals from local communities, including those with environmental management and traditional knowledge experience. Ní Hadi Xa provides a
Copper Mountain also received this prestigious award from the Mining Association of Canada’s (MAC) Community of Interest Advisory Panel in recognition of their innovative sustainability projects focused on community engagement and environmental stewardship.
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Canada’s mining industry is working hard to produce the mined materials necessary for low-carbon technologies while innovating to reduce its own carbon footprint. forum for collaborative environmental monitoring and management, with all policies and monitoring programs co-designed and approved by the governance committee. The initiative supports in-depth discussion on mine development updates and proposals, with any environmental monitoring findings or concerns directly relayed to Gahcho Kué for incorporation into the mine’s environmental management and monitoring framework. The governance committee also forms several sub-committees for managing related initiatives, including traditional knowledge programs, finance, and human resources. They meet quarterly to review the implementation of the programs and to discuss and approve any additional work plans. Ní Hadi Xa was established using learnings from other independent monitoring agencies in the region to create a new and innovative approach to environmental monitoring activities at the mine. The collaborative and cooperative nature of this initiative, prioritizing leadership by local Indigenous communities, can serve as a model for other mining projects – from pre-development to mine closure. Both Gahcho Kué and Ní Hadi Xa staff have been invited to share this model and their experiences with other mining companies, given their success in building trust and sharing knowledge and information between the company and local communities. By providing an Indigenous-led framework for open dialogue on local environmental priorities, Gahcho Kué is raising the bar for meaningful community engagement. 20
Representatives of the Mining Association of Canada’s Community of Interest Advisory Panel were impressed by the fact that Indigenous community representatives held most seats on the Ní Hadi Xa Governance Committee, and that this Indigenous-led committee is responsible for direction, oversight, and reporting on the initiative. The panel representatives also appreciated the intentional approach to incorporating Indigenous traditional knowledge responsibilities for program staff. TSM Environmental Excellence Award 2022 Winner - Copper Mountain’s electric trolley project a key step towards net-zero emissions Canada’s mining industry is working hard to produce the mined materials necessary for low-carbon technologies while innovating to reduce its own carbon footprint. Copper Mountain is leading the way in these efforts through a partnership with SMS Equipment, Komatsu, ABB, Clean BC, and B.C. Hydro. Together, they have created a mine-site version of the overhead cables that power urban buses and trams. Instead of public transit, the trolley-assist installation at the Copper Mountain Mine will deploy haul trucks connected to a one-kilometre overhead electric cable to transport ore uphill from the main pit of the mine to the primary crusher. Moving heavy ore up a steep incline is a highly energy intensive process, and when using diesel haul trucks, is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at Copper Mountain. Each of the 11 trolley-capable haul trucks will
displace approximately 400 litres of diesel and one tonne of carbon dioxide each hour. The new technology is anticipated to reduce the mine’s carbon emissions by at least 30 per cent when introduced over the next five years. Copper Mountain then plans to connect additional trolley sections to support ore transport from the New Ingerbelle pit to the primary crusher for an additional 10 or more years of use, reducing the mine’s carbon intensity by over 50 per cent in the next five to seven years. Made possible through multiple partnerships, the electric trolley assist project represents a significant commitment by Copper Mountain to a cleaner future and is a major contributor to achieving the company’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. Representatives of the Mining Association of Canada’s Community of Interest Advisory Panel were impressed by Copper Mountain’s willingness to make a significant investment in a new and innovative approach to reducing an important source of GHG emissions at the mine site. This project has the potential to serve as an initial case study to spur broader uptake of the electric trolley-assist technology within the industry. For more information about the TSM Excellence Awards and past winners, please visit www.mining.ca/tsmexcellence-awards. The mining industry is a major sector of Canada’s economy, contributing $107 billion to the national GDP and is responsible for 19 per cent of Canada’s total domestic exports. Canada’s mining sector employs 692,000 people directly and indirectly across the country. The industry is proportionally the largest private sector employer of Indigenous peoples in Canada and a major customer of Indigenous-owned businesses. 7
Helping youth discover their place in mining
Younger workers aged 15 to 24 only represent an average of four per cent of workers, according to the Mining Industry Human Resources Council’s (MiHR) Mining Year in Review: National Outlook 2021 report.
By the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) Canada’s mining industry is once again facing skills shortages stemming from several issues, including high levels of retirement, industry growth, skills gaps, and a lack of interest in mining-related careers among youth. According to the Mining Industry Human Resources Council’s (MiHR) Mining Year in Review: National Outlook 2021 report, primeage and older workers aged 25 to 55+ collectively represented roughly three quarters of the mining and quarrying workforce in 2020, with younger workers aged 15 to 24 only representing an average of four per cent of workers. The minerals and metals sector also ranked as the least desired sector when choosing a career in a 2020 MiHR survey of 3,000 Canadians aged 15 to 30. This trend is exacerbated by decreases in miningThe five-year I Chose Mining. Mining Chose Me. Scholarship Program was launched in 2021 to celebrate MiHR’s 25th anniversary.
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Stemming from the National Strategy, MiHR created the We Need Mining. Mining Needs You. career awareness campaign, anchored by the MiningNeedsYou.ca website.
programs with an emphasis on attracting and retaining members of underrepresented groups; and to apply evidencebased solutions and strategies that are informed, designed, and evaluated using current research, knowledge and best practices. Its five strategic directions focus on increasing youth engagement, transforming perceptions, reaching younger students, building alliances between industry and education, and promoting diversity in the workforce. Stemming from the National Strategy, MiHR created the We Need Mining. Mining Needs You. career awareness campaign, anchored by the MiningNeedsYou.ca website. The site enables youth to learn what modern mining looks like, its necessity to transition to a low-carbon economy, and how they can help Canada be the world leader in safe, sustainable mining. It showcases the innovative technologies used in the sector, industry commitment to environmental sustainability and equity, diversity and inclusion, and what extracted minerals and metals are used for in everyday life.
related post-secondary engineering program enrolment. Mining, geological, and material and metallurgical engineering, the three most relevant programs to the mining industry, have experienced the lowest undergraduate enrolment among all engineering programs. Mining-related engineering program enrolment contracted by 27 per cent in Canada from 2015 to 2020 and is at its lowest level in more than 10 years. Additionally, out of 90,311 engineering undergraduates across Canada, only 2,321 were in mining-specific engineering programs in 2020. Clearly, there is a dire need to better attract young workers to mining careers. Therefore, the MiHR led the development of the National Youth Mining Career Awareness Strategy 20212026 – which aims to guide research, program development and stakeholder engagement to better inform youth of the occupations and benefits available to them in the mining industry. The strategy’s three key principals are to empower youth to engage with the industry and help shape the future of mining; to ensure equity, inclusion, and diversity are central to any 22
A suite of over 50 career profiles is available on the website, including up-to-date information on job responsibilities, salary ranges, and education requirements. Six new occupations were recently added to showcase the variety of positions available in the industry: environmental consultant; equity, diversity & inclusion specialist; Indigenous relations superintendent; instrumentation technician; Internet of Things technology specialist; and robotic welder operator. Linked to the career profiles is a new Interactive World of Mining Careers that allows users to visually explore a metaphorical representation of six different mine work environments and the occupations within each area. Website visitors can also see where they might fit in the mining industry by taking the new Interactive Career Quiz. By building a profile and answering questions, users can explore matching careers. As career interests and skills are added or removed from their profile, career options will automatically update and a career pathway presents how job seekers can advance in a career in mining. In connection with the career awareness campaign and in support of future mining talent, the five-year I Chose Mining. Mining Chose Me. Scholarship Program was launched in 2021 to celebrate MiHR’s 25th anniversary. It is awarding 10 $2,500 scholarships to post-secondary students in mining-related programs between 2021 and 2025. The first two recipients, Jimmy
Ding, studying Geological Engineering in Mining at the University of Saskatchewan, and Chantelle Delaney, studying Process Engineering at Memorial University, were selected for their hard work and interest in the sector. The deadline to apply for the 2022 scholarships is September 30, 2022. MiHR’s flagship career development program, Gearing Up, also supports mining-related undergraduate students by offering wage subsidies up to $7,000 to mining-related employers that create workintegrated learning placements and related initiatives – such as co-ops, internships, field placements, applied projects, capstone projects, and case competitions. Gearing Up has provided over $10 million in funding to support approximately 1,600 post-secondary students over the last four years. Engaging youth in mining is imperative to help them see the industry as an innovative, challenging, and rewarding career choice. Whether through career awareness campaigns, scholarships, work-integrated learning or other initiatives, industry partnerships are key to attracting the next generation of mining workers. Get involved in youth engagement by hiring a co-op student and applying for a Gearing Up wage subsidy, promoting We Need Mining. Mining Needs You. initiatives, or by visiting MiHR.ca and MiningNeedsYou.ca to learn more about how industry representatives can connect with MiHR to help youth discover their place in mining. 7
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Powering up: Recycling critical metals from lithium batteries By Brook Thalgott Recycling and refining previously used metals are far better than starting a new mine, from both economic and environmental perspectives.
performance,” says Dr. Zhang. “These ‘dead’ batteries are now creating a fastgrowing environmental problem.”
As electric vehicle technologies advance and the energy transition continues, the demand for critical metals keeps rising. However, the primary resources for battery metals are not able to meet the growing demands for them. “The supply and demand for major metals, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper, shows that demand will outpace supply in the next few years,” says Dr. Jack Zhang, director, Rare Earth Element Division and manager, Mineral Processing at SRC. “We may be facing a shortage of critical metals for batteries.” Critical metals are essential to telecommunications, computing, and clean energy—plus they are a valuable export commodity and vital to Canada’s technology sector and our supply chain. 24
Critical minerals at work Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) were first invented in 1985 and commercialized in 1991. Today they power electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, consumer electronics, power tools, and more. Metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper are required to build LIBs and are found around the world. “However, the current supply chain is vulnerable because the majority of refining takes place in one spot,” says Dr. Zhang. Right now, that one spot is China. “It’s important for us to develop a more balanced supply of refined metals in North America.” At the end of their working life, LIBs end up as waste. “When a battery reaches the end of its life, it loses function and
Batteries clog landfills and present significant disposal issues due to their toxic components leaching out over time. At the same time, the demand for critical metal supply is increasing, posing its own environmental concerns for mining jurisdictions around the world. The technologies that require these new batteries (and the metals that power them) are developing faster than industry and governments are finding solutions for the waste. What if there was another way to source critical metals and address the environmental concerns around spent LIBs? Enter urban mining The term urban mining may sound like just another buzzword, but the idea behind it is simple—what if we recycle the usable elements of spent LIBs, thereby reducing their environmental impact and addressing the growing need for more critical metals? The idea of battery recycling is not a new one. It’s been happening for years, but it’s been focused on the ‘front end’, meaning diverting batteries from the landfill and disassembling the battery into individual components.
SRC’s direct recycling of LIB technology aims to provide an alternate source for critical metals and support the value chain of the EoL battery recycling industry.
Urban mining takes battery recycling one step further, where their metals are extracted from these parts, thereby making them available for battery and other product manufacturing. This mining activity can help meet the growing need of new batteries and technologies. Plus, it generates value from what was previously considered ‘waste’ and removes environmental contaminants from landfills. This can also reduce the need for new mining operations that have a large environmental footprint. Recycling and refining previously used metals are far better than starting a new mine, from both economic and environmental perspectives. Let’s recycle Drawing on their specialized expertise in lithium recovery processing and technologies, Zhang and his team are developing a direct recycling process of LIB metals that will help industry meet the growing demand for critical minerals and divert batteries from landfills. EV batteries and batteries from electronics, such as cellphones and computers, are valuable for their components (e.g, aluminum, copper, nickel, and lithium), and recovery processes are designed to maximize the critical minerals from end-of-life batteries.
and recovered for immediate reuse. “Battery recycling is complex because of all the types of batteries and their varied composition and chemistry,” says Zhang. “But it’s not impossible. With the appropriate sorting and recycling processes in place, battery recycling can become a viable source for critical metals and minerals that addresses both the market demand and the environmental concerns.” SRC can facilitate the development of the refining process for organizations interested in battery recycling.
chain of the EoL battery recycling industry. Zhang outlines the following benefits as core factors to SRC’s approach: • Reduces environmental footprint • Increases significant secondary resources of LIB metals • Develops new recycling technologies • Creates a secure supply of critical metals for high tech and supports industry’s energy transition
SRC Lithium Battery Recycling Services
Zhang also points to SRC’s state-of-theart labs and facilities and his team of experienced professionals as essential in developing and commercializing the proposed technology for industry.
SRC’s direct recycling of LIB technology aims to provide an alternate source for critical metals and support the value
Learn more about battery recycling at src.sk.ca/services/direct-recyclinglithium-battery-metals. 7
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How it works End-of-life (EoL) batteries will be dismantled in SRC’s lab through an automated process that produces minimal waste residues while carefully preserving the critical metals. These components— such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, aluminum, and copper—are extracted at high purity
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New guideline for reducing diesel particulate matter in underground mines Two successful examples of control strategies for airborne hazards A new guideline document for controlling diesel emissions in underground mines was introduced by the Ontario mining industry technical advisory committee. “Diesel engine exhaust, including the diesel particulate matter, has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization,” says Keith Birnie, industrial hygienist and ventilation specialist at Workplace Safety North (WSN) and committee chair and coordinator. “For many years, diesel engines have been the workhorse in a large number of industries including mining, and diesel exhaust exposure presents an inhalation health hazard to workers.” In 2021, mining industry volunteers who make up the WSN Workplace Environment Technical Advisory Committee developed a practical reference document, Reducing diesel particulate matter in underground mines: Two successful examples, for Ontario mining operations. The guide has information about the hazards of diesel engine exhaust along with examples on controlling diesel emissions, with a focus on diesel particulate matter. Occupations with potential exposure to diesel 26
Keith Birnie, industrial hygienist and ventilation specialist at Workplace Safety North (WSN) and committee chair and coordinator.
emissions include miners, construction workers, heavy equipment operators, bridge and tunnel workers, railroad workers, oil and gas workers, loading dock workers, truck drivers, material handling operators, farmworkers, long-shoring workers, and auto, truck and bus maintenance garage workers. The diesel exposure guideline includes: • Health effects • Standards in place to protect miners • Examples of successful control strategies implemented by two mining operations Most heavy- and medium-duty trucks are equipped with diesel engines, as well as mining equipment, buses, locomotives and ships, bulldozers, tractors, and other types of equipment such as bucket lifts and diesel-fueled generators. Approximately 9,100 workers in the Ontario mining industry are estimated to be exposed to diesel exhaust emissions. CAREX Canada estimates that about 56 per cent of mine workers exposed to diesel exhaust in Ontario are exposed at high levels due to the accumulation of emissions in underground operations. Changes to diesel occupational exposure limits for Ontario “Although larger operations are moving toward battery electric vehicles, they still have and will likely have diesel equipment for quite some time into the future,” notes Birnie. “The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is planning to lower diesel particulate matter exposure limits and has consulted with industry on a regulatory proposal. This is one of the largest proposals I have ever seen from the Ministry, especially in the context of ventilation and industrial hygiene.”
Practical solutions on how to overcome challenges
For more information, contact Keith Birnie at keithbirnie@workplacesafetynorth.ca.
“The intent of this guideline is to provide practical solutions on successfully implementing control strategies for reducing diesel particulate matter,” says Birnie. “Most people know ‘what’ they need to do, but they’re interested in ‘how’ to do it and overcome the challenges. Filters are excellent at lowering particulate emissions, and this guide shows how two mining operations successfully faced these challenges.”
Related
The information in the reference material is provided as a guide to assist underground mining operations in developing those policies, programs, and how to overcome some of the control implementation challenges. Workplace Safety North, the Ontario health and safety association for mining and forest products industries, is host to industry advisory committees that tackle top health and safety concerns.
– Hazard alert: Diesel fuel tank vent systems and risk of flash fires
Advisory committees provide sector-specific expertise. The Technical Advisory Committees within the Mining Advisory Committee include (1) Ontario Mine Rescue, (2) Mining Equipment, (3) Safety and Loss Control, and (4) Workplace Environment (a) industrial hygiene and ventilation, and (b) ground control. Prevention of occupational disease is a top priority for the Ontario health and safety system.
– Auxiliary Ventilation: Good Installation and Maintenance Practices for Miners – Free training resources on diesel emission hazards for all industries: Participant training manual and Leader presentation
– Infographic: Health effects of diesel exhaust in mines – Infographic: Proper use of respirators in mines and mining plants – Occupational Diseases in the Ontario Mining Industry: An update from the Occupational Cancer Research Centre – Ontario Ministry of Labour Diesel Survey of Mines and – Mine Contractors – Ventilation Assessment for Underground Mines. 7
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Sodexo Canada provides remote camp services to the secondlargest work site in North America Sodexo Canada provides all hospitality, food, and maintenance services at Cedar Valley Lodge in Kitimat, B.C. and is elevating the work/life experience for project workers and guests at every turn CVL boasts all the amenities one would expect at a hotel resort, providing guests with an unmatched experience and elevating the living standards for a remote work site.
Cedar Valley Lodge (CVL) in Kitimat, B.C. is Sodexo Canada’s largest remote work site and the second-largest work site in North America.
The LNG Canada project in Kitimat, British Columbia is the largest energy investment in Canadian history. Once complete, it will supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace coal in Asian markets. To meet the challenge of housing its workforce onsite, LNG Canada’s prime construction partner, JGC Fluor, engaged Sodexo Canada to deliver all hospitality, food, and maintenance services for project workers – guests – at Cedar Valley Lodge (CVL), the new best-in-class worker accommodation centre. CVL is Sodexo Canada’s largest remote work site and the second-largest work site in North America. Designed as an integrated and inclusive environment for a diverse remote workforce, CVL offers a complete array of 28
amenities and services in one location— from on-site health care to high-speed Internet service, expansive dining options, and a full range of leisure and recreational opportunities. The lodge opened in stages with the first group of guests taking occupancy in July 2020. While timelines were impacted by COVID-19, the lodge was fully operational by July 2021 and serves 4,500 guests in total. Prioritizing the guest experience, Sodexo Canada created a home away from home for LNG Canada workers – many of whom travel from other areas of the province and country. CVL boasts all the amenities one would expect at a hotel resort, providing guests with an unmatched experience and elevating the living standards for a remote work site.
Central to this elevated experience is Sodexo Canada’s new digital app, MyWay. The revolutionary app provides opportunities for guests to provide feedback, ensuring that service, food, maintenance, and other amenities are always top of the line. The app also allows Sodexo Canada to directly communicate with guests and provide them with virtual updates on daily menus and amenities, which makes communication easier and friendlier for the environment. Rounding out the experience is an expansive menu with nutritious food and buildings for recreation, entertainment and administration, including an on-site health clinic. Cedar Valley Lodge and Sodexo Canada’s operation of it is changing the game for industrial work camps.
By the numbers • 1.2 million square feet • 18 dorms • Over 10,000 workers on site, 4,500 calling it home at one time • 500 employees • 1,750 seats in dining room • Eight gaming and personal TV rooms • Two movie theatres Challenges • Providing an elevated quality of life for LNG Canada workers: Traditionally, industrial workers receive the basics while staying at work camps. They work long hours on the industrial site and return to camp to receive basic meals and accommodation. • Increasing communication among workers and lodge staff: Consistent and reliable communications with camp staff and guests can be a difficult task to get right given the large size of camps and the high volume of workers. Traditional paper notices and bulletins can be inconvenient to access and easily missed, and using large quantities of paper is bad for the environment. • Maintaining quality service to a large workforce in a remote location: The more workers living at a work camp increases the demand on camp staff to maintain service levels. • Working within changing construction timelines and against a backdrop of evolving health protocols due to a global pandemic: Due to COVID-19, the rollout of some amenities at the lodge were slowed, making it difficult to provide guests with the full experience of CVL. Solutions • Reimagining camp amenities and services: Sodexo Canada worked with JGC Fluor to ensure CVL had amenities not typically seen at industrial work camps. With these intuitive developments, guests have access to a
gym, sports, social activities, a health clinic, post office, and education opportunities. • Improving the guest experience: Sodexo Canada introduced the MyWay app at CVL to provide guests and staff with a convenient way to give feedback on the lodge, amenities, food, service, and maintenance. • Offering an expanded menu that prioritizes health and wellness: Sodexo Canada provides CVL guests with a rotating menu filled with variety and nutrition to keep them healthy and fueled for their long workday. For example, guests can create customized power bowls and have access to a 24/7 grab-and-go station that is continuously stocked with fresh fruit. • Providing temporary fitness and activity options while CVL experiences construction delays due to COVID-19: Sodexo Canada offered interim fitness facilities, including a fitness class studio, weight rooms, cardio and weight machines, and eight fitness pods in the 4,500-square-foot warehouse. • Making work camps greener: Several initiatives help make CVL more environmentally friendly. The MyWay app sends out notices and bulletins to guests and staff, eliminating the need for unnecessary paper at the lodge. The addition of mail services helps cut back on emissions by sending and receiving guest packages to and from the post office in Kitimat, the closest city. New guests receive a welcome package complete with a reusable tumbler and coffee thermos, which they can use to enjoy CVL’s on-site fountain pop, water stations, and refillable beverage stations. • Reducing waste: Sodexo Canada is currently developing communications to assist guests and staff in correctly using the waste and recycle bins. Results • Sodexo Canada has received positive
feedback from employees and guests on the service and amenities at CVL. • Guests stay in welcoming and clean accommodations while working away from home. • The variety of amenities available provide guests with ample options to recharge so they are refreshed for work the next day. • CVL is reducing its environmental footprint by saving paper through sending notices and bulletins on the MyWay app and displaying signage at the lodge to educate guests on proper waste management procedures, including the correct identification of materials that are recyclable or compostable. • Within the first six months, the MyWay app logged over 2,700 active users monthly, representing almost half of all registered users. This is significantly higher than the average user retention rate for hospitality apps, which is 30 per cent. • CVL’s lodge committee uses a proactive approach with in-person meetings that allow staff to share information with guests, rather than reacting to complaints and problems as they occur. Sodexo Energy & Resources is a leader in food and facilities management, serving millions of people who power, supply, and transform our world. We believe that energy and mining companies deserve better service than the usual industry standard. So, we are raising the bar. It means we empower our frontline teams to be your day-to-day partners – anticipating and responding to your needs, solving your challenges, and improving our support to you every day. Good enough is no longer enough. That is why we are committed to service excellence, zero accidents, and a better tomorrow for you, your people, and the communities we serve. We are raising the bar! 7 29
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