The Ninth Annual Mining Day
by Scott A. Sumner
The Ninth Annual Mining Day celebrated Thunder Bay's rich mining heritage. This year's event emphasized mining and mineral exploration focused on critical minerals used in electrical vehicles. The host groups came together to present a day of activities for the public to enjoy.For more information please visit www.thunderbayminingday.ca. About NWOPA: The objectives of the Association are to represent and further the interests, serve the needs, and support the aspirations of the individual prospectors in Northwestern Ontario. NWOPA is a proud sponsor of Thunder Bay Mining Day. Northwestern Ontario Prospectors Association P.O. Box 10124 Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6T6 www.NWOPA.net About WIM-NWO: Women in Mining promote and support women in the mining industry in Northwestern Ontario, encourage continued education, professional and personal development, and networking for women connected to the business of mining, while raising the level of mining education in secondary and post-secondary institutions
I was able to talk with some exibitors at the event.Ryan Lepage, is Site Trainer for Newmont Musselwhite Mines and hasworked for 13 years at the mine located 200 km north of Pickle Lake.The mine is about an hour flight from Thunder Bay using their Dash 8 aircraft that just got repainted. They have a complete camp with bunkhouses with some new three storey units being completed now with 180 rooms each.“ We have about 500 to 600 people working on site all the time, on 24-7 365 days of the year. The mine has been operating for 25 years now with lots of gold still available underground. We pour north of 200,000 oz of gold each year.” said Ryan Lepage. Newmont is the largest gold producer in the world based in Denver, Colorado.The mine is fully underground at 1.5km deep. They have staff that live in Thunder Bay and all over the country .It is a 2 weeks on 2 >weeks off job.
Pam Fox, is the HR Superintendent for Barrick Hemlo near Marathon. The first gold pour for them was in 1985 with their 40th anniversary coming next year. There were three mines operating in the area at one time- Williams Operating Corporation, David Bell and Noranda and later Newmont. There were three separate headframes. Barrick has assumed the other properties that have decommissioned.Barrick Hemlo have a published 10 year life and pour about 155,000 oz of gold per year. They are an underground operation with a processing facility.“ We currently have 250 employees at Barrick Hemlo and run a contract mining method so have people working that way,including from Manroc. Our staff live in Marathon, Manitouwadge and White River as well as other communities,” said Pam Fox. “ Mining Day is exciting for us to get out in the community and talk with people looking for jobs as well as getting the kids excited about the field.”
