Northern Prospector 2016-17

northern Prospector 2016-2017

The annual mining & exploration review An official publication of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Prospectors and Developers Association

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Potash sector grows despite low prices

access helicopters reaches new heights

CanAlaska and De Beers ramp up exploration at Athabasca Kimberlite Project Philip Bashnick: Prospector, Trapper, War Hero Industry training programs remain robust Saskatchewan’s potash industry engages with local communities Manitoba and Saskatchewan Exploration and Development highlights, suppliers and more

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table of

Contents Message from the MSPDA President Steven Masson 10

Northern Prospector

Community Profile: The Town of Lynn Lake Straight as an Arrow

Potash Journey Safer and More Secure Than Ever Before

88

2016 Saskatchewan Exploration and Development Highlights 28

Looking at Safety in a New Way

90

Exploration Ramps Up at Athabasca Kimberlite Project The Promise of Diamonds at the Pikoo Kimberlite Field

Eye Protection At All Cost

98

99

Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals:

50

Supporting Safety on the Jobsite

102

Northern Strands: Exceeding

Options with ECO Technologies

56

107

110

Heavy Hitters to their Lineup Best in the Business

West Wind Aviation Expands Saskatchewan Operation 60

62

Innovation and Technologies for a New Era of Mining 64

Technical Rope Rescue

115

Solutions with a Vision

116

Strength in Numbers: Building Gender Diversity in Mining Nexgen Sets Sights on the Athabasca Basin’s Largest Undeveloped Uranium Deposit

Value for Industrial Tire Customers

66

The Manitoba-Saskatchewan Prospectors and Developers Association, as a body of members, is not responsible for statements made or the opinions offered in the publication. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained, and the reliability of the source, neither the publisher nor the association in any way guarantees nor warrants the information, and are not responsible for errors, omissions or forwardlooking statements made by advertisers.

Mining Industry

118

From the Ground Up

119

Comairco has What You Need

70

Schooled in Mining: Industry Programs Remain Robust

117

Industrial Solutions for the

68

to Save Money on Utilities

120

A New Standard in Remote

72

Workforce Accommodations

122

Global Mining Ventilation Door Solutions

75 76

PDAC 2017: The Diamond of Mining Shows

79

Northlands College’s Programs Meet Industry Needs 80 The Most Dependable Core Box in the Industry 82 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

All of Your PVF Solutions

125

Acquiring Crown Mineral Dispositions in Saskatchewan Thompson Regional Airport: To the North and Beyond Index to Advertisers

124

Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher or the association, or the respective directors, officers or employees. Articles and advertisements in this publication are not solicitations to buy, hold or sell specific securities; they are for information purposes only. Investors should be aware that risk is associated with any security, strategy or investment, and are advised to seek the counsel of a competent investment advi sor before making any investment, or utilizing any information contained in this publication.

Subscription, advertising and circulation can be obtained from the publisher.

Westlund Works With You for

Northern Manitoba Mining Academy Offers Training to Strengthen Communities

Production services provided by:

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All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

GTC North America Creates

SUMIT Initiative Still Delivering Results

Advertising Representatives

ROSS JAMES

MIC PATERSON

©Copyright 2016. Northern Prospector.

112

At the Forefront of Underground

Uranium Exploration in the Athabasca Basin Meeting Future Demand

Advertising Account Manager

ROSS JAMES ross@delcommunications.com

Cover Photo Courtesy of

ACCESS HELICOPTERS

Winkler Structures Adds

59

Advertising Sales Manager

DAYNA OULION dayna@delcommunications.com

Toll Free: 1.866.424.6398

Advertising Art

SHERI KIDD

DANA JENSEN

Complete Aquatic Intervention

Saskatchewan’s Potash Industry Engages with Local Communities

Publisher

JASON STEFANIK

Art Director / Design kathy cable

114

Expectations for Over 45 Years

Northern Shield Helicopters: New Name, Same Quality 54

Serious About Safety: Province-Wide Program Standardizes Safety Training

96

Mining for Solutions with Fortis

Saskatchewan’s Potash Sector Growing Despite Low Prices 52

Uranium: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

93

SRK Bolsters Rock Mechanics Program

48

President & CEO

DAVID LANGSTAFF

Managing Editor

LYNDON McLEAN lyndon@delcommunications.com

Enhancing Mine Safety with Load Cells

44

84

86

Copper Reef Mining Corporation Focuses on Success 22

Philip Bashnick: Prospector, Trapper, War Hero

is published by DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com

83

Community Profile: Snow Lake

2016 Manitoba Exploration and Development Highlights 14

8

The Annual Mining & Exploration Review

126

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, MB R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com

128

130 PRINTED IN CANADA 11/2016

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president’s message

Time to make the most of our opportunities

By Steve Masson, President, Manitoba-Saskatchewan Prospectors and Developers Association

When we look across Canada, we see that exploration is way down, financings are down, and certainly discoveries are down (but there a few that are quite exciting). Resources in general seem to be taking a beating. Comparatively, Manitoba and certainly Saskatchewan are doing moderately well. There are bright lights out there with some new discoveries, and the top 15 per cent of junior companies seem to be doing quite well, as what money there is gravitates to the few with good projects and good fiscal connections. Still, the conditions are hard to ignore: the hundreds of geology students (approximately 50 per cent young women) who can’t get a job in the industry; unemployed or underemployed drillers; and the overall decline in exploration activity and junior financings. Most of the money has walked away from exploration, judging it as being just too high-risk after investors’ exploration portfolios drastically lost their value over the last few years. So junior explorers continue to struggle, and many majors are no longer doing grass-roots exploration.

Saskatchewan, comparatively, despite lower oil and potash prices, continues to be one of the better places to explore in Canada with such diverse numbers of mineral deposits, many of them world class. New uranium discoveries have continued to catch the imagination, with the expectation that many more deposits can be found here. The Pikoo diamond camp continues to have encouraging results from North Arrow in its search for an economic diamond pipe. Canalaska’s 10 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

new kimberlite targets in the Athabasca Basin, being explored by De Beers, has been disappointing, but that is the way of exploration: more disappointments than successes, but at least targets are being tested. Land access, infrastructure and very amenable regulations on permitting continue to be the great drawing points for the province – besides its enormous mineral potential.

Manitoba also has great mineral potential but lacks the great deposits of potash and uranium. The jury is still out on whether the new Conservative government would improve conditions for a vibrant exploration and mining sector. The Mines Minister does not have it in his title! There certainly were great hopes that it might. The Mines Branch has struggled through a transition period of changing governments, missing deadlines for grant approvals and overall trying to adapt to a new focus, all of which for this past summer we have been patient; however, this year is almost over.

Our association – the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Prospectors and Developers Association (MSPDA) – continues to serve the exploration community, having in the past three years lobbied the provincial government to increase their tax credit to top up flow-through share financing to create a super flow-through for Manitoba investors. Taking our suggestions further, the province increased the mineral exploration assistance for companies and prospecting assistance for prospectors to offset the capital crises. We were also successful in obtaining

a doubling of assessments credits to help prospectors and exploration companies hold onto their key claims during our economic downturn. The previous NDP government was receptive to our plea to help our industry and gave us the above, and we are very grateful. This year, given that Hudbay Minerals will be out of feed in four years for its Flin Flon Mill when the Triple Seven and Reed Lake Mines reserves are exhausted, we lobbied for an increase from 40 to 50 per cent in mineral exploration assistance for projects that could either provide feed for Hudbay’s processing infrastructure in Flin Flon or advance gold projects. This is critical for Flin Flon as a mining town; although it would still survive, it would certainly lose amenities and population.

On this the new Conservative government delivered, and again, our association, northern communities, junior explorers and prospectors are grateful and appreciate their shared concern.

MSPDA, along with our sister association in Winnipeg, took a strong position against the Boreal Forest Initiative in Northern Manitoba, which wanted to make 50 per cent of the boreal forest, including the Barren Lands and Taiga all the way to the Nunavut border, into a park. This was largely driven by U.S.backed lobby groups who don’t live in the north. Our north in Manitoba, aside for a few centres and small communities, is virtually empty. Enshrining wilderness around northern communities as parks does little to create jobs in the north, where a lot of First Nation communities have up to 80 per cent unemployment.

president’s message Large parks would sterilize enormous tracks of land around northern communities from economic development including exploration, mining, forestry and hydro. The northern economy is based on resources and there is no farming north of The Pas. Many northern communities need a better quality of life brought on by economic opportunities. I was happy to see that many communities and stakeholders supported our position that large parks sterilizing economic development were not the answer to the needs of the north and for the future of our youth.

The MSPDA threw our support behind the provincial government’s committee that instituted shared revenue from all new mines for First Nations communities so they could benefit directly from the mineral wealth in their own backyard, aside from employment opportunities new mines would create.

This was a giant step and long overdue.

The few park jobs, most of which are not high paying, create little opportunity for the growing population of First Nations youth. They have cell phones and internet and can see the better quality of life that lies outside their community – their world. Economic development creates such opportunities; large monstrous parks do not.

Perhaps the most pressing issues this year were amplified by a number of events that have affected or soon will affect the major economic centres of Northern Manitoba and north-eastern Saskatchewan. Those were the shutdown of the Churchill grain port and the announcement of that the large paper mill in The Pas owned by Tolko would close in December. Add to this that the town of Flin Flon will be in serious trouble in four years with the shutdown of two producing mines, together with the

shutdown of the Thompson Smelter in 2018. The four major economic centres in Northern Manitoba have been or will be suffering major blows. The ramifications, however, do not stop there since the Hudson Bay Railroad – in need of significant upgrades to the rail line, with less traffic – may be no longer viable.

This is Western Canada’s only northern railway and a lifeline to industries in the north and perhaps someday a line to Nunavut. We should be building infrastructure, not letting it deteriorate. Railways and infrastructure are critical to the development and extraction of mineral resources for our industry. Manitoba should be applying to the federal programs and funds for infrastructure under our new Liberal government. This includes roads to First Nations communities where there is no excuse for them not being built. Why? Because, to paraphrase Justin, “soon it will be 2017”

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

11

president’s message

It is my hope that Manitoba’s new Conservative government will take this seriously and not abandon our northern communities, and that the federal government can help the province within their federal programs.

“Specializing in TOUGH CORING Conditions” 12 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

and communities should not be paying more than double the price of groceries and heating fuel because they lack allweather roads.

I was aware of these federal infrastructure programs partly through the media but also through the PDAC, where I was a director. After speaking with some individuals in the provincial government, I became aware that the new Conservative government was not keen on subsidizing industries or railroads in the north.

Almost all northern infrastructure in Canada – whether rail, roads or air traffic – is subsidized because of less traffic and shear remoteness; either we want to claim the north as part of Canada or not.

I therefore wrote the Honourable Cullen, our provincial Mines Minister (Mining is no longer mentioned in the title of the portfolio!), basically reminding him that federal infrastructure money was available. I also sent emails to the federal

ministers: the Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment Workforce and Labour, and the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Resources (both ministers from Manitoba), as well as the Honourable Navdeep Singh Bains, who oversees the federal infrastructure program. I outlined the effect on our major economic centres, including the probable demise of our northern railway and what it would mean for Northern Manitoba and for our industry. I asked if they could help Manitoba, in particular with infrastructure.

It is my hope that Manitoba’s new Conservative government will take this seriously and not abandon our northern communities, and that the federal government can help the province within their federal programs. The mining industry in Manitoba needs the Province to create better conditions for the investment in Manitoba’s vast mineral

Bud Chisholm (306) 270-4894

Bus. (306) 975-1523

president’s message riches, and infrastructure is important.

Every region in Canada must compete with every other region of the country and even the world for those investment dollars.

On a good note, it appears that there may be a buyer for the Paper Mill in The Pas. Also, Callinex Minerals has drilled an exciting new hole of high-grade zinc, copper, gold and silver on their Pine Bay project in Flin Flon, which, if it develops into a large orebody, could help with Flin Flon’s coming feed shortage. And Rockcliff continues to be an active player in the Snow Lake Camp and south to Talbot Lake, adding projects and continuing to build mineral resources on these projects.

On a bad note it, looks like Feds may eliminate flow-through funding, which will be the death knell to 50 per cent of junior explorers and a further drop in our discovery rates, as exploration funds becomes almost impossible to attain but for a few. It was the Feds that allowed the banks to take over the brokerage firms making them risk adverse and cutting the legs out of junior exploration’s abilities to finance, for which they should be compensating us. To eliminate flowthrough is totally turning off the life support junior explorers so desperately need. It’s like sending a message they don’t care if we have a future mining industry. Mines just don’t happen; they need to be discovered first. The ball is in their court, and if they drop it, they do it at the peril of mining’s future in Canada.

tive in tackling some of the land access issues, aboriginal issues, and addressing access to capital and financing needs; one doing work similar to what MSPDA, MPDA and the Saskatchewan Mining Association have done, but nationally.

This need is not even close to being met nationally, resulting in a declining industry. Our geology students have little place to gain experience, and our mining

and northern communities feel the pain of depleting reserves, mine closures with little exploration to find more. There is no need for this decline – our nation is vast, and the wealth is hidden there; we just need money and the opportunity to find it. Mining and exploration represent the largest employers of First Nations people, and we need this to grow.

We need to develop the north. 6

Proud to serve the North since 1984 Points North Landing Located in the Heart of the Athabasca Basin Trucking Lumber Yard Fuel Sales Commercial Repair and Welding Scheduled LTL Freight Service Equipment and Vehicle Rentals Freight and Storage Accommodations and Meals

The 2016 North West Rebellion Perhaps we need a new national prospectors association, one that truly represents the small prospector and junior company; one that is regionally based and knows the regional issues, and will work with the smaller sister prospecting organizations and affected communities, truly fighting for the needs of exploration in this country; one that is effec-

pointsnorthgroup.ca P 306-633-2137 E info@pnff.ca

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

13

manitoba exploration and development highlights

Manitoba 2016 Exploration and Development Highlights

By Manitoba Geological Survey staff, Manitoba Mineral Resources

Introduction

metal exploration and development proj-

Mineral exploration and development activity in Manitoba is showing signs of renewed life as modest improvements in base metal and gold prices are bringing exploration financing back into the province. This is most notable for precious

ects, and largely accounts for the modest increase in mineral exploration spending intentions for Manitoba in 2016.

From a mineral production perspective, low commodity prices have resulted in a significant decline in the total value LEGEND Mineral Exploration Licence

302B

Mining Claim / Mineral Lease

ZONE B

299B 301B

209B 300B

54M

64P

64O CHIPEWYAN

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Mining Restricted

Zone A Mineral Exploration Licence Zones ( Revised Manitoba Regulation 64/92) Zone B Fox Lake First Nation Seasonal Land Use Area

247B

First Nations Traditional Land Use Area

Northlands Consultation Area

166B

64J

First Nations Resource Management Area

Churchill 408B

Tadoule

Community Interest Zone

Lac Brochet 363B 363B

64K Brochet

CHURCHILL

64I

64F

64G

54F 64H

SOUTHERN INDIAN LAKE

SPLIT LAKE RMA

South Indian Lake

CLAIM STAKING ONLY 64C

Notigi

389B

Thompson

NELSON HOUSE RMA

1023A

Thicket Portage THICKET

PORTAGE

WABOWDEN

63K

Herb Lake LandingPonton

Millwater Cranberry Portage

63I

1038A

53L

Cormorant1039A

ISLAND LAKE

1035A Norway House The Pas

987B 1014B Moose Lake 988B 1016B RMA

1047A

1026A

982A

53K

418A

Red Sucker Lake

53F

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Asatawisipe Aki Planning Area

Easterville

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Pelican Rapids

63A

Island 53D Lake RMA

Berens River

ZONE B 63C

Duck Bay

Camperville Rock Ridge Mallard

Dauphin River Princess Harbour

Waterhen Salt Point

Matheson Island

Homebrook

Pine Dock

Meadow Portage Spence Lake

62N

Crane River

Red Rose Fisher Bay

62O

Dallas

Little Grand Rapids RMA

Bloodvein RMA Loon Straits

62P

Harwill

52M

CLAIM STAKING Hollow Water ONLY

Seymourville Manigotagan

62K

Ericson

62J

Clanwilliam Bethany Minnedosa

Glenella

62J

52L

62I

Ogilvie Gladstone Woodside Westbourne

Portage la Prairie Brandon

Winnipeg

Carroll

62H

Tilston Broomhill

Rennie

52E

Medora

Pierson Lyleton

Licence Holder Callinex Mines Inc. Callinex Mines Inc. Callinex Mines Inc. Callinex Mines Inc. Callinex Mines Inc. PUMA EXPLORATION Callinex Mines Inc. 4920776 MANITOBA LTD. W.S. FERREIRA LTD. W DOUGLAS FOGWILL HUDSON BAY EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED Eagle Point Exploraton Ltd. � HUDSON BAY EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED Qmc Quantum Minerals Corp.

Qmc Quantum Minerals Corp.

Wolfden Resources Corporaton� WHITE CAP EXPLORATION WHITE CAP EXPLORATION A. SEDLEY (BOB) TURNER TIMOTHY N. TUBA MARK FEDIKOW INTERNATIONAL SAMUEL HOLDING CORP. JAMES CRUISE CAMPBELL GOSSAN RESOURCES LIMITED GOSSAN RESOURCES LIMITED GOSSAN RESOURCES LIMITED PUMA EXPLORATION Canada Bay Resources Ltd. TAKARA RESOURCES INC. TAKARA RESOURCES INC. TAKARA RESOURCES INC.

1014B 1015B 1016B 1036B 1037B 166B 209B 236B 247B 299B 300B 301B 302B 363B 380B 389B 408B 416B 987B 988B 997B

SHAUN SPELLISCY SHAUN SPELLISCY SHAUN SPELLISCY W.S. FERREIRA LTD. W.S. FERREIRA LTD. CANALASKA URANIUM LTD. East Resource Inc CANALASKA URANIUM LTD. CANALASKA URANIUM LTD. CANALASKA URANIUM LTD. East Resource Inc East Resource Inc CANALASKA URANIUM LTD. NUINSCO RESOURCES LIMITED AURIGA GOLD CORP. AURIGA GOLD CORP. MANITOR MINERALS INC. W.S. FERREIRA LTD. SHAUN SPELLISCY SHAUN SPELLISCY SHAUN SPELLISCY

Zone B

Russell

Melita

MEL No. 1018A 1022A 1023A 1024A 1025A 1026A 1027A 1028A 1033A 1034A 1035A 1038A 1039A 1042A 1043A 1044A 1045A 1046A 1047A 1050A 1051A 331A 395A 396A 417A 418A 426A 982A 983A 984A 985A

Zone A

Norway House RMA

Dawson Bay Westgate

1044A Island Lake St. Theresa Point

53E

63H

Moose Lake

Moose Lake 1015B997B

Cedar Lake RMA

63F

426A

Gods Lake Narrows

Cross Lake

417A 396A

1042A

OCN Traditional Use Aea

395A God's River

Gods Lake

1033A

Wanless

GOD'S LAKE

Oxford House 1034A

1050A

331A

1043A 1028A

53N

1051A

Cross Lake Trapline Zone

Wabowden

Snow Lake

53O

SHAMATTAWA

OXFORD HOUSE

1046A

1024A 1027A 1025A

CLAIM STAKING ONLY

63P

1045A

380B

53M

PIKWITONEI

984A 984A

1018A 1022A 1022A

63O

Sherridon

Shamattawa

983A

Nelson House 985A

Coulter Dalny Waskada

Morden Winkler

Map for illustrative purposes only.

Contact Manitoba Mineral Resources for more detailed information.

Compiled By T. Davis Revised September 2016

14 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

of minerals produced in Manitoba in 2015 and 2016. This reflects the combination of low prices affecting the revenue realized by producing companies and the effect of low commodity prices on the viability of some operations.

Mineral exploration and mining in Manitoba appear to be at a crossroads.

On the one hand, base metal producers are weathering a challenging operating environment at the same time as they face impending operational changes.

On the other hand, precious metals are showing a resurgence with the re-opening of past producing gold mines and the anticipated development of new mining projects in frontier regions. Accordingly, the outlook remains mixed with a hint of cautious optimism.

York Landing Ilford

Kelsey

63N

1036B

Split Lake

64B

Pukatawagon

Flin Flon

54B 1037B

Gillam

Granville Lake

Cold Lake

York Factory RMA

Fox Lake RMA

54D

64A

416B

Leaf Rapids

PUKATAWAGAN

63N

LIMESTONE

54E

Fox Lake Seasonal Use Area

Lynn Lake Mc Veigh

Drybrough

54K

54L

BROCHET

Current as of September 23, 2016

INDEX MAP 2A ACTIVE MINERAL EXPLORATION LICENCES

Base Metals The base metal mining industry, the backbone of Manitoba’s once-thriving mining sector, is bracing for a period of significant transition with producers facing major changes in their production profiles. Chief amongst these are changes to the operations of Hudbay Minerals Inc. in Flin Flon and Vale Canada in Thompson as they face declining reserves and regulatory changes.

Hudbay is bracing for major change in its Manitoba Business Unit as two of the mines supporting the Flin Flon metallurgical complex reach the end of their respective mine lives. Hudbay announced in late 2015 that exploration efforts to discover additional base metal resources around their flagship 777 mine in Flin Flon were unsuccessful. Accordingly, Hudbay estimates that current mine reserves will be exhausted in 2020, resulting in the permanent closure of the 777 mine.

manitoba exploration and development highlights Hudbay also announced that it anticipates the depletion of reserves at their Reed mine, located 80 kilometres south of Snow Lake, in late 2018. The Reed mine is a joint venture with Royal Nickel Corporation, who acquired a 30 per cent share of the mine through the acquisition of VMS Ventures in early 2016.

The two mine closures will result in a significant loss of mill feed for the Flin Flon concentrator and zinc concentrate feedstock to the Flin Flon zinc hydrometallurgical facility. This will leave only the Lalor mine in Snow Lake providing zinc concentrate to the zinc plant, which according to Hudbay is insufficient to keep the zinc plant operating. As a result, the future of the Flin Flon metallurgical complex is in doubt due to the closure of the 777 and Reed mines, with the strong likelihood that the metallurgical complex will be placed on care and maintenance until additional feedstock is secured.

On a more positive note, Hudbay continues exploration of copper and gold

zones at the Lalor mine and anticipates additional gold resources will be delineated with further exploration conducted from underground, accessed from the recently commissioned 1,025-metre level exploration drift. To facilitate the potential development of the deep gold and copper-gold zones at Lalor, Hudbay purchased the 2,000 tonne-per-day (tpd) New Britannia gold mine and mill in 2015 and is proceeding with engineering studies to investigate the feasibility of refurbishing the New Britannia mill to process Lalor gold ore. If successful, the New Britannia mill would provide an alternative to the construction of a new concentrator at the Lalor mine.

The modest recovery in zinc prices has buoyed exploration for VMS deposits, particularly in the highly prospective Flin Flon–Snow Lake greenstone belt. The most active junior explorer in the region is Callinex Mines Inc., the largest mineral disposition holder in the Flin Flon–Snow Lake belt after Hudbay. Callinex is focus-

ing their exploration efforts on their large Pine Bay property east of Flin Flon, which includes the Baker Patton complex, the largest felsic volcanic centre in the Flin Flon greenstone belt. The property includes a number of VMS deposits and approximately 10 kilometres of favourable volcanic stratigraphy. Callinex is currently focusing on the northern Pine Bay and southern Sourdough portions of the 6,000-square-kilometre property, in the area of historic VMS deposits.

Exploration drilling to test geophysical anomalies near the historic Pine Bay deposit resulted in the discovery of a lower VMS horizon located 450 metres east of the historic deposit. The discovery hole returned 3.3 per cent copper over 3.2 metres. Follow-up drilling returned wide intercepts of massive and semi-massive sulphide mineralization hosted by a parallel horizon of favourable VMS stratigraphy below the Pine Bay deposit, which was not tested by previous exploration drilling.

In Manitoba, there’s always mORE to explORE. • rich mineral potential and diverse geology • distinct business advantage and geographic location • the right environment to discover and develop new mines • Canada’s best investment and incentive programs

To learn more about building your bottom line in Manitoba, visit:

manitoba.ca/minerals

2016-2017 Northern Prospector MB Mining ExplORE Manitoba Northern Prospector Magazine

15

manitoba exploration and development highlights Drilling at the southern Sourdough project area, adjacent to Hudbay’s pastproducing Centennial Mine, will test borehole pulse electromagnetic anomalies outlined by previous operators.

Testing of the anomalies will be accomplished by deepening drillholes drilled by Placer Dome in 1992.

Elsewhere in the Flin Flon–Snow Lake belt, Rockcliff Copper Corporation is advancing the Talbot property north of Grand Rapids, which was optioned from Hudbay in 2014. The Talbot deposit is hosted by the southern extension of the Snow Lake greenstone belt, which is covered on this area by a thin veneer of Phanerozoic rocks. Drilling in 2015 allowed Rockcliff to generate a NI 43-101 compliant resources estimate for the Talbot deposit, expanding the inferred resource to 2.2 million tonnes grading 2.8 per cent copper, 2.2 per cent zinc and 2.4 grams per tonne (gpt) gold. A 5,000-metre drill program was started in September 2016 to expand the resources and to test highpriority geophysical anomalies in the north and central portions of the property.

Other activity involving VMS properties is the acquisition of the Manitoba assets of Murgor Resources Inc. by Al-

Box 460 St. Theresa Point Manitoba R0B 1J0 alan.hadland@alair-mhaent.ca

exandria Minerals Corporation. This transaction includes two former Hudbay properties acquired by Murgor in 2006 through option agreements. The Hudvam deposit is located northeast of Flin Flon and the Wim deposit is located north of Snow Lake. Both properties host significant copper-zinc-gold resources and have numerous untested geophysical anomalies outlined by Murgor. Importantly, this gives Alexandria a foothold in a very productive VMS belt.

The cautious optimism and interest in VMS exploration is not shared by Manitoba’s other significant base metal, nickel, and the world-class Thompson nickel belt that is responsible for Manitoba’s nickel production. Vale Canada is Manitoba’s major nickel producer, with integrated mining, milling and smelting operations located in Thompson. Changes to federal air-quality regulations have resulted in a decision by Vale to close the Thompson smelter. Accordingly, Vale is making preparations for the transition from operating an integrated metallurgical complex to a mining and milling operation in advance of the scheduled closure of the Thompson nickel smelter and refinery at the end of 2018. In advance of the transition, Vale recently announced

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(204) 462-2159 1-888-299-8307 (204) 462-2830 (204) 462-2283

that it has approved the construction of an $82 million concentrate load-out facility. Another change to the Thompson operations is the decision to reduce the smelter to a single furnace, resulting in reduction of the workforce by approximately 100 persons.

Notwithstanding poor nickel markets and the impending change to their Thompson operations, Vale is proceeding with feasibility studies on the Thompson Footwall Deep project. The Footwall Deep project contains 11 million tonnes of nickel sulphide mineralization forming a deep, north plunging continuation of the Thompson deposit. The feasibilitylevel assessment of the Thompson Deep project was initiated in 2014 and continues with engineering, technical, environmental, financial and operational assessments. Vale announced the deferral of capital spending on the Footwall Deep project for 2016 but is confident that this will not affect the project development timeline. If successfully developed, the Footwall Deep project will result in a new mine that will sustain the Thompson operation for up to 15 years.

Persistent low nickel prices have not deterred interest in nickel exploration elsewhere in Manitoba as demonstrated by several brownfields projects. The recent entry of Wolfden Resources Corporation into the Island Lake and Snow Lake regions brings a well-financed junior explorer with a reputation for success to Manitoba. Wolfden acquired through claim staking two nickel properties, previously held by Vale Canada, that host significant nickel resources. The Rice Island deposit at Wekusko Lake (east of Snow Lake) is currently the focus of a diamond drill program, and Wolfden intends to follow-up their recent airborne geophysical survey of their Nickel Island property in the Island Lake area with a diamond drill program before the end of 2016.

This positive sentiment is also displayed

by Corazon Mining Limited’s assessment of the past-producing Lynn Lake nickel

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manitoba exploration and development highlights mine which is proceeding toward the finalization of a NI 43-101 compliant preliminary economic assessment. Corazon is evaluating the Lynn Lake and El nickel mines originally operated by Sherritt Gordon Mines. Using advanced exploration techniques and technology, the company has discovered new mineralization and expanded the residual resources at the Lynn Lake mine.

Unfortunately, persistent low nickel prices have contributed to the continued suspension of mining operations at CaNickel Mining Limited’s Bucko Lake mine near Wabowden. Production was suspended and the mine was placed on care and maintenance in June 2012. CaNickel successfully increased the Proven and Probable reserves at Bucko to 3.71 million tonnes of 1.45 per cent nickel.

The company had considerable exploration success on the nearby M11A and Bowden Lake deposits and continues to explore its large portfolio of properties in the Thompson nickel belt. Current activities involve geophysical surveys in the Setting Lake and Moak Lake areas in advance of follow-up diamond drill testing.

Another casualty of low nickel prices is Victory Nickel Inc., which has deferred development of their Minago nickel and frac-sand mine. Victory received an Environment Act licence in 2011 authorizing the construction and operation of the Minago project north of Grand Rapids.

However, Victory hasn’t been successful in securing financing for the initial devel-

opment stages of the nearly $600 million mine.

In southeastern Manitoba, Mustang Minerals Corp. has discontinued exploration on its Makwa and Mayville deposits near Lac du Bonnet. Mustang released the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlining the co-development of the Makwa and Mayville deposits with processing infrastructure located at the Mayville site, 43 kilometres from Makwa. The PEA estimates capital costs at $209 million and a pre-tax Internal Rate of Return of 17 per cent. Total Makwa and Mayville Indicated resources are estimated at 33.8 million tonnes grading 0.27 per cent nickel, 0.33 per cent copper, 0.6 gpt platinum and 0.19 gpt palladium. Mustang has given no timeline for the resumption of exploration activities.

Precious Metals Precious metals exploration and development activities in Manitoba were overshadowed by last year’s bankruptcy of San Gold Corporation, Manitoba’s only primary gold producer, which ultimately led to a series of transactions that resulted in Klondex Mines Ltd. acquiring San Gold’s assets and putting the Bissett mine back into production.

San Gold declared bankruptcy in June 2015, and the assets of the corporation were assumed by the major secured creditor. Klondex Mines announced that it had acquired the assets of San Gold in January of 2016 with the intention of

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bringing the re-named True North Mine back into production. Klondex, with their experience of operating narrow, highgrade gold mines in Nevada, took the approach that with better grade control the True North mine could become a profitable long-life operation. In addition, the company recognized the considerable exploration potential that exists within the large land package that formed a component of the assets. Initial work at True North involved infill underground drilling and a revised resource estimate, which informed the development of a new mine plan. Pre-production development followed in advance of a positive production decision on September 12, 2016.

Once full commercial production is achieved, Klondex anticipates gold production ranging between 45,000 and 65,000 ounces per year based on daily production rates of 600 to 1,000 tpd. The current mineral reserve estimate stands at 139,000 tonnes grading 8.26 gpt in the proven category and 180,000 tonnes grading 8.40 gpt in the probable category.

Total measured and indicated resources are 2.53 million tonnes grading 7.27 gpt.

Gold production from the mine will be augmented by gold recovered from the reprocessing of tailings generated by San Gold. The tailings reprocessing started in June as part of the pre-production development work and test mining, and it is proving to generate high-margin incremental gold.

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Our location is just down from the hospital in one of the best locations in Thompson if you are looking for a CLEAN, QUIET, COMFORTABLE and SAFE environment. We at Friuli have been operating this small “Extended Stay”, consisting of 12 suites, since 1999 and are trying very hard to keep our little piece of the market by offering something unique and personal to our guests. Though there are several new “Multi-National” hotels in Thompson and so more of a selection than in the past, we hope that we continue to be supported as a small business- because small business is still the heart and soul of every great community and country.

Every Suite is a full sized apartment consisting of a living Room (with a new leather Queen Size Sofa Bed and Lazy Boy), also a 42” Flat Screen T.V. With full Cable TV package & Sports Channels, DVD player, (both hard wired Internet and Wi-Fi), Separate Bedroom with Queen Size Bed and T.V., Renovated Bathroom, Full Sized Kitchen and appliances equipped with all you would have at your home, twice a week housekeeping (includes one sheet change), use of barbecue in the nicer months, coin operated laundry equipment on both floors and more. Small amenities are also provided such as shampoo, soaps, hand cream, sugar, salt and pepper, whitener, coffee, tea etc... There is new flooring in every unit. We are continuously upgrading the suites, next will be counter tops and kitchen cupboards.

Some of which are already completed.

manitoba exploration and development highlights The rapid appreciation in the price of gold during the first half of 2016 was welcomed by both gold producers and explorers and has resulted in renewed interest in gold exploration in Manitoba.

In this respect, the acquisitions of two advanced exploration projects by established, Canadian-based gold producers proved timely.

Alamos Gold Inc. completed the acquisition of junior gold explorer Carlisle Goldfields Ltd. late in 2015, consolidating the gold resources and land position that Carlisle had defined over the past 10 years in the Lynn Lake greenstone belt.

The acquisition gives Alamos 100 per cent ownership of the Farley and MacLellan past-producing mines that are currently the focus of advanced exploration directed toward a feasibility study.

The transaction is the culmination of a complex series of ownership changes that saw Carlisle enter into a joint venture with AuRico Gold Corp. on the Farley and MacLellan properties, while retaining control of the balance of their large property package. AuRico subsequently merged with Alamos with Alamos retaining the Lynn Lake properties.

This was followed by the acquisition of Carlisle by Alamos. Remarkably, all the transactions were completed in a period of 18 months. Alamos subsequently an-

nounced the commissioning of feasibility studies in September 2016 with an anticipated completion in 2017.

Similarly, the Yamana Gold Inc. acquisition of Mega Precious Metals Inc. in 2015 placed the Monument Bay project southeast of Thompson into the stable of an emerging mining and development company with considerable resources and a portfolio of Canadian and international development projects.

The project includes the Twin Lakes gold deposit within a large exploration property. Yamana plans to continue with an aggressive infill and exploration drill program at Twin Lakes, which started with a 7,850-metre drill program last winter. Land-based summer drilling will be followed by additional winter drilling, bringing Yamana’s planned exploration expenditures in 2016 to $6 million.

A significant component of Yamana’s exploration program is the sampling and analysis of drill core generated by previous project operators. An important and somewhat unique aspect of the Twin Lakes deposit is the association between gold and tungsten throughout the deposit. The close association led Mega to include tungsten in the resource estimate, significantly increasing the value proposition of the project.

Continued drilling by Yamana upgraded

the resource estimate, which now contains an Indicated Mineral Resource of 1.787 million ounces of gold contained in 36.58 million tonnes at a grade of 1.52 gpt gold, and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.781 million ounces of gold contained in 41.97 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.32 gpt gold.

Renewed interest in gold in the northern Superior Province in Manitoba led Puma Exploration Inc. to significantly increase its property position in the Little Stull Lake area, adjacent to Yamana’s Monument Bay project. Puma’s property contains the Little Stull Lake deposit that has a historical resource in excess of 250,000 ounces of gold grading 10 gpt. In July 2016, Puma signed a non-binding letter of intent with Black Widow Resources Inc., whereby Black Widow can acquire 100 per cent interest in the project The appreciation in the price of gold is facilitating efforts of Minnova Corp. to finance and execute their plans to reopen the past-producing Puffy Lake mine near Sherridon. The company plans to complete a 10,000-metre infill drill program to upgrade the mineral resource estimate in advance of work directed toward re-opening the mine.

Minnova released a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Maverick

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20 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

manitoba exploration and development highlights project in 2011 that outlined robust economics and a plan to resume production of 48,000 ounces of gold per year over an 11-year mine life at a cash cost of $798 per ounce. The low capital cost of $18 million and relatively short 18 month payback period further demonstrate the feasibility of the Maverick project. Current project resources support the processing of 2.5 million tonnes at a grade of 6.53 gpt for a total 483,000 ounces of gold over the life of the mine. Minnova anticipates that project technical reports will be updated following the completion of this winter’s drill program.

Elsewhere in Manitoba, a number of companies are renewing gold exploration projects: Copper Reef Mining Corporation plans exploration work at their North Star property southwest of Snow Lake; Rockcliff Copper Corporation announced the acquisition of the historic Laguna gold mine; and Satori Resources Inc. announced this summer that it had

successfully raised the capital that would allow it to revive its Tartan mine project east of Flin Flon.

Uranium Uranium exploration activity has been rekindled in northwest Manitoba. The region hosts the northeast extension of the Wollaston Domain, which hosts a number of significant, basement-hosted uranium deposits in neighbouring Saskatchewan. CanAlaska Uranium Ltd., Northern Uranium Corp. and East Resources Inc. currently hold dispositions covering the known extent of the Wollaston Domain in northwest Manitoba.

Exploration by Northern Uranium on their Northwest Manitoba project has returned very encouraging results, and on the strength of these results, Northern Uranium has exercised its right to acquire an increased interest in the project from CanAlaska Uranium. Drilling

by Northern Uranium outlined a large

area of intense alteration associated with uranium mineralization but has yet to intercept significant uranium mineralization.

Potash Manitoba’s consolidation of the conventionally mineable potash resources in southwestern Manitoba has renewed interest in potash. The Manitoba Potash Corp. (MPC) controls the RussellMcAuley area of southwestern Manitoba, the largest land holdings with sufficient thickness and grade to sustain potentially economic underground potash mining. In September 2015, MPC, assisted and advised by Micon International Ltd. and Manitoba Mineral Resources, received Expressions of Interest to acquire MPC and its assets in the Russell-McAuley area. The evaluation of the Expressions of Interest is ongoing in advance of the selection of a single proponent. 6

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21

Copper Reef Mining Corporation

Copper Reef M ining Corporation Copper Reef MiningCorporation www.copperreefmining.com

Focusing on three major gold projects and one base metal property Focusing on Three Major Gold Projects and One Base Metal Property

Copper Reef Mining Corporation, based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, holds polymetallic b and diamond exploration properties throughout the Lynn Lake, Snow Lake and Flin Belts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Copper Reef is developing new targets in the

where it holds the second largest claim base next to that of Hudbay. Copper Reef h opper Reef Mining Corporation, based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, holds polymetallic base metal, gold and diamond exploraCopper Reef Mining Corporation throughout the Lynn Lake, Snow Lake and Flin Flon Greenstone Belts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Cu-­‐Zn-­‐tion Ag-­‐properties Au deposits and has developed new targets in the Albert’s Lake Area, 20 k Copper Reef is developing new targets in the Flin Flon Belt, where it holds the second largest claim base next to that of Focusing on Three Major Gold Projects and One Base Metal Property Hudbay’s Flin Flon Mill and Processing Plant. These base metal properties are availa Hudbay. Copper Reef holds a number of Cu-Zn-Ag-Au deposits and has developed new targets in the Albert’s Lake Area, 20 kilometres east of Hudbay’s Flin Flon Mill and Processing Plant. These base metal properties are available for option with Copper Reef Mining Corporation, based in Flin Flon, Manitoba, holds polymetallic base metal, gold with deals in the works. This year, Copper Reef has concentrated on its gold proper deals in the works. This year, Copper Reef has concentrated on its gold properties. and diamond exploration properties throughout the Lynn Lake, Snow Lake and Flin Flon Greenstone Belts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Copper Reef is developing new targets in the Flin Flon Belt,

C

where it holds the second largest claim base next to that of Hudbay. Copper Reef holds a number of Cu-­‐Zn-­‐Ag-­‐Au deposits and has developed new targets in the Albert’s Lake Area, 20 kilometres east of Hudbay’s Flin Flon Mill and Processing Plant. These base metal properties are available for option with deals in the works. This year, Copper Reef has concentrated on its gold properties.

NATIONAL

CZC Issued and Outstanding 127,631,300 STOCK EXCHANGE

Fully Diluted

CSE

CANADIAN

141,641,300

Gold Properties

CSE CANADIAN NATIONAL CZC Issued and Outstanding 127,631,300 NATIONAL CZC Issued and Outstanding 127,631,300 STOCK EXCHANGE Fully Diluted 141,641,300

STOCK EXCHANGE

Gold Properties

22 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Fully Diluted

CSE

141,641,3

Copper Reef MiningCorporation d Rock and North Star Properties)

www.copperreefmining.com

Copper Reef holds five primarily gold properties, two of which are inactive. The three active projects Gold Properties

include the Gold Rock and North Star Projects in the Snow Lake Camp; and the Otter Lake Property Copper Reef holds five primarily gold properties, two of which are inactive. The three active projects include the Gold Rock and

North Star Projects inCthe Snow Lake Camp; and the Otter Lake Property on the Gurney-Century Gold Mine trend and the Alberts on the Gurney-­‐ entury Gold Mine trend and the Alberts Lake Property, both in the main Flin Flon

Lake Property, both in the main Flin Flon camp. Currently, Copper Reef is concentrating mainly on its high-grade Gold Rock Group. camp. Currently, Copper Reef is concentrating mainly on its high-­‐ g rade Gold Rock Group.

(Gold Rock and North Star Properties) (Gold Rock and North Star Properties)

North Star Gold Property is located 36 kilometres The west of Snow Lake, Manitoba. At b

Star and Gold Rock properties, gold mineralization is hosted in gabbro within a typical Pro orth Star Property is locatedquartz 36 kilometres westwithin of Snow Manitoba.

At both domain, the North and weak Gold system. zone Gold-rich veins are an Lake, extensional structural North d Gold Rock properties, gold mineralization is hostedwest in of gabbro within a typical Proterozoic shear The Star Gold Property is located 36 kilometres Snow Lake, At Star both theGold North occurs along a contractional domain.

The North Star Gold Property is located 36 kilometres west of Snow Lake, Manitoba.

At Manitoba. both the North and Rock proper ystem. Gold-rich quartz are within an extensional structural and Proterozoic weak mineralization andmineralization Gold Rockveins properties, gold mineralization is hosted inshear gabbro domain, within a typical shear ties, is hosted in gabbro within a typical Proterozoic Star gold zone system.

Gold-rich quartz veins are within an extensional structural domain, and weak mineralization along a contractional domain.

along a contractional domain. occurs Gold Rock Property is 800 metres northeast of the North Star Property.

Gold is listed 800inmetres nort

Selected drill holes from GoldRock Rock 20Property winter drilling are the below.

Goldtable Rock Property isis 800 metres northeast North Star Property.

Gold Rock Property 800 metres northeast ofSelected theof the drill holes

North Star Property.

Selected drill holes from Gold

North Star Property.Rock Selected holesdrilling from Gold 2010drill winter are listed in th

Rock 2010 winter drilling are listed in the table below.

Rock 2010 winter drilling are listed in the table below.

Selected Drillholes from Selected Gold Rock 2010 Winter Drilling Drillholes from Gold Rock 2010

Selected Drillholes from Gold Rock 2010 Winter Drilling Hole # Au (g/t) Length (m) From (m) T o (m)

Hole # Au (g/t) Length (m) From

Hole # Au14.41 (g/t) Length From (m)26.3 T o (m) GR-10-114 3.3 (m) 23.0

GR-10-114 14.41 23 GR-10-115 14.41 15.65 1.5 65.023.0 66.5 26.33.3 GR-10-114 3.3

GR-10-119 7.79 2.1 114.3 116.4 GR-10-115 15.65 65 GR-10-115 15.65 1.5 65.0 66.51.5 16.31 0.9 119.2 120.1

GR-10-119 7.79 2.1 114.3 249.45 116.42.1 GR-10-119 114 GR-10-122 2.94 3.65 249.05 7.79

0.9 119.2 GR-10-125 16.31 7.01 2.3 143.4 145.7 120.1 16.31 0.9 119

GR-10-122 2.94 3.65 249.05

GR-10-122 2.94 249.45 3.65 249

GR-10-125 7.01 2.3 143.4 145.7 GR-10-125 7.01 2.3 143

SYMBOL: CZC: CNSX

p. Currently, Copper Reef is concentrating mainly on its high-­‐grade Gold Rock Group.

SYMBOL: CZC: CNSX

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

23

www.copperreefmining.com

North Star-Gold Rock and Jupiter-KU-New Discovery Structures North Star-­‐Gold Rock and Jupiter-­‐KU-­‐New Discovery Structures

The Alberts Lake Gold Property 24 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Copper Reef Mining Corporation drilled four twin drill holes on the Albert’s Lake gold zo non 43-­‐101 resources by Granges outlined approximately 400,000 tonnes of 7.5 g gold. www.copperreefmining.com

The Alberts Lake Gold Property

Copper Reef MiningCorporation

The Alberts Lake 2011 drilling program completed its objectives of testing the Gold Shear Zone.

The Alberts Lake 2011 drilling program completed its objectives of testing the Gold Shear Zone. Copper Reef Mining CorporaCopper Reef Mining Corporation drilled four twin drill holes on the Albert’s Lake gold zone. Previous tion drilled four twin drill holes on the Albert’s Lake gold zone. Previous non 43-101 resources by Granges outlined approximately non 43-­‐ 101 resources by Granges outlined approximately 400,000 tonnes of 7.5 g gold.

RESULTS 400,000 tonnes of 7.5 g gold.

From (m)

To (m)

Interval

253.2

304.7

51.5

219.7

250.6

30.9

Au (g/t) 178.5

Ag (g/t) 206.4

27.9

2.4

AL-11-61BTW RESULTSAverage

AL-11-40TW From (m) AL-11-57TW

ToAverage (m) Interval

AL-11-61BTW Average

253.2

304.7

51.5

AL-11-40TW

Average

219.7

250.6

30.9

AL-11-57TW

Average

178.5

206.4

27.9

Includes AL-11-72TW

Active Base Metal Property Active Base Metal Property Active Base Metal Property

Average

1.02

Includes

193.03

205.4

12.37

Average

198.1

224.5

26.4

193.03

Includes 205.4 12.37

212.1 6.74

213.95 18.1

1.85

Average

198.1

224.5

26.4

1.14

2.2

Includes

212.1

213.95

1.85

4.55

7.1

AL-11-72TW

1.39

3.46

2.3

9.1

A

Copper Reef holds all the claims on strike to the north of Callinex’s new Discovery at Pine Bay, in Flin Flon

Copper Reef holds all the claims on strike to the north of Callinex’s new Discovery at Pine Bay, in Flin Flon

Copper Reef holds all the claims on strike to the north of Callinex’s new Discovery at P 2016-2017 Northern Prospector 25 Flin Flon

SYMBOL: CZC: CNSX

tter/Twin Lake Property

www.copperreefmining.com

The Otter/Twin Lake Property

tter Lake Gold group of claims is located six kilometres northwest of the town of Cranb The Otter Lake Gold group of claims is located six kilometres northwest of the town of Cranberry Portage and 20 kilometres Copper Reef MiningCorporation south of Flin Flon, Manitoba.

It consists of three main quartz veins carrying up to 3.33 ounces of Au and 13.9 ounces of Ag. ge and 20 kilometres south of Flin Flon, Manitoba. It consists of three main quartz veins www.copperreefmining.com ng up to 3.33 ounces of Au and 13.9 ounces of Ag. The Otter/Twin Lake Property

The Otter Lake Gold group of claims is located six kilometres northwest of the town of Cranberry Portage and 20 kilometres south of Flin Flon, Manitoba. It consists of three main quartz veins carrying up to 3.33 ounces of Au and 13.9 ounces of Ag.

Grab Samples from the Parres Gold Vein.

Grab Samples from the Parres Gold Vein.

Grab Samples from the Parres G

26

(Flin Flon, Manitoba) Royalty Holdings (Hanson Lake Belt, Saskatchewan) & Prospector 2016-2017 Northern

www.copperreefmining.com

Copper Reef Mining Corporation has an underlying royalty of $0.75/t from Foran’s McIlvenna Bay Deposit (currently with estimated resource estimate of 16.3 million tonnes grading 1.82 per cent CuEq in the indicated category and a further 13.1 million tonnes grading 1.87 per cent CuEq in the inferred Royalty holdings (hanson Lake Belt, Saskatchewano& Flin Flon, Manitoba) category, both at a $45 [U.S.] per tonne NSR cut-­‐ ff.) and a two per cent NSR on the Bigstone copper deposit (historic estimate 3.75mt grading 2.03 per cent Cu at a one per cent Cu cut-­‐ off) , the with esCopper Reef Mining Corporation has an underlying royalty of $0.75/t from Foran’s McIlvenna Bay Deposit (currently timatedBalsam deposit, the Hanson property, the Sam property and the Comeback property. Copper Reef’s resource estimate of 16.3 million tonnes grading 1.82 per cent CuEq in the indicated category and a further 13.1 million owned Hanson Lake Property is on strike with the McIlvenna Deposit and is the site of tonnes100 per cent-­‐ grading 1.87 per cent CuEq in the inferred category, both at a $45 [U.S.] per tonne NSR cut-off.) and a two per cent NSR on the past producing Hanson Lake Mine (production 147,000 tons grading 10 per cent Zn, 5.8 per cent the Bigstone copper deposit (historic estimate 3.75mt grading 2.03 per cent Cu at a one per cent Cu cut-off ) , the Balsam deposit, Pb, 0.5 per cent Cu and 137 g/t Ag). the Hanson property, the Sam property and the Comeback property. Copper Reef ’s 100 per cent-owned Hanson Lake Property is on strike with the McIlvenna Deposit and is the site of the past producing Hanson Lake Mine (production 147,000 tons grading 10 Copper Reef also holds royalties in Callinex’s Pine Bay, Cabin Zone and Sourdough deposits in the Flin per cent Zn, 5.8 per cent Pb, 0.5 per cent Cu and 137 g/t Ag).

Flon Greenstone Belt and any new discoveries.

Copper Reef also holds royalties in Callinex’s Pine Bay, Cabin Zone and Sourdough deposits in the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt and any new discoveries.

More information on any of the active projects can be found at our website, More information on any of the active projects can be found at our website, www.copperreefmining.com. www.copperreefmining.com.

SYMBOL: CZC: CSE

Corporate Information: 12 Mitchell Road, PO Box 306, Flin, Flon Manitoba R8A 1N1

Tel: 204-687-3500 • Fax: 204-687-4762

SYMBOL: CZC: Email: more@mymts.net • Listing Date:CSE Friday, February 22, 2008

URL: www.copperreefmining.com Corporate Information

Directors and Officers Auditors: McGovern, Hurley, Cunningham, LLP (Toronto) Address: 12 Mitchell Road, PO Box 306 Robert N. Granger, Q.C.

Chairman & Director Solicitors: Taylor McCaffrey LLP (Winnipeg) Flin, Flon Manitoba R8A 1N1

Stephen Masson, MSC., P. Geo Pres., CEO & Director Phone 204-­‐687-­‐3500

David W. Kendall, FCA

CFO & Treasurer Directors and Officers: Fax 204-­‐687-­‐4762

Kelly Gilmore

Director Robert N. Granger, Q.C., Chairman & Director • Stephen , MSC., P.Geo, President, CEO & Director David W. Kendall, FCA, CFO & Treasurer Kelly Gilmore, Director • William J. Jackson, B.A.Sc., Director SYMBOL: CZC: CNSX William J. Phillips, Director Laara Shaffer, Corporate Secretary

Share Information: Transfer Agent: Equity Transfer and Trust Co., (Toronto) • Investors Relations: 204-687-3500 (Flin Flon) Shares Issued and Outstanding: 127,631,300 • Warrants Outstanding: 14,010,000 Options Outstanding: 0 • Fully Diluted: 141,641,300 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

27

Saskatchewan 2016 Exploration and Development Highlights Submitted by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey – Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy

S

askatchewan remains one of Canada’s and the world’s most attractive jurisdictions for mineral explora-

from record potash production and the

tion investment according to the Fraser Institute’s 2015 survey of mining companies: Saskatchewan is ranked first overall

Current as of September 11, 2016 to an estimated $1.40 B in 2016.

strength of high global demand for the

It is estimated that over $226 mil-

product. The value of mineral sales for

lion (M) will be spent in 2016 exploring

2016 is expected to decline due to con-

for minerals in Saskatchewan (Table 1).

tinued downward pressures on the prices

When compared with previous expen-

for most minerals.

ditures, which averaged about $221 M

nationally and second globally out of 109

An estimate by Natural Resources

jurisdictions in terms of Investment At-

over the past three years (Table 1), Sas-

Canada (NRCan) indicates that Sas-

katchewan’s exploration outlook remains

tractiveness, a composite measure of geo-

katchewan will account for 16.4 per cent

steady, in spite of the decrease in available

logical potential and government policy.

of Canadian exploration expenditures in

exploration capital that has been driven

Saskatchewan continued to be the

2016, up from 15.1 per cent in 2015. This

by the recent economic downturn. The

world’s largest potash producer and the

puts the province on track to rank sec-

bulk of the spending is anticipated to be

second largest producer of primary ura-

ond nationally for exploration spending

in the uranium and industrial minerals

nium in 2015. The province also had

second only Ontario. Continued strong

sectors, with potash the primary driver in

mineral production from coal, gold, base

investment in Saskatchewan comes at a

the latter category.

metals, sodium and potassium sulphate,

time when the available exploration capi-

As of the end of September 2016, ac-

silica sand and clay products. In 2015, the

tal is decreasing in Canada and globally.

tive mineral dispositions in the province

value of mineral sales, mostly from pot-

This decreasing trend is highlighted by

(issued pursuant to The Mineral Tenure

ash and uranium, was approximately $8.2

NRCan data that shows a dramatic re-

Registry Regulations) totaled about 8.1 M

billion (B), up from $7.3 B in 2014 and

duction in mineral exploration spending

hectares (ha), similar to the 8.3 M ha held

$7.1 B in 2013. Mineral sales benefitted

in Canada from a record $4.23 B in 2011

at the same time one year ago. Although

TABLE 1

Saskatchewan mineral exploration expenditures, compiled by the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy from the annual survey of exploration spending intentions. M = million.

2011 ($ M) 2012 ($ M) 2013 ($ M) 2014 ($ M) 2015 ($ M) 2016 ($ M) (preliminary

estimate)

Uranium 101.2 115.8 143.9 138.7 136.1 133.2 Gold 10.5 13.1 6.3 6.0 2.2 3.7 1 Base Metals 13.3 13.0 7.8 2.9 3.8 1.2 Diamonds 7.9 5.2 4.2 3.6 17.3 14.5 2 Industrial Minerals 160.3 176.5 74.3 64.6 51.5 73.7 TOTAL 1 2

293.2 323.6 236.4 215.9 211.0 226.3

Includes: platinum group metals.

Includes: potash, coal, rare earth elements, and clays.

28 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

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29

SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS the current economic conditions have forced many companies to evaluate their land positions, total active dispositions were boosted by a staking rush related to a number of circular aeromagnetic anomalies being investigated as potential kimberlite targets in the western Athabasca Basin. Moreover, continued exploration success in the Patterson Lake area of the southwest Athabasca Basin, and active diamond exploration near Deschambault Lake have added to the stability of mineral tenure over the past 12 months. Total active dispositions (comprising permits and leases issued pursuant to The Subsurface Mineral Tenure Regulations) for potash exploration and development have fallen to 118, totaling ~2.9 M ha, from 163, totaling 4.4 M ha, over the last year.

Uranium Saskatchewan produced 22 per cent of the world’s primary uranium supply

in 2015. Production came from three

the Eagle Point – Rabbit Lake operation

mines operated by Cameco Corporation

in 2016 due to high production costs. The

(Cameco). The McArthur River mine re-

operation was placed on care and main-

mained the world’s largest uranium pro-

tenance in April until prices recover; total

ducer, yielding 19.1 M lb U3O8 in 2015.

production for 2016 was 1.1 M lb U3O8.

Both the mine and the Key Lake milling

In spite of difficult economic times,

operation were licensed to produce 25 M

uranium exploration remains robust in

lb U3O8 annually in 2015. The Cigar Lake

the province with anticipated spending

mine, now the world’s second-largest

of $133.2 M. Major programs have con-

uranium producer, exceeded forecasts

tinued in both the eastern and south-

(6-8 M lb U3O8) to produce 11.3 M lb

western Athabasca Basin. In the south-

U3O8 in 2015. The Eagle Point mine at

west, activity in the Patterson Lake area

Rabbit Lake added an additional 4.2 M

continues to be strong. Fission Uranium

lb U3O8, bringing Saskatchewan’s total

Corp. (Fission) continued to explore a

production to 34.6 M lb U3O8 in 2015.

2.63-km-long mineralized trend at its

Expected production in 2016 is 35.1 M

Patterson Lake South Project. In addition

lb U3O8 with McArthur River and Cigar

to expansion of its Triple R deposit, for

Lake expected to produce 18 and 16 M lb

which a Resource containing 105.5 M lb

U3O8, respectively. Production outlooks

U3O8 (79.6 M lb U3O8 Indicated; 25.9 M

have been downgraded in 2016 (McAr-

lb U3O8 Inferred) was published in 2015,

thur River forecast was originally 20 M

other zones of mineralization have been

lb U3O8) due to low uranium prices and,

defined along the trend. At the trend’s

to that end, production was suspended at

western end, the R840W and R600W

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SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCE MAP OF SASKATCHEWAN Northern Prospector 2016 Edition

#1 BEA VER

TANTATO

GE

Lake Athabasca

ENNADAI

DODGE

LOD

Fond du Lac

MUDJATIK

Black Lake

STONY RAPIDS

Fond du Lac River

CARSWELL STRUCTURE

2#

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Cree Lake

N AS

LL

3#

W

O

JA TI K

LA K Lake

3 #

NE

155

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Turnor Lake

LA LA LOCHE LOCHE

Reindeer

Locations Referenced in Text 5. Eagle Point mine 6. Rabbit Lake mill 7. Triple R, R840W, R600W and R1620E deposits 8. Arrow, Bow, Spitfire, Cannon and Harpoon deposits 9. Gryphon zone 10. Phoenix deposit 11. Fox Lake deposit

905

TO

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Wollaston Lake

W AT H BA AM TH AN O LI TH

955

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#2

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Pasfield Lake

ATHABASCA BASIN

Operating Mines/Mills 1. McArthur River mine (P2N Zone deposit; Cameco Corp., 69.805%; AREVA Resources Canada Inc., 30.195%); ore processed at Key Lake mill 2. Cigar Lake mine (Cameco Corp., 50.025%; AREVA Resources Canada Inc., 37.1%; Idemitsu Uranium Exploration Canada Ltd., 7.875%; TEPCO Resources Inc., 5%); ore processed at McClean Lake mill 3. McClean Lake mill 4. Key Lake mill

E

#1

CITY

TALTSON

# URANIUM

BUFFALO

NARROWS

RIVE

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PINEHOUSE PINEHOUSE LAKE LAKE

#8

165

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Deschambault 165 Lake

2

Montreal Montreal Lake Lake 55

# COPPER-NICKEL 1. Dinty Lake

FLIN FLON 106

# 18

17

16 1

15

Beaver River

Locations Referenced in Text 3. Fisher property 5. Orchid property 4. Chico property 6. Truscott property 7. Greywacke/Greywacke North # COPPER-ZINC 8. Preview SW 1. McIlvenna Bay 2. Brabant Lake 3. Janice Lake 4. Borys Lake 5. Callinan mine

135

IN

4

# GOLD Operating Mines 1. Seabee mine (includes L62 zone; Claude Resources Inc.) 2. Santoy mine complex (Claude Resources Inc.)

SANDY BAY

FL

G

%

6 #2 ## 3 1 # 4# 5# 3 FL

Dore Lake

Ronge

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165 RONGE RONGE

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SOUTHEND

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PATUANAK PATUANAK

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KEY TO NUMBERED MINES AND DEPOSITS

Scott Lake

TRAIN

N

Tazin Lake

O

110° 60° NOLAN

Amisk Amisk

Lake Lake

# RARE EARTH OCCURRENCE 1. Hoidas Lake 2. Douglas River 3. Fraser Lakes Zone B

 KIMBERLITE OCCURRENCE 1. Fort à la Corne kimberlite cluster # 2. Star-Orion South project 5 3. Pikoo district 6

54

%

POTASH AND SALT Operating Mines 1. Vanscoy potash mine (Agrium Inc.) 2. Cory Division potash mine (Potash Corp.)

3. Patience Lake Division potash solution mine (Potash Corp.)

4. Allan Division potash mine (Potash Corp.)

5. Colonsay potash mine (The Mosaic Company) 6. Lanigan Division potash mine (Potash Corp.)

7. Esterhazy K-1 and K-2 potash mines and K-3 potash mine expansion (The Mosaic Company) 8. Rocanville Division potash mine (Potash Corp.)

9. Belle Plaine potash solution mine (The Mosaic Company) 10. Unity solution salt mine and plant (Compass Minerals Canada Corp.)

11. Saskatoon chloride based chemical plant (ERCO Worldwide)

Cumberland Cumberland Lake Lake

 106

2

 

4

LLOYDMINSTER



 

3

Ri

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r

2

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NORTH BATTLEFORD 16

6 9

11 SASKATOON % 3 5 % 1% 2 % % % 4 5 7

21

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% 6

1% 2

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Sa ska tc

KINDERSLEY

Quill

So

Lakes

% %% 12 2 17 % 16

Last Mountain Lake

11

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% 18

MELVILLE

21

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13 % % % 19 15

REGINA

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Frenchman River

2

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SYMBOLS

1

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ESTEVAN

2 % %2

%1 Oil fields Gas fields Oil sands potential Potash and salt resource areas Carnallitic regions (magnesium)

Ri

SODIUM SULPHATE AND POTASSIUM SULPHATE Operating Plants 1. Chaplin Lake sodium sulphate plant (Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals Inc.) 2. Big Quill Lake potassium sulphate plant (Compass Minerals Wynyard Inc.)

% 8%

1

13

49° 110°

LEGEND Uranium potential Base metal potential Gold potential Coal fields Major peat resource potential Helium resource potential

16

13

ASSINIBOIA

1%

7%

So

MAPLE CREEK

Qu'Appelle River

% 14 9 %

1

Old Wives Lake

2 % 13

10

MOOSE JAW

17. Wynyard project 18. Foam Lake project 19. Albany project

% YORKTON

Lake Diefenbaker

1 %

Advanced Projects 12. Jansen project 13. Kronau project 14. Legacy project 15. Milestone project 16. Muskowekwan project

HUMBOLDT

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3

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PRINCE 55 1   ALBERT   

 

102°

Edge of Precambrian Shield Precambrian domain boundaries and names Major faults Roads SCALE Cities 25 0 25 50 75 Kilometres Towns 25 25 50 Miles 0

CLAY RESOURCES Operating Quarries 1. Saskatoon clay quarry (Cindercrete Products Ltd.) 2. Ravenscrag clay quarry (I-XL Industries Ltd.) 3. Wilcox bentonite plant (Canadian Clay Products Inc.) 4. Willow Bunch clinker quarries (Colored Shale Products)

%

COAL AND PEAT Operating Mines 1. Poplar River coal mine (Westmoreland Coal Co.) 2. Estevan coal mine (Westmoreland Coal Co.) 3. Carrot River peat moss plant (Premier Horticulture) 4. Wapa Bay leonardite quarry (Wapa Bay Resources)

% HELIUM Operating Plant 1. Mankota plant (Weil Group Resources)

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

31

SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS zones have been merged to form a contiguous zone 465 m in strike length just to the west of Patterson Lake. East of the Triple R deposit, the high-grade R1620 E zone has also been expanded to a strike length of 225 m. In addition, Fission has begun exploring below the Triple R (maximum depth of ~350 m) and hopes to find additional uranium in the deepseated fault system that hosts the deposit.

NexGen Energy Ltd. (NexGen), working adjacent to Fission at Patterson Lake,

tains 201.9 M lb U3O8 grading 2.68 per cent in the Inferred category. The deposit contains a high-grade core that contains 120.5 M lb U3O8 grading 13.26 per cent.

Since publication of the estimate, NexGen has worked to increase the confidence of the Resource with new drilling. The company hopes to publish an updated Resource estimate late in 2016.

In addition to Arrow, NexGen has now

zones are separated by about 200 m along strike, and are between 150 to 400 m deep.

In the eastern Athabasca Basin, Denison Mines Corp. (Denison) is advancing the Wheeler River property (joint venture with Cameco and JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Ltd.) towards completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study. The Wheeler River property hosts a Resource of over

discovered new zones of mineralization

70 M lb U3O8, almost all of which is in the

on its Rook I property, including the Bow,

Indicated category, in the unconformity-

has defined deep mineralization along

Cannon and Harpoon discoveries. With

hosted Phoenix deposit, about 400 m

the Patterson Lake mineralized corridor,

two Resources that contain over 300 M lb

below surface. Denison has now released

with some intersections over 900 m be-

U3O8 combined, the prospectivity of the

a Resource estimate for the basement-

low surface. NexGen has concentrated

Patterson Lake trend remains attractive.

hosted Gryphon deposit, about three km

drilling at the land-based Arrow deposit

Just to the east of NexGen’s Rook I prop-

northwest of Phoenix. Gryphon, located

near Patterson Lake. The Arrow deposit

erty, Purepoint Uranium Group, opera-

about 720 m below surface and 220 m

has a footprint of 870 by 280 m and a sig-

tor of the Hook Lake joint venture with

below the unconformity of the Athabasca

nificant down-dip extension from 100 to

partners Cameco and AREVA Resources

Basin, contains 43 M lb U3O8 grading 2.3

920 m below surface. NexGen released a

Canada, continues to explore the Spitfire

per cent U3O8 in an Inferred Resource.

Resource estimate early in 2016 that sug-

discovery, which contains three separate

Drilling at Gryphon in 2016 has estab-

gested the 3.48 M t Arrow deposit con-

zones: the upper, lower, and south. These

lished two mineralized lenses that will

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SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS further expand the deposit. Denison is

Potash

term supply needs. The challenging mar-

also exploring other structures near the

In 2015, Saskatchewan produced 18.2 M t KCl with a sales value of $6.1 B, compared to 16.9 M t KCl and $5.7 B in 2014 and to 15.9 M t KCl and $5.6 B in 2013.

After a sluggish start to 2016, potash sales have improved in the second half of the year since the signing of contracts with India and China. Average potash sales prices, however, continue to lag behind recent years’ and are some of the lowest in the past decade. These depressed prices have led to production cutbacks and to the closure of a number of less-efficient operations worldwide. Keeping with its policy of matching production to demand, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PotashCorp) announced plans for inventory control shutdowns at the Cory, Allan and Lanigan mines in 2016, as well as the permanent closure of its Penobsquis mine in New Brunswick. In August 2016, The Mosaic Company (Mosaic) announced that, as a result of challenging market conditions, the company will idle production at the Colonsay mine for the remainder of 2016. Mosaic believes its lower-cost Esterhazy and Belle Plaine operations, in combination with current inventory, will allow it to meet its short-

ket conditions have also impacted Can-

Gryphon deposit. About 200 m to the north and northwest, the company is working to define mineralization in the basement-hosted D-series lenses. In addition, new basement mineralization has been found 500 m west of Gryphon along the K-West conductor. About 30 km north-northeast of Gryphon, Cameco announced an Inferred Resource estimate for the Fox Lake deposit, located about 10 km west of the McArthur River mine.

The deposit rests at the basal Athabasca unconformity about 700 m below surface and contains 68.1 M lb U3O8 grading 7.99 per cent. Cameco has moved to further explore the conductive fault system that hosts the Fox Lake deposit by entering into an option agreement on CanAlaska’s West McArthur property, located immediately west of the Fox Lake deposit.

Cameco initiated drill testing on the West McArthur property in early 2016.

potex, the company responsible for all off-shore sales of Saskatchewan potash, which has cancelled plans to construct a new export terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia. In a typical year, Canpotex moves 10 to 11 M t of potash, or the equivalent of 100,000 railcars loading 225 ships destined for numerous international ports.

The landscape of the North American fertilizer industry is poised for a major change with the recent announcement of a pending business combination. In what is being billed as a “merger of equals,” PotashCorp, the world’s largest potash producer, and Agrium Inc. (Agrium), which has over 1,400 retail outlets in seven countries, would combine to form the world’s largest crop nutrient company and the third largest natural resource company in Canada, worth an estimated USD$36 B. The new company, which has yet to be named, would be the world’s largest producer of potash and the second largest producer of nitrogen, with nearly 20,000 employees in 18 countries.

The future partners anticipate the business combination will generate up to $500 M in annual cost savings and should clear all board and regulatory approvals, including those of the Canadian Business Corporations Act, and be finalized around mid-2017. PotashCorp President and CEO Jochen Tilk noted the transaction “does not involve or does not consider a significant change in the workforce” and that the new company would remain committed to Canpotex.

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SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS ducer, K+S Group, and global mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and others.

Construction is nearing completion at K+S Potash Canada’s (K+S) Legacy potash mine located approximately 60 km northwest of Regina. The province’s first new potash mine in over 40 years was slated to be commissioned by the end of summer 2016, but now production of the first tonne of ore is not anticipated to occur until the second quarter of 2017. K+S anticipates that the mine will reach its full production capacity of 2 M t by the end of next year. The company now has over 400 employees and estimates that over 90 per cent of the total $4.1 B budget for the project has now been invested. K+S recently announced it was committing nearly $1 M to a habitat offset program, with the intent of having no net loss of native grasslands as a result of the mine construction.

In December of 2015, BHP announced it was undertaking cost savings measures for the company’s Jansen potash project, which included a 70-person workforce reduction in Saskatchewan. Despite the fiscal restraints, BHP stated that the Jansen project is still on track and that the reductions do not represent a delay or slowdown to the project’s schedule. In March

2016, President of BHP’s Canadian unit, Giles Hellyer, noted that the company has cut $130 M from its current year’s $330 M budget for the ongoing development of the Jansen potash project. Hellyer stated that the company intends to do more with less and complete the work over a slightly longer time horizon. It’s estimated that BHP has already invested over $3.8 B into the Jansen 8-M-tonneper-year (tpa) megaproject; analysts have predicted a total capital cost of about $14 B. BHP has not yet committed to a completion date or received board approval for the project.

Yancoal Canada Potash Corp. (Yancoal) received approval from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment on its environmental assessment for the company’s proposed solution mine near Southey, about 60 km north of Regina. The approval is contingent on Yancoal meeting a number of conditions, including the creation of a community involvement plan and the formation of a community advisory committee. The company must commit to isolating the site from nearby waterways and ensure no off-site impacts to water quality. Yancoal is pleased with the approval, but has yet to receive board approval from its parent company, the

Yanzhou Coal Mining Co., Ltd., for the proposed 2.8 M tpa mine, which has an estimated $3.6 B capital cost.

In the fall of 2015, shareholders of Western Potash Corp. (Western) voted in favour of the transaction to sell 51 per cent ownership in the company to Beijing Tairui Innovation Capital Management Ltd. for the purchase price of $80 M. China Blue Chemical Canada Holding Corp. invested an additional $720,245 to maintain its 10.1 per cent ownership stake in the company. Western intends to use the investment to fund its newly proposed scalable mining method, which would implement horizontal selective solution mining designed to preferentially remove KCl along potash horizons, leaving a lattice of NaCl behind. The company estimates that an initial production capacity of 146 000 tpa could be achieved with a capital investment of $80.6 M. Encanto Potash Corp. (Encanto) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India, which is one of India’s largest public sector trading bodies handling imports and exports of products such as coal, iron ore, and agricultural fertilizers. Encanto is attempting to develop a two million tpa solution mine in partnership with the Muskowekwan First Nation.

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SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS Diamonds In 2015, actual expenditures for diamond exploration projects were approximately $17.3 M. Spending in 2016 is anticipated to be $14.5 M and focused on the Star-Orion kimberlite project (~65 km southeast of Prince Albert), on grassroots activity in the Deschambault Lake area (~290 km northeast of Prince Albert), and in the northwestern Athabasca Basin.

carats and a grade increase of 11 per cent

crodiamond results that indicated that

to 15 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht).

PK312, PK314, and PK311 are diamond-

The Indicated Resource on Orion South

bearing. Four hundred and eighty-seven

increased by 134 per cent to 27.1 M car-

microdiamonds larger than the 0.106 mm

ats and the grade increased one per cent

sieve class were recovered from a sample

to 14 cpht. In February 2016, Shore be-

of PK150 with nine diamonds greater

gan an NQ core-drilling program on the

than the 0.85 sieve class. Additional re-

Orion South and Star West kimberlites,

sults include: five diamonds from PK312,

as well as drilling in untested areas of

including four greater than the 0.106

kimberlites K606 and K614, located with-

mm sieve class and one greater than the

in the Snowden claims. Shore drilled five

0.150 mm sieve class; 23 diamonds from

holes totaling ~1,260 m on the Star West

PK314 larger than the 0.106 mm sieve

(Shore) released an updated valuation

portion of the Star kimberlite, as well as

class, and; two diamonds from PK311

of diamond parcels from the Star-Orion

four holes totaling ~798 m on K606 and

with one greater than the 0.106 mm sieve

South diamond project, which produced

K614, all of which intersected kimberlite.

class and one greater than the 0.212 mm

model prices between USD$161 and

In the Deschambault Lake area, North

sieve class. In February and March 2016,

USD$333 per carat for the diamond pop-

Arrow Minerals Inc. (North Arrow) was

North Arrow conducted an exploration

ulations of the major kimberlite units. In

active this past year on its Pikoo dia-

drilling program focused on the North,

November 2015, Shore released a revised

mond project. In fall 2015, the company

South, and East Pikoo areas. A total of

Mineral Resource estimate for the Star-

reported the discovery of a new kimber-

2,124 m was drilled and kimberlite was

Orion South diamond project, which

lite, PK311, increasing the number of

encountered in 14 of the 19 drillholes. At

included an Indicated Resource on Star

discrete kimberlite occurrences within

North Pikoo, kimberlite was encountered

that increased by 38 per cent to 28.2 M

the project to seven, and released mi-

in seven of nine holes, with the discovery

In October 2015, Shore Gold Inc.

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SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS of up to four discrete new kimberlites.

with the primary objective of defining

Geological Survey, in partnership with

Kimberlite PK346, interpreted as a near-

geophysical targets that could warrant

the Geological Survey of Canada. In May

vertical NE-trending body, open at depth

down-ice till sampling. In January 2016,

2016, CanAlaska entered into an Option-

and along strike, was the most significant

Copper Reef Mining Corporation (Cop-

Participation Agreement with De Beers

discovery at North Pikoo. At East Pikoo,

per Reef ) released the results of 28 till

Canada Inc. (De Beers) for expenditures

results confirmed a minimum 65 m strike

samples collected on three of the com-

up to $20.4 M on the West Athabasca

length at PK311 and extended the strike

pany’s diamond projects (C2, C3, and

project, and optioned two of its claim

length of PK312 to over 150 m. Micro-

B1). Copper Reef focused till sampling

groups, to Fjordland Exploration Inc.

diamond results from the 2016 drilling

around high-priority circular aeromag-

(Fjordland). In June 2016, De Beers col-

program, released in May and July 2016,

netic anomalies and results identified a

lected over 100 samples from eskers on

confirmed that all Pikoo kimberlites test-

total of 982 kimberlite indicator minerals

the West Athabasca project for KIM pro-

ed to date are diamondiferous. In 2016,

(KIMs), 60 of which were verified by mi-

cessing. A follow-up, detailed low-level

North Arrow also completed a new air-

croprobe analysis.

airborne survey over the West Athabasca

borne geophysical survey and additional

In 2016, a new area for diamond ex-

project identified 85 prospective mag-

till sampling across the project area in an

ploration opened up in the north-west-

netic anomalies. Several of the magnetic

effort to better define future exploration

ern Athabasca Basin. In February 2016,

anomalies are in excess of 500 m in diam-

targets.

CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (CanAlaska)

eter, however, most of the larger targets

In fall 2015, Strike Diamond Corpo-

staked approximately 75 kimberlite-style

are below lakes or swamps. In September

ration (Strike Diamond) and Athabasca

targets (discrete magnetic anomalies with

2016, De Beers started a drilling program

Nuclear Corporation (Athabasca Nucle-

shallow signatures) on the West Atha-

intending to test 11 kimberlite targets.

ar), now Clean Commodities Corpora-

basca diamond project based on a high-

Seven of the 11 targets were drilled before

tion (Clean Commodities) flew airborne

resolution airborne geophysical survey

the project was deferred until the winter;

surveys over their Pikoo area properties

carried out in 2010 by the Saskatchewan

none intersected kimberlite.

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SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS Gold In 2015, gold exploration expenditures totaled $2.2 M. An initial estimate for gold exploration expenditures for 2016 is $3.75 M. Much of this exploration will take place in the vicinity of the Seabee operation. The Seabee operation, the sole gold producer in the province, is now owned by Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Silver Standard) after it acquired the previous owner, Claude Resources Inc., in May of 2016. The Seabee operation, consisting of the Seabee and Santoy mining complexes, achieved a record annual production of 75,748 ounces of gold (oz) in 2015 from 277 638 t of ore grading 8.82 grams/tonnes (g/t) Au. Through the first half of 2016, the operation has produced 38,196 oz from 145 397 t of ore grading approximately 8.5 g/t, the majority of which is from the Santoy mine complex. The production guidance for the operation through the remainder of

2016 currently stands at 32,000 – 35,000 oz. According to Silver Standard, a drill program consisting of ~65 000 m of underground drilling and 18 000 m of surface drilling is planned for various targets at the Seabee operation, with the objective of increasing and upgrading existing Mineral Resources. Targets for this drilling include a zone down-plunge of the Santoy 8A structure, Santoy 9, the 15 vein at Seabee, and the Carr and Herb West surface zones. Preliminary results from this drilling include intersections of 39.06 g/t Au over 2.7 m (true width) at Santoy 8A, and 52.8 g/t over 2.1 m at Santoy 9A. Exploration in the second half of 2016 will focus on infill drilling at the Santoy Gap. Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. has also been active near the Seabee operation, initiating exploration programs at its Fisher, Chico, and Orchid gold projects.

These properties are located about 60 km

south of Silver Standard’s Santoy mining complex and encompass several historical gold showings distributed along the north-south trending Tabbernor Fault.

The 2016 exploration program, which followed an extensive compilation of historical exploration data from the area, consisted of soil geochemical sampling, till sampling, prospecting, geological mapping and ground-based geophysics.

A 4,000-line-km airborne magnetometer and radiometric geophysical survey was also completed and included the Fisher and neighbouring Chico properties, as well as the Truscott property located just north of the Seabee mine.

New information was released for gold exploration projects outside of the Seabee area. Masuparia Gold Corp., along with its joint venture partner Golden Band Resources Inc. (50 per cent), released an updated Mineral Resource estimate for the Greywacke North deposit, located ap-

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Saskatchewan Polytechnic has over 60 leading-edge programs that train for careers in the mining industry. The CMI brings its expertise in this area to work with you to identify and meet your training needs and provide accessible, targeted programming to give you a competitive edge.

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SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS proximately 90 km northeast of La Ronge.

The updated Mineral Resource includes an Indicated Resource of 255 500 t grading 9.92 g/t (5 g/t cutoff; 81,500 oz) and an Inferred Resource of 59 130 t grading 7.42 g/t (14,100 oz). Comstock Metals Ltd. also recently acquired the Preview SW gold deposit, located approximately 40 km north of La Ronge, from previous owner, Select Sands Corp.

Base Metals According to many analysts, the prolonged downturn in the base metals market might have hit bottom in 2016.

Unfortunately, the downturn has had an impact on exploration expenditures for base metals in Saskatchewan, which have dipped from a 10-year high of $12.97 M in 2012 to a forecast low of $1.15 M in 2016 (down from actual 2015 expenditures of $3.84 M). Despite the impact that the depressed prices have had on compa-

nies exploring for copper, zinc and nickel in Saskatchewan, the fundamentals remain sound.

The Flin Flon domain (Saskatchewan and Manitoba) is one of the pre-eminent base metal mining districts in Canada and one of the largest Paleoproterozoic volcanogenic massive sulphide districts in the world, with more than 170 M t of Cu-Zn-(Au-Ag) sulphide ore processed or under development. The western part of the Flin Flon domain extends about 80 km into Saskatchewan and has had historic base metal production. The only base metal production in the province in 2016 came from the Saskatchewan portion of HudBay Minerals Inc.’s portion of its Flin Flon-based operation.

Much of the base metal exploration in the western Flin Flon domain over the last 20 years has been focused in its subPhanerozoic extension south of Hanson Lake. Most recently, Foran Mining Cor-

poration (Foran) has continued its work on their McIlvenna Bay deposit and the Bigstone and Balsam properties. In November of 2015, Foran announced initial metallurgical test work on the three main mineralized zones of the Bigstone deposit. Specifically, each of the zones was reported to have produced high-grade concentrates that could be recovered using conventional flotation processes.

The second area of continued base metal exploration in 2016 is the western Kisseynew domain, where Murchison Minerals Ltd. (Murchison) has continued to work on its Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag Brabant-McKenzie deposit, located 130 km northeast of La Ronge. Early in 2016, Murchison announced the successful completion of a fixed-loop Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) and magnetic ground geophysical program that was designed to better delineate known conductors in the vicinity of the deposit. The

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SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS survey identified a number of promising geophysical anomalies along strike of and below the deposit, which have been largely untested by historic drilling.

Industrial Minerals Although exploration for industrial mineral deposit types in 2015 was quiet, there was significant production.

Saskatchewan has four producing salt operations: three as byproduct from potash production and one primary producer. Byproduct salt producers are K+S Windsor Salt Ltd. at Belle Plaine in south-central Saskatchewan, NSC Minerals at Rocanville and Vanscoy, and ERCO Worldwide, who produces valueadded chlorine-alkali chemicals from salt at its Saskatoon operation. Compass Minerals Canada Corp. produces primary salt at the Unity mine in west-central Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals Inc.’s long-standing operation at Chap-

lin in south-central Saskatchewan remains the only primary sodium sulphate producer in the province. In addition, Compass Minerals Wynyard Inc. produces value-added potassium sulphate, which is commonly used in fertilizers, at a plant near Wynyard in east-central Saskatchewan.

Since acquiring the Boundary Dam, Bienfait, and Poplar River coal mines in southern Saskatchewan in 2014 from Prairie Mines & Royalty Ltd., Westmoreland Coal Company (Westmoreland) has signed new long-term supply agreements with Crown Corporation SaskPower and announced the amalgamation of the Bienfait and Boundary Dam mines of southeastern Saskatchewan into one operation, named the Estevan mine.

Saskatchewan also produced a number of other industrial mineral products that have varied uses. Canadian Clay Products Inc. excavates and processes

bentonite at an operation near Wilcox, about 41 km south of Regina. Colored Shale Products Inc. (Colored Shale) mines clinker, which is a stony residue from burnt coal. Colored Shale has quarries near Willow Bunch, about 190 km southwest of Regina, and produces on an “as-needed” basis for landscaping material. Premier Tech Horticulture produces horticultural peat from bogs in the Carrot River region of east-central Saskatchewan and processes it at a plant near the town. Wapa Bay Resources produces leonardite, which is used as an organic soil additive and fertilizer, on a campaign basis from a small quarry near Wapawekka Lake in northern Saskatchewan. Lastly, Weil Group Resources opened a helium processing plant near Mankota in southwest Saskatchewan in August 2016, and plans to produce 40 million cu. ft. of helium per year. 6

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43

Philip Bashnick: Prospector, Trapper, War Hero

By Steve Masson

P

hilip Basknick has lived an exceptionally long life, and at 97 he still has his sharp wits about him, easily recalling dates and experiences – a true old-time prospector with his love of the wilderness and his yearning for a new discovery. Like most old prospectors and trappers of his time, he was often a solitary man whose strong physical frame and keen eyes served his love for both passions. His stamina served him well on long treks by foot or canoe to his favourite showings or on quests for a new discovery, always full of hope. Like really great prospectors, Philip was methodical and thorough, examining every outcrop and observing any detail or rusty fracture that would lead to what was close but not exposed. It’s an art that is much different from but no less valuable than the scientific contributions of most geologists because it often leads to mineralization that may be a discovery.

Philip was born in Laverne, Saskatchewan, and his parents moved to Pikwitonei in northern Manitoba in the 1930s, as his father was a section foreman for the railway. It was there he attended school, and in 1943, Philip signed up for the war with the Regina Rifles. On June 6, 1944, he was wounded at Juno Beach, having been shot four times, and lay in the water for 10 hours before rescue. He spent months recovering in a cast from his waist down and was later sent home a hero at Christmas 1944. His five brothers also signed up and all returned without a scratch. Philip never married, and when I asked him why, he said he’d a met a woman in England during the war who had told him, “If I was a man, I would never marry.” Obviously, Philip attached himself to her perceived wisdom.

In 2010, a documentary was made about the invasion at Juno Beach on D-Day featuring Philip as one of the heroes, with actor Carey Wass playing the part.

On his return to Canada, and after his recovery, Philip took up the life of a trapper. His trap line stretched from Neso

44 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Lake, just beside highway 10 south of Flin Flon, up the 14 chain of lakes along Mystic Creek to Naosap (Cree for 14), east of the road to Sherridon. He covered this large area of 50 square miles all by dogsled, where his abilities as a fine dogsledder were well known in The Pas, Cumberland, Cranberry and throughout northwestern Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan.

During the off-season, trappers customarily worked as prospectors for mining companies to augment their income in the months of poor sledding. During the ’40s, Philip worked for Conwest in the Yukon as one of their seasoned prospectors. Trappers were favoured for their ability to survive in remote and often harsh conditions, their physical agility, their keen eye for detail in the bush, and their love of the wilderness and being able to take the solitude. It was a way of life that Philip embraced. He was an avid hunter, a crack shot, and he loved to fish – and he has the photos to prove it. He captured those things he loved the most in photos, countless photos of the mountains, caribou and Aboriginal people as they were then.

On driving back to Flin Flon from interviewing Philip in The Pas, I stopped to talk to Ingi Bjornson, who took over his trap line after working for Philip. Ingi is a storyteller in his own right, and he told a story of how, while working for Philip, he had caught a skunk and promptly skinned it. Trappers can do this somehow. He had stretched it out on a board and left it to cure in Philip’s cabin while he was away. Ingi then returned to Flin Flon, and when he got back to the cabin the next day he could smell skunk before he even stepped out of his truck. Needless to say the cabin was intolerable. Ingi ran off to town to get tomato juice to wash down the walls, as he’d heard this would help take the skunk smell away. It hardly helped, and when Philip returned, he was most unhappy and may never have forgiven Ingi, though he never mentioned the incident.

Later, around 1949, Philip worked up in the Barren Lands, where he also took many photos of the Inuit and caribou. One particular photo I found of interest was an Inuit summer camp, a tepee-like structure covered with rough skins. Philip made no mention of a discovery. Around this time, Philip and his brother Steve spent some time working for Sherritt Gordon in Lynn Lake, where they carried out prospecting and did some diamond drilling. Steve was also a good prospector but I think Philip loved it more. I asked him – as I do all prospectors – what his favourite Bush plane was. He thought for a moment, then said, “Oh, by far it was the Norseman” – a vintage workhorse of his era.

In 1950-51, Philip worked with Bruce Murray in the Peanut Lake area on a copper showing which Philip thought quite highly of. Bruce was just a young fellow

Photo of Philip and a grizzly bear that attacked their camp.

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

45

Philip at the Legion in The Pas (sitting far left).

Philip and Fred Heidman (The Pas Former Mining Recorder).

Philip and Lew Parres.

46 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

then whose heritage was from two well-known prospector families, the Murrays and the Bakers. In the 1970s, Philip spent considerable time prospecting out of the Puella Bay on Wekusko Lake in the Herb Lake Gold Camp near Snow Lake.

Perhaps one of Philip’s best friends was Fred Heidman, the last of the old-time mining recorders in The Pas of whom Philip speaks quite fondly. He said Fred was the person who helped him the most in the Mines Branch. Philip and Fred’s son Warren have remained quite close, and they, along with other legionnaires, have told and retold many a story over a few pints at the Legion in the Pas of searching for that great find of gold or copper.

I got to know Philip when he worked along with another renowned prospector and good friend, Lew Parres, who Philip first met in Flin Flon in 1944. Philip and Lew were on many ventures in the 1980s and ’90s, including a gold showing on Philip’s old trap line at Naosap Lake, and through the areas of Kisseynew, Wosbishkok, Aimee, Cleaver and Nisto Lakes east and northeast of Flin Flon.

Perhaps I know Phillip best because of his discovery of the May copper showing and the Parres Vein south east of Flin Flon in the Twin Lakes area. The May showing was impressive, with grab samples of up to 17 per cent copper that he prospected from his friend Harry Howe’s trapper’s cabin. Drilling of the deposit returned values of up to 3.06 per cent copper over 5.5 metres. This prospect and others in the area were his favourites. The Parres Vein, which Phil discovered and Brian Murray blasted open, has assays up to 4. 5 oz. gold/ton, 39 oz/ ton Silver, 1.59 per cent copper and 4.8 per cent lead. The Parres Vein was 100 metres long and only 150 metres east of highway 10 but had lain there for years undiscovered. He was in his late 70s when he found this demonstrating, and he still had that keen eye and a relentless grub hoe approach to uncover hidden treasure. These two discoveries were important to my company, Copper Reef Mining Corporation, which holds the claims.

Later, I met him at the Manitoba Mining Convention when he was in his 80s, and he told me he didn’t prospect anymore because the miles of walking were now too hard on his old knees. I found out later that at 91 he would be out snow blowing his driveway, and at 94 Warren Heidman found him shoveling off his roof. At 97, he still has that gleam in his eyes when you mention the north or certain properties, he’s still fairly agile, even after breaking a hip, and he has a hearty appetite for grub.

This is a man who has truly loved and enjoyed his life. It was a real pleasure to hear him tell his tales of adventure, making stories of old prospects come alive. He would bring you back to a time when a prospector could be his own assayer, crushing the rock with a mortar and pestle, and then roasting the sulphides, followed by panning the roasted residue for colours (gold). Philip is a well-respected man valued by mining companies, colleagues and all who knew him. I can envisage him around the fire at night in front of the tent with a rabbit on the spit and bannock from the pan or sorting samples after supper on the table in his trapper’s cabin, dreaming of a better day tomorrow.

When I think of Phil, I see strength, a rugged man who truly love the wilderness with all her treasures she gave him. He represents the very fabric and strength that it took to open up our north. 6

Exploration Ramps up at Athabasca Kimberlite Project

By Lisa Fattori

View of pond with distinct circular structure that corresponds to magnetic anomaly detected by government airborne survey and confirmed by De Beers’ surveys.

W

ith a probable capacity to produce 30 per cent of the world’s uranium for the next 50 years, Canada’s Athabasca Basin region is known as the “Saudi Arabia of Uranium.” The discovery of kimberlites, however, has expanded the potential of this resource-rich area to include diamond exploration in northwestern Saskatchewan.

On May 18th, 2016, CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. entered into an Option-Participation Agreement with De Beers Canada Inc., whereby De Beers will spend up to $20.4 million over seven years to explore and evaluate 75 kimberlite-style targets within CanAlaska’s 17,400 hectare claim package. The staged project gives CanAlaska the opportunity to jointly fund exploration, once De Beers has earned its 70 per cent interest, and preliminary exploration results are made available. By teaming with De Beers, CanAlaska can continue to focus on its core business, uranium exploration, and leverage the expertise of De Beers to further a very promising diamond exploration project.

“There is already a staking rush in the area, with other companies 50 to 100 kilometres from us also looking for diamonds,” says Peter Dasler, President of CanAlaska. “Our partnership with De Beers is a huge endorsement. Ground crews have collected over 100 samples, and an airborne magnetic survey program was completed in the summer. There’s approximately 10 to 20 metres of glacial gravel on top of the kimberlite targets, so we’ll have to see if there are diamond indicator minerals, similar to what’s been found to the south in Alberta.”

The De Beers options occupy approximately 20 per cent of CanAlaska’s properties in the western Athabasca Basin.

CanAlaska’s interest in staking claims followed a 2011 airborne magnetic survey by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey, which showed a series of discrete magnetic anomalies northeast of the

48 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Carswell structure and close to the large crustal suture related to the Grease River Fault zone. The Province’s kimberlite indicator-mineral (KIM) sampling programs reached close to the Carswell structure, but the northernmost samples are southeast of the down-ice trend from these magnetic anomalies.

What’s more, the kimberlite targets are situated at the deepest part of the Athabasca Basin, and the basement rocks below the project area are classified as Rae Province, rocks that host diamondiferous kimberlite in Nunavut.

The Saskatchewan Geological Survey in 2011 came at the right time for CanAlaska. In the wake of the Fukushima disaster and depressed uranium prices, the company curtailed its uranium exploration activity and was looking for other exploration opportunities to ride out the lull. The survey revealed magnetic anomalies approximately 100 to 500 metres in size, located in the middle of one kilometre of sandstone. Given the geology of the area, and the down-ice kimberlitic indicator minerals in Alberta, the potential for kimberlite pipes was worth exploring.

“We had 25 different uranium projects on the go, but because of the slowdown in the industry, we decided not to spend money on uranium exploration at that time,” Dasler says. “The government survey was a fortuitous bit of circumstance. It came out of a time when we weren’t focused so much on uranium.

Our geophysics team recognized some irregular features and discrete magnetic anomalies in the surveys, and identified the 75 kimberlite-style targets. The project certainly added some sparkle during those five years following the Fukushima disaster.”

With no known kimberlite exploration in the Athabasca Basin, and limited general exploration in the project areas, De Beers’ work will shed some light on an overlooked area and provide data on a kimberlite field that has diamond potential. The

first phase of exploration included the collection of over 100 samples of glacial gravels from eskers within the target area, for KIM processing. The sample collection program was completed June 22, and samples were sent to De Beers’ laboratories to establish further evidence for kimberlite intrusives associated with the magnetic anomalies staked

by CanAlaska.

The second phase of exploration was a five-week, high-resolution airborne magnetic survey to gather detailed magnetic mapping of staked targets. The aircraft used for the airborne survey was a specialized aircraft from New Zealand, which has been built with additional fuel capacity in the wings.

This allows the aircraft to fly longer surveys, with less downtime for refueling, which is very important when covering large, remote areas. The aircraft is also very stable, which provides higher quality data. Building on the data collected on 400-metre lines of the previous survey, the new magnetic survey captured 200-metre, as well as 30- to 50-metre wide lines, for more definition.

“We have a very aggressive exploration program in place and will be performing all required due diligence that may lead to an investment in a drilling program,” says Tom Ormsby, Head of External and Corporation Affairs for De Beers Canada. “Our goal this year is to determine if these are kimberlites. If the results are positive, then we’ll begin a drilling program to confirm the presence of microdiamonds.”

Results of the KIM sampling and airborne magnetic survey are expected to be available early in the fall. In the meantime,

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CanAlaska is pursuing a similar low-level high definition airborne magnetic survey over its Alberta diamond exploration property. On August 10th, the company announced that it had contracted Goldak Airborne Surveys to conduct the survey.

Previous wide-spaced airborne magnetic surveys in Alberta show circular magnetic anomalies similar to those recognized from the Saskatchewan survey data. In an area where the Saskatchewan and Alberta surveys overlap, there are at least two kimberlite-style anomalies within the Alberta project. CanAlaska expects that the kimberlite-style features of its Saskatchewan claims may continue into Alberta. The current low-level, high definition airborne surveys will provide location, size and clustering information about these kimberlite targets. 6

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The Promise of Diamonds Exploration continues at Saskatchewan’s Pikoo Kimberlite Field

By Lisa Fattori

C

ontinued exploration in Saskatchewan’s Pikoo diamond play is delivering favourable outcomes, including recently identified distinct kimberlite indicator mineral trains and diamondiferous results of new kimberlite targets. In July 2016, North Arrow Minerals Inc. announced microdiamond results from its 2016 drilling program, and the company completed a summer till sampling program, with results expected to be available in the fall. Other players in the Pikoo play, including Alto Ventures Ltd., Canadian International Minerals Inc., Strike Diamond and Copper Reef Mining Corp., are capitalizing on the diamond potential of the area by furthering their own exploration programs in identifying and assessing kimberlite targets.

Following North Arrow’s 2013 discovery of kimberlites on its Pikoo property, a staking rush occurred until late in 2014.

50 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Prior to the Pikoo discovery, the Fort à la Corne kimberlite field, just north of Prince Albert, was the hub of activity for diamond exploration activity in the province. The Fort à la Corne (FALC) kimberlite play is considered one of the largest in the world; however, the area is covered in thick overburden. The Pikoo kimberlite field, by contrast, is situated on the Precambrian shield, underlain by Sask Craton, and has little to no overburden. Pikoo also benefits from having a good location, near roads and infrastructure, which helps to minimize the exploration costs associated with access and transportation.

“One of the challenges of FALC is that the field is under so much overburden, till and rock, so the cost is very high to get at the kimberlites,” says Nick Thomas, Manager of Investor and Community Relations for North Arrow Minerals Inc. “At the Pikoo project, the kimberlites are found at surface with very

“ One of the challenges of FALC is that the field is under so much overburden; till and rock, so the cost is very high to get at the kimberlites,” says Nick Thomas.

little overburden. The kimberlite sampling we’ve conducted so far has demonstrated high diamond contents averaging approximately 100 carats per 100 tons, rather than the lower grades seen at the FALC pipes. Our challenge, unlike FALC, is tonnage.”

Located in central Saskatchewan, approximately 10 kilometres north of Deschambault Lake, North Arrow’s Pikoo Diamond Project includes four to five distinct kimberlite indicator mineral (KIM) trains. Measuring approximately 10 to 15 metres wide, traceable to 199 metres and open at depth, PK 150 in the South Pikoo area is the most significant discovery to date.

Other bodies include PK 314 discovered in 2015, and kimberlites PK346 and PK347, which were discovered in the North Pikoo area in spring 2016.

North Arrow’s 2016 drilling program confirmed that all kimberlites tested to date are diamondiferous, including the new kimberlite PK346. Kimberlite was encountered in 14 of 19 drill holes, with discoveries made in the North Pikoo area, where kimberlite was encountered in seven of nine holds. On May 31st, 2016, the company reported initial microdiamond results, which confirmed that PK346 and PK150 kimberlite samples are diamondiferous, as well as those from the interpreted eastern and western extensions of the PK314 kimberlite. New caustic fusion results show that a 96.89 kilogram sample of core drill from PK150 returned 87 diamonds larger than 0.106 millimetres, as well as smaller size diamonds for a total of 204 stones.

Samples of other kimberlites also returned diamonds, with all samples containing some diamonds larger than 0.106 millimetres.

The lack of pyrope garnet in the mantle sample of PK314 and PK346, as compared to the abundance of pyrope garnets in till samples collected down-ice, from the kimberlites, suggests that additional, undiscovered kimberlites are located in the North Pikoo area. To further develop and evaluate potential drill targets, North Arrow completed a summer till sampling program.

A total of 121 till samples, including from the North Pikoo and East Pikoo target areas, are being processed, with results expected in the fall of 2016.

“The recent summer till sampling program was focused in the north and was tighter spaced, filling in the gaps between previous sampling,” Thomas says. “We’re looking for the cut-off of a distinct high-chrome pyrope indicator mineral train. That will be the area that we need to focus on. The information will help us to identify targets for a drilling program next February.”

Project-generating company Copper Reef Mining Corporation announced encouraging results from KIM sampling that was carried out at its C2, C3 and B1 properties at Pikoo in January 2016. Located north-east of the Pikoo diamond discovery, the B1 Property showed 13 kimberlite indicator minerals in four samples, which was more encouraging than the 2014 sampling. The C2 and C3 properties, located 10 kilometres east of the village of Deschambault, also returned kimberlite indicator minerals, and results are significant enough to warrant further till sampling and ground examination. Future exploration work includes additional till sampling on B1. A few more lines of till sampling to the north and an airborne survey for C2 and C3 will narrow down targeting to within 10 metres.

For Copper Reef Mining President and CEO Stephen Masson, the Pikoo area is very promising for the discovery of diamonds. “You need good proximity, structures and old basement rocks,” he says. “The Pikoo area has these deep crustal fractures, such as the Tabanor Fault, and the Pelican Window exposes the ancient rocks of the Sask Craton that underlies younger rocks in the area. It is these older rocks or where these rocks underly younger rocks in shield areas of the world where diamondbearing kimberlites have mainly been found. The thin, single till sheet over the area makes interpreting the data and finding the source of the kimberlite indicators minerals obtained from till sampling a much simpler job.” 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

51

Saskatchewan’s Potash Sector Growing Despite Low Prices

By Kylie Williams

S

askatchewan hosts almost half of the world’s potash reserves and all of Canada’s operating potash mines, supplying farmers around the globe with the fertilizer necessary to feed a growing population. In 2015, the province produced a record 18.2 million tonnes of potassium chloride, and the value of potash sales for the year was $6.1 billion. However, over-supply and lower-than-expected demand for potash has seen the price plummet in recent years, reaching $220 USD/metric tonne (mt) in August 2016, down from $300 USD/mt the same time last year. The peak price of $870 USD/mt in February 2009 is a distant memory.

Other commodity prices have rallied in 2016 and the United Nations predicts an increase in demand for fertiliser beyond 2017. The Saskatchewan potash sector has struggled through the first half of 2016, but market sentiment is growing, and a recovery could be within reach.

PotashCorp-Agrium merger Viewed by some as a sign the potash market is turning around was the announcement in September 2016 of a proposed merger between the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan and Calgary-based fertilizer producer Agrium Inc. The new, unnamed company will be the largest crop nutrient company in the world 52 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

and the third-largest natural resource company in Canada, employing close to 20,000 employees across 18 countries with a value of US$36 billion.

PotashCorp currently operates five mines in Saskatchewan.

An eight-year, $3-billion expansion to their Rocanville mine, 200 kilometres east of Regina near the Manitoba border, is expected to be finalized in November 2016. The expansion will double production capacity, making it one of the biggest underground mines in the world. PotashCorp’s Cory, Allan and Lanigan mines were temporarily closed for several weeks each in late 2015 and early 2016 to reduce production due to market oversupply. Agrium’s Vanscoy potash mine near Saskatoon will join to the new company if the merger is approved. Production at Vanscoy ramped up in 2015, but the mine was rocked by two serious safety incidents within a few weeks in August 2016.

The Mosaic Company operates three mines in Saskatchewan: Belle Plaine, Colonsay and Esterhazy. In July 2016, 330 employees were temporarily laid-off at Colonsay, 65 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon. The mine will remain idle for the rest of 2016 but employees will be recalled in January 2017. At Esterhazy, the $3.2 billion K3 mine expansion is well underway.

K3 is expected to be operating in 2017 and reach capacity of 21 million ore tonnes by 2024.

PotashCorp’s Allan mine. Inset: BHP Billiton’s Jansen Project.

Under Construction and in Development K+S Potash Canada, part of Europe’s largest fertilizer producer, continued construction at their Legacy Project mine, the first new potash mine built in Saskatchewan in almost 40 years.

An incident caused considerable damage to property in midJuly 2016 but nobody was injured and production should start in mid-2017.

Western Potash Corp. announced a strategic investment of $80 million from a Chinese private equity firm in September 2015 toward construction of their 100 per cent-owned Milestone Property, 30 kilometres southeast of Regina. Contracts were awarded in April 2016 for engineering, procurement and subsurface design and should be complete by the end of 2016.

YanCoal Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. Ltd., received conditional approval from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment in August 2016 for their proposed Southey potash solution mine, 60 kilometres north of Regina. Local communities have been vocal in their disapproval of the project at meetings during 2016, and 800 submissions were received by the Ministry of Environment in a 45-day period.

BHP Billiton’s most advanced potash project, the $3.4 billion Jansen Project 140 kilometres east of Saskatoon, is progressing slowly. It is currently around 60 per cent complete and will gen-

erate 8 million tonnes per year once it’s operating.

In March 2016, Karnalyte Resources announced financing for construction of their potash mine at Wynyard, Saskatchewan.

As of September 2016, they had successfully commissioned the second stage and testing was underway in increase previously reported potash concentrations. And Vale’s Kronau Project’s final feasibility study has been completed, and the company is determining the next steps for the project.

Across the border in Manitoba, the Russell-McAuley deposit, which contains an estimated 1 billion tonnes of high-grade potash, is still up for sale. 6

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

53

Northern Shield Helicopters:

New Name, Same Quality

T Adam Kaine, Northern Shield Helicopters’ chief pilot.

54 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

he name may be new, the color scheme and paint jobs on the helicopters are definitely new, but the company itself and the experience and value that our crews deliver are certainly not. Northern Shield Helicopters is the rebranding of the helicopter division of Transwest Air, and as such has been delivering helicopter services to Saskatchewan for over 50 years. It started with a Bell 47G and it has maintained a Bell fleet ever since.

Transwest Air has recently rebranded its helicopter division to truly showcase it unique helicopter capabilities. Northern Shield’s eight high-tech helicopters transport people and/or cargo to the most inaccessible locations. They support a wide variety of industries – taking oil and gas seismic crews their equipment to exploration site; delivering mining employees to drilling locations to assess development viability; taking firefighters and their gear, along with water bucketing, to areas and communities suffering from forest fires. They also rescue people in medical distress from isolated spots – where planes can’t land – and deliver them to the nearest health facility.

The Northern Shield fleet is provided by Bell Helicopters, one of the largest helicopter manufacturing companies in the world.

The fleet contains two Bell 206 light-category units (capacity of four passengers and up to 1,000 pounds), one Bell 206L4 unit (capacity of six passengers and up to 1,400 pounds), three Bell 407 intermediate category units (capacity of six passengers and up to 2,500 pounds), and two Bell 205 medium category units (capacity of 14 passengers and up to 4,000 pounds).

The qualities associated with Northern Shield Helicopters are consistent with those of Transwest Air. This is a company whose fixed-wing segment (on wheels, skis and floats), for example, is not only the largest in the province, containing over 20 diverse planes, but has provided reliable, safe, and efficient flights (both scheduled and chartered, carrying passengers or cargo, and for personal or corporate use) for over 60 years. It is the forward thinking of the company that led to the creation of a redesigned passenger/cargo combination aircraft to service the needs of the communities it serves in Northern Saskatchewan.

Recently, Transwest Air and Northern Shield Helicopters were purchased by Westwind Aviation. It is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Westwind Aviation. Westwind Aviation is 87 per cent Aboriginal owned and 13 per cent employee owned. Transwest Air and Northern Shield helicopters were

born in the north and are proud to continue to serve the people in the north.

For more information about Northern Shield Helicopters, contact Adam Kaine, Chief Pilot and Director of Flight Operations, at (306) 764-1404 or email at a.kaine@northernshieldhelicopters.com. 6

SERVICES • Charter, Freight, Helicopter • Scheduled Flights • All Season Mining & Exploration Support

Follow us on CHARTER

/transwestair

1-877-989-2677

RESERVATIONS

1-800-667-9356

www.transwestair.com 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

55

Giving Back

By Lisa Fattori

Saskatchewan’s potash industry engages with local communities

A

s key producers and employers in the province, Saskatchewan’s potash companies are integral to the social, economic and environmental fabric of the communities where they operate. Initiatives to engage the local community, sponsor social programs, help fund infrastructure upgrades and implement environmental best practices is a sampling of the industry’s corporate commitment and gesture of goodwill. An industry that is passionate about improving food security, the potash sector is also a strong supporter of agricultural programs around the world, as well as community food banks that help to nourish people at the local level.

Mosaic Company

Mosaic volunteers at the Community Food Farm in Moose Jaw.

W

ith facilities in Belle Plaine, Colonsay and Esterhazy, The Mosaic Company and its predecessor companies have been operating in Saskatchewan for over 50 years. The company employs 2,200 people and has an expansion project under construction at its Esterhazy facility, which is expected to be completed in 2020. In Esterhazy alone, out of a population of 3,000 people, 1,200 residents are employed at Mosaic, making the company a key economic driver for the community.

Mosaic’s annual budget for charitable contributions is Saskatchewan is $5 million, which includes a donation of $1 million to local foodbanks, breakfast/lunch programs and community gardens throughout the province. The company is also a partner of dozens of organizations, with sponsorships that help to fund a variety of charitable events and social programs.

Mosaic employees also have the opportunity to nominate and to vote on what community-based organizations will be the recipients of grants, and they volunteer their time at several non-profit groups.

“In our smaller communities, the biggest request that we get is for help in building out infrastructure, such as donations for

56 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Esterhazy Daycare donation.

school renovations or hospital expansions,” says Sarah Fedorchuk, Senior Director of Public Affairs for The Mosaic Company. “We sponsor small, grassroots operations as well, such as local sports teams. People appreciate it when they see Mosaic engaging with the community, whether it’s bringing the Roughriders and the Grey Cup to the town hall or making inkind donations for a community fundraiser.”

Mosaic’s focus on sustainability and social responsibility extends to water conservation. The company concentrates funding in the areas of habitat conservation, nutrient stewardship and ecosystem management programs and watershed restoration in areas where the company operates. Company-wide, Mosaic is targeting to reduce freshwater use, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 10 per cent by 2020, and it’s on track to achieve this goal at its Saskatchewan operations.

“At our Saskatchewan facilities, we now recycle 90 per cent of the water we use,” Fedorchuk says. “We’re also recycling materials such as paper, plastic, steel and aluminum, and we’ve brought on third-party vendors to help with this. Our recycling program is an area that we’ve really focused on in the last year.”

potashcorp

PotashCorp Playland in Saskatoon.

W

ith five potash mines and its corporate headquarters located in Saskatchewan, PotashCorp has an enormous influence in its communities, both as an employer and as a source of philanthropic funding. In 2015, PotashCorp’s Community Investment totaled US $28 million, which included charitable donations, sponsorships, in-kind gifts and volunteer time contributed by employees.

As a company whose products help farmers grow strong, healthy crops, PotashCorp is committed to food security. Over the past several years, it has been a strong supporter of Saskatchewan’s food banks, helping feed approximately 325,000 people each year. The company’s highly successful $1 Million Matching Gift Campaign has helped raise more than $15 million for Saskatchewan food banks since it was launched in 2010. Each year during the Christmas season, communities from across the province are challenged to raise $1 million, which PotashCorp matches with a corporate contribution.

“Since the very first one, the people of Saskatchewan have embraced the campaign and have successfully raised the $1 million,” says Rhonda Speiss, PotashCorp’s Manager of Community Investment. “In fact, in 2015, they raised a total of $1.8 million.

PotashCorp helped spread the word, buying advertising province-wide, posting through social media, and supplying marketing materials that the food banks used to promote the campaign.

With our matched contribution, the campaigns have been very successful and food banks across Saskatchewan have translated those dollars into food for people in need.”

Other community investment initiatives have included support of capital campaigns to raise money for local hospitals, funding of learning tools for schools, sponsoring events such as the annual fireworks festival in Saskatoon and making donations for school nutrition programs. PotashCorp also takes a lead role in training and education programs, participating in job fairs and sponsoring WE Day, which brings 15,000 Saskatchewan youth together in an event that motivates and inspires them to make positive change in their own communities and around the world.

PotashCorp is also committed to building partnerships with Saskatchewan’s Aboriginal communities. The company has an annual goal to reach 10,000 First Nations and Métis people province-wide with career information. In 2015, PotashCorp hired 14 students for its Aboriginal Internship Program, and in 2016, that number grew to 21. PotashCorp’s new hires are comprised of nine per cent voluntarily self-identified Aboriginal people.

Annually, PotashCorp awards over 140 scholarships and bursaries to students enrolled in post-secondary institutions. Some of the scholarships are for mining-specific disciplines, business or engineering. More than 50 scholarships are for Aboriginal students, and another 40-plus are targeted specifically for women in trades.

“We sponsor entrepreneurial training, particularly for Aboriginal people and women,” Speiss says. “PotashCorp also sponsors the Enactus Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge at the University of Saskatchewan, which is accessible by Aboriginal participants aged 16 to 35.”

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

57

K+S Potash Canada

Habitat Build Volunteer Day in Regina, June 2015.

Above: K+S volunteers from the Bethune Town Hall Board making pancakes.

Below: Wellfield team supporting Pink Day.

K

+S Potash Canada (KSPC), a subsidiary of Germany-based K+S Group, is developing a new potash production facility in the RM of Dufferin near Bethune. Its Legacy Project mine site first broke ground in 2012, and the facility was commissioned in the summer of 2016. Production of the first tonne of potash is expected for the second quarter of 2017, with a production capacity of 2 million tonnes projected by the end of 2017.

KSPC has had a significant impact on job creation within the surrounding communities, sourcing local employees for the initial construction of the Legacy Project mine site and, subsequently, for the operation and maintenance of the facility. “The total number of people who have been employed to date by the Legacy Project during the construction phase is approximately 20,000, with the daily workforce at about 3,000,” says Maeghan Dubois, Senior Communications Specialist for KSPC. “KSPC has hired over 200 permanent employees in the last year, and the current headcount at the Legacy site is approximately 320.

Once in production, the mine will employ approximately 350 people.”

KSPC has actively engaged the local community throughout the planning and construction of its Saskatchewan mine by keeping residents up to date regarding the project’s progress and through sponsorships and donations to support local initiatives. It has strongly committed to supporting community projects and programs for youth, environmental sustainability, and employment and skills training. KSPC currently sponsors approximately 30 community initiatives each year and expects to increase its community investment budget once the potash facility begins production.

Key sponsorship projects include a partnership between KSPC and the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Nursing to support Regina’s Street Culture Project Inc. KSPC has

58 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

committed to donating $21,000 over three years to help nursing students provide mentorship and health promotion programming to youth at Street Culture. The company also supports the Red Cross Day of Pink campaign; RuBarb Productions, a non-profit theatre company in Moose Jaw; and the Moose Jaw Health Foundation’s Little Princess Ball. As a title sponsor of Dress for Success Saskatoon and Women in Mining/Women in Nuclear’s “Mine Your Potential” development day, KSPC is a strong advocate of programming that helps people realize their career potential.

“We also sponsor the Bethune Town Hall to provide community groups in the area with discounted rental fees and assist with capital repairs to maintain the hall,” Dubois says. “We have a very good relationship with the communities in which we operate. Residents know that we value them and are proud to be involved in their initiatives. It’s important for our employees, as well, to know that the company they work for is socially responsible, interested, and invested in their communities.” 6

Uranium: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

By Tammy Schuster

U

ranium is still down but don’t count it out yet. This is what industry experts are saying, but prepare for a wait – a long uncomfortable one.

On September 23rd, the UxC broker average was at $25.45 a pound – the lowest since 2005 – and the long-term price, where the majority of uranium business is conducted, has fallen below $40 a pound. At its peak in 2007, uranium sold at $130 a pound.

Uranium has been in a volatile downturn since 2011, after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, and it has remained weak as the Japanese reactor restarts have been much slower than expected. Since last year, only three of its 54 reactors are in operation. This has resulted in uranium that would have been delivered to Japan has instead been going to market and the oversupply is keeping prices down.

According to a report released by Ux Consulting Company, “Supply has become more concentrated, making the market more vulnerable to disruptions. Another source of market vulnerability is the relatively low level of inventory held by buyers and sellers alike.”

But the future looks promising. The Nuclear Energy Institute reports 63 nuclear reactor plants are currently under construction in 15 countries, including 22 in China. As of May 2016, there were 444 nuclear plants in 30 countries.

The UK government recently boosted market confidence by approving a $24 billion nuclear power station at Hinkley Point – Europe’s biggest energy project and the UK’s first nuclear project in decades. Demand for uranium is linked to the level of electricity generated by nuclear power plants.

Nuclear reactors are being constructed more efficiently, with higher capacity and power levels resulting in improved performance that will be directly linked to greater uranium consumption and more demand.

It is believed that demand for uranium will increase over the next ten years as new facilities come online, but many facilities are still operating from their inventories. With a major mine taking five to 10 years from exploration to construction and ramp-up, there could easily be casualties while the market rebalances.

Earlier this year, Cameco Corporation suspended production at its Rabbit Lake mine in Saskatchewan and reduced its U.S. operations, preferring to focus on production at their Cigar Lake mine. It also has plans to decrease production at McArthur Lake by 10 per cent to 18 million pounds.

Rabbit Lake initially planned to produce 3.6 million pounds of uranium in 2016, the mine is now expecting only 1 million pounds. But if there’s any sliver of silver lining to the mine ramp-down, Cameco has put the operation on care and maintenance, waiting for a restart after market conditions improve.

While analysts expect the uranium market to recover over the next few years as more Japanese reactors re-start and more reactors come online globally, the process will be slow, and it’s believed the spot price for uranium will remain below $40 a pound though 2018.

Although the state of the uranium market is on the ugly side, there is confidence that it will return. But the cost of survival and cost of patience will not be pretty. 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

59

West Wind Aviation Expands Saskatchewan Operations

W

est Wind Aviation, one of Western Canada’s largest aviation services providers, has recently expanded operations and enhanced its service capabilities.

For over 30 years, the Saskatoon-based company has established itself as a reliable and safety-focused charter and scheduled service provider. The recent expansion will ensure West Wind continues to provide the best service possible for its customers and communities.

The primary expansion included the purchase of seven fixed-wing, wheeled aircraft and two hangars from La Rongebased Osprey Wings Ltd. in November of 2015.

“We are very pleased to announce the expansion of West Wind flight operations in Saskatchewan through the acquisition of these assets from Osprey Wings. Dennis Baranieski, Vice President of Business Development and

60 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Customer Relations with West Wind Aviation, says about the purchase. “Osprey is a highly-regarded and successful company, and our organizations have worked co-operatively for several years.

As of today, the former Osprey employees are now working for West Wind, and we are pleased to have them on board.

The Osprey team has a well-established reputation for being safety-focused and highly experienced while providing great customer service. And with that, they fit extremely well within the West Wind culture.”

Osprey Wings Ltd. partner Pat O’Brien added, “When our partners started to consider potential purchasers for some of Osprey’s assets, our first choice was to talk to West Wind. Our company’s values – our safety focus, our customer focus – mesh with theirs. We wanted to ensure that our long-term customers and our employees would be treated well, and that’s why we entered

into these discussions with West Wind.”

In addition to La Ronge, West Wind has established a base in Buffalo Narrows and improved facilities in its remote Athabasca Basin locations. The expanded operation now includes a total of 10 bases in Saskatchewan and 35 aircraft ranging from four to 44 seats.

“As West Wind continues to build its capacity, many stakeholders will be the beneficiaries,” Baranieski concludes.

“Our customers now have access to an increased fleet of aircraft options. As well, we are now able to serve an expanded number of communities in the province. Providing the highest levels of safety and service continues to be the focus of our West Wind workforce that now numbers approximately 300.

Our company, which is owned by First Nations and employees, is extremely enthusiastic about our ability to serve an increased number of customers and communities.” 6

Proudly Offering Scheduled & Charter Flights Throughout the North.

Fly With West Wind Aviation and Let us Take Care For You.

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Aboriginal Business

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

1.866.636.9121 westwindaviation.ca

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

61

Uranium Exploration

in the Athabasca Basin Meeting Future Demand

By Lisa Fattori

D

espite depressed uranium prices, global growth in nuclear power promises to create an upswing in the market, and uranium companies are poised to ramp up production to meet demand. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, 30 countries around the world are operating 444 nuclear reactors for electricity generation and 63 new nuclear plants are under construction in 15 countries. Nuclear capacity growth is concentrated in India, Korea and Russia, but the biggest expansion is in China, which has 20 nuclear plants under construction and many more about to start construction.

Given the projected demand for uranium, the current oversupply will be

62 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

short-lived, and Canadian uranium exploration and development work is continuing to secure future supply. “Prices are low right now, but uranium companies in the Athabasca Basin are all making discoveries,” says Peter Dasler, President of CanAlaska. “We expect more nuclear reactors to come online. In the U.S., there are 36 reactors in the permitting stage and five being built right now.

China will have more nuclear reactors than the rest of the world combined, and they will be coming on the market to lock in supply. Exploration is always five to 10 years ahead of production because of the time it takes for permitting and to construct a mine, so we’re moving ahead with our with uranium exploration programs.”

As a project generator, CanAlaska has formed strategic partnerships with various mining companies, including Cameco, Denison and a Korean consortium, to further the exploration of its holdings in the Athabasca Basin. Active projects include the exploration of extensive uranium bearing systems at Cree East and a large unconformity-basement uranium deposit at West McArthur, which is close to the world’s richest uranium mine, Cameco’s McArthur River. CanAlaska has optioned its Northwest Manitoba project to Northern Uranium Corp., whose drilling program has confirmed uranium mineralization in tested targets. The project is located along the extension of the Mudjatik-Wollaston Zone, which hosts most of the major uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin.

NexGen Energy Ltd. has enjoyed tremendous exploration success at its Rook 1 property in the southwest Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan. Key projects include the Arrow Deposit, discovered in February 2014, and the Bow Discovery, which was made in March 2015. In August, 2016, NexGen made another new highgrade discovery, just 4.7 kilometres northeast of the Arrow Deposit. Named the Harpoon Discovery, the new zone shows strong visible uranium mineralization and includes dense accumulations of massive to semi-massive pitchblende mineralization.

“The success of 2014 and

“Based on the maiden resource estimate, Arrow is the largest undeveloped uranium deposit in the Basin.

There exists a high-grade core that contains 120.5 million pounds grading 13.26 per cent U3O8.”

2015 drilling culminated in our maiden resource estimate, which was published in March 2016 and was based on drilling up to the end of 2015,” says Travis McPherson, Head of Corporate Development for NexGen Energy Ltd. “Based on the maiden resource estimate, Arrow is the largest undeveloped uranium deposit in the Basin. There exists a high-grade core that contains 120.5 million pounds grading 13.26 per cent U3O8. Since the release of the maiden estimate, we have essentially doubled the number of metres and holes, which has resulted in material expansion of the mineralization, as well as increased drill spacing, which has confirmed strong continuity of grade and thickness especially within that high-grade core. Those results will be coming out the first quarter of 2017 with an updated resource estimate.”

Arrow is developing very fast and looks to be on its way to rivalling the Cigar Lake and McArthur River deposits, but unlike those two projects – which are located in the sandstone

– Arrow is located in basement rocks, which provides for potentially more technically simple mining methods. There are no water issues foreseen at Arrow, given that it’s contained within the basement rocks, and it is situated with no lakes or rivers on the deposit’s surface. NexGen is currently an exploration company but is working toward a pre-feasibility study before the end of 2017.

“Right now, there’s the perception of oversupply that is dragging on the spot price; however, that can change very quickly with supply hiccups and/or a new entrant into the space requiring a strategic stockpile of uranium,” McPherson says.

“Whatever your view of the current state of the uranium market, in the post-2020 era, when we believe Arrow could become a mine, most experts admit there should be a material supply deficit in that period. Canada is politically stable, so nuclear utilities can be sure of a steady, reliable supply of high-grade uranium for their energy generation needs.” 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

63

Innovation and Technologies for a New Era of Mining

By John Bianchini, Chief Executive Officer, Hatch

G

lobal and industry forces are changing the world of mining as we know it. Mining companies are faced with new challenges, including heavy debt loads, oversupply of many commodities, and more complex, lower-grade ore bodies. Overlaying the traditional mining cycle is a new level of complexity. Society and business are being reshaped by rapid advances in technology, and stakeholder engagement has increased. Shifting public attitudes are moving us toward a more sustainable, lower-carbon future.

The mining industry has reached an inflection point. The days when cost-cutting alone could solve every problem are behind us. As an industry, we need to explore new ideas, including disruptive technologies and innovative business models. We need to change the way we think about mining, to adapt to unprecedented change and emerge stronger.

Modern Mining In the future, mining companies will need to consider ways to create financial, social, and environmental value from mining projects. That means developing more innovative strategies that increase the value of mining operations, while identifying ways to create positive social and environmental outcomes.

Today, that means converting challenges into opportunities.

A new energy approach at Glencore’s Raglan mine illustrates this. Raglan has set a new precedent for harvesting wind energy on an industrial scale in Canada’s North, while creating benefits for local Inuit communities. Working together with Hatch and implementing our unique Microgrid controller technology made it possible to bring stable, renewable power to a site that had been heavily reliant on diesel. As an integrated team, Glencore, TUGLIQ Energy (owner of the wind turbine and storage system), and Hatch were able to overcome great challenges to make this remarkable project a reality.

Over the last decade, our engineers have developed and implemented more than 40 unique technologies that have given our clients a competitive advantage. Today, we are partnering with our clients to create, commercialize and implement 64 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

technologies that tackle combinations of new challenges for their businesses and society.

At a time when many miners lack capital, one strategy is to support our clients through operational readiness, asset management, commissioning and start-up. In other words, better operational support. At the same time, we see great potential in new digital breakthroughs and disruptive technologies that are bringing new value propositions to the market. Whether it’s drones, 7D BIM (building information modeling), or digital asset management, technologies will play a large role in the mines of the future.

However, some of the technologies being talked about today, when analyzed, have no direct connection to actual problemsolving or value creation. It’s critical that the mining industry has a clear line of sight to those technologies that create real, measurable value and better business results. What’s needed is a compass to find our way – one that uses analytical, fact-based assessments to determine how applying specific technologies, tools, and business processes will add real value.

At Hatch, we’ve found that the best linkages between technologies and value are identified by assessing four key mining intensities: labor, energy & water, processes, and capital.

This method evaluates the efficiency of mining processes and resources – the people and workplaces, equipment and production, and energy and water – per unit of product.

Using a value lens to analyze business and technical decisions will provide different answers than a cost analysis alone. For example, an operation may cut staff, but if a fundamental change to technology hasn’t been made to compensate for this loss, the mine’s performance will decline. A value lens can also avoid decision-making that pushes economies of scale beyond the optimum level. So purchasing more super trucks may not be a good investment when considering the incremental costs of moving steel up and down ever-deeper mines and servicing these vehicles with ever-larger facilities.

We know that mining is a water-intensive industry and must be responsibly managed. To reduce water intensity, mineral

processing flow sheets must minimize the amount of water that contacts the ore, keeping it as dry as possible, for as long as possible.

This has benefits for tailings, water treatment and conservation, and reduces potential environmental contamination.

Smarter Mining Solutions Globally, the mining industry is moving toward several key enabling technologies that will help build the mine of the future. As technology integrators, we are working with our clients in several of the following key areas to help move the industry forward.

Technology Road Maps: In a digital age, the mining industry needs clear technology road maps that provide custom solutions. The goal is to create integrated, optimized, and appropriate technology solutions for each operation.

Electrification: Our clients’ vision is clean, safe, automated mines operating solely on electricity, at half the energy intensity of today.

The benefits include a healthier, safer work environment, particularly for underground mines, less diesel, and reduced operating costs.

Electrification also lends itself to integrating renewable power into mine control systems.

Mine-to-Mill: From the very first fracturing of rock, operators can begin the process of increasing the value of the ore, rather than waiting until it reaches the mill. By using information about geology, minerals, and ore body characteristics, mining can be conducted in a way that makes removing impurities easier and delivers a more valuable end product, faster.

Mining Automation: Automating a mine makes the entire process leaner and more cost-effective. The automation of mining processes and software is a major focus for the industry right now, but is sometimes misunderstood. When done right, the potential benefits can be anywhere from 10 to 40 per cent improvement in productivity.

New Mine Financing: In the future, the industry will need to find cheaper ways to mine and reduce capital intensity. As financial markets take an increasingly dim view of the risks associated with mega projects, alternative ways to attract investment will become necessary.

This may mean reconfiguring aspects of mining projects to appeal to different classes and types of investors, from the high-tech investor to those willing to invest in a project’s infrastructure requirements.

Despite current market conditions, there are good reasons for the mining industry to be optimistic. Bold, new ideas are challenging the status quo. More and more mining companies are looking to smarter, more innovative solutions to overcome today’s challenges.

Mining companies and their leaders are becoming more empowered to redefine the way they operate. As this transformation takes place, we’ll need to keep our focus on solutions that deliver real value to the industry, our stakeholders, and a rapidly-changing environment. 6 This article previously appeared in the August 2016 edition of Canadian Mining Journal.

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SUMIT initiative

By Melanie Franner

Still Delivering Results

T

he $6.7 million collaborative R&D initiative managed by the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) continues to attract interest. The project – Smart Underground Monitoring & Integrated Technologies (SUMIT) – is a six-year program led by Laurentian University in partnership with Queen’s University and University of Toronto. It came to a conclusion in June 2016.

“This has proven to be a significant program for CEMI in that it has enabled us to demonstrate that collaboration can

66 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

happen in the mining industry, not only among the mining companies themselves but with universities and government,” says Damien Duff, Vice President of Geoscience & Geotechnical R&D at CEMI, who adds that SUMIT has resulted in some very high-level accomplishments from both a geotechnical and energy-optimization standpoint.

SUMIT Successes Started in 2010, the SUMIT initiative came out of a series of six workshops that involved industry researchers and participants from all over the world. It focused

on three challenges associated with deep underground mining: rock-mass characterization (to anticipate risks and interpret dynamic processes); enhanced mine development (for faster mine construction and increased economic returns); and sustainable deep mines (though energy optimization and underground environmental controls).

Getting the level of collaboration among academia, industry and government that was required to make the SUMIT initiative a success involved a fair bit of resources and energy.

“At the time, the mining industry wasn’t doing so well,” explains Duff. “The crash began in 2008 and continued through to 2012. It wasn’t the optimal time to get the mining industry to contribute funding for the project. There was also some effort involved in getting the industry researchers to work with industry and collaborate among themselves. There may have been some challenges at the outset but once we had the processes in place, everyone came through and saw the benefits of the program.”

As a result of this intensive level of collaboration, SUMIT proved to be a highly successful initiative on several fronts.

“SUMIT has made several significant R&D advances which are sure not only to help the mining industry deal with ground stability-related issues at depth but also

to optimize its energy usage at the same time,” Duff says.

Among the extensive list of geotechnical accomplishments made through SUMIT are: • New industry guidelines for the selection of ground support elements in underground mines; •N ew software tools facilitating the selection of optimal ground-support strategic designs based upon existing or anticipated rock-mass conditions; •N ew ideas for tools and techniques to allow the use of geophysics as a proxy to monitor stress distribution; •A dvanced techniques for the measurement of change using LiDAR and fiber optics-based strain-measurement tools •D evelopment of the first dynamic (time variant, time stamped) 3D deep-mine model through the integration of geology, physical rock properties, infrastructure, production and backfill data; and •A dvancement in the state-of-the-art and state-of-practice techniques for using continuum numerical models to replicate rock-mass deformation and a

demonstration of their ability to replicate actual behaviours observed in situ.

Several accomplishments were also made on the energy management front, including development of optimized cooling strategies for natural heat-exchange areas using computational fluid dynamics modeling; and demonstration of how hydraulic air compressor (HAC) technology could one day be used to provide an energy-efficient and cost-effective way to cool mines.

In the end, the SUMIT initiative involved 98 highly skilled technical people made up of research leads, students, postdoctoral fellows and other expert professionals. It entailed 959 student hours of in-mine work at four test sites. And it has already resulted in the spin-off of a new company, growth for existing companies and the filing of new patents for new products ready for commercialization.

Rippling Effect Part of the SUMIT legacy is the breadth and number of innovations developed that have the potential to benefit the deep

underground mining industry. This was none more apparent than in the final SUMIT workshop, held in June 2016.

“We had over 100 people attend, among which were 20 SMEs from the mining technology space,” says Duff. “All were eager to hear the final report on the research that was conducted.”

According to Duff, CEMI is a strong proponent of the adage that innovation occurs only when research is implemented. To that end, these 20 SMEs or “commercializers” who are in the business of developing technologies for the mining industry are currently being queried by CEMI to see if they intend to work with researchers to try to commercialize any of the technologies developed and, if so, how CEMI can continue to play a role to help facilitate that and/or locate funding.

“Right now, we’re looking at ways to connect the researchers with industry to help fund initiatives that hold the potential to further benefit the deep underground mining industry,” concludes Duff. 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

67

Strength in Numbers:

Building Gender Diversity in Mining

By Sarah Gauen, Manager, Diversity Initiatives, and Courtnay Hughes, Manager of HR Research, Mining Industry Human Resources Council

T

he Mining Industry Human Resources Council’s (MiHR) latest national labour market report details that in 2016 women accounted for 17 per cent of the Canadian mining workforce – only a slight increase from the 14 per cent noted over 10 years ago and substantially below the overall Canadian workforce at 48 per cent.

We can see that things are changing, but when we look at the overall representation, the impacts are fairly minimal.

This slow pace of change isn’t consistent across all jobs; in fact, the mining industry faces broad underrepresentation of women layered over specific occupational gaps. When we compare the representation of women in occupational categories in mining to the representation in all industries, we see that gender gaps are prevalent across occupational categories in the sector.

Even in occupations that traditionally have low female representation, such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-related professions, the mining industry has not attracted a representative proportion of women into the sector.

The underrepresentation of women has been causing increasing levels of alarm in and out of the sector – a developing appetite for addressing gender equity in mining has resulted in an upswing of activity, research, conference panels and initiatives joining the chorus of those working on the issues at hand.

Recently, MiHR published a national study on gender in mining, Strengthening Mining’s Talent Alloy: Exploring Gender Inclusion, which looked at the experiences of women and men in mining and provides insights on the challenges and solutions that are available to foster greater inclusion. Key findings include: • Mining workplaces are perceived and experienced differently by men and women. In general, the respondents to this study indicated that their mining workplaces were characterised as respectful. However, women had less positive experiences than men and were more likely to report seeing putdowns, harassment and a lack of team atmosphere.

• Work-life integration is a challenge for everyone. The ability to integrate work with personal and family demands continues to be a challenge for women – particularly in remote locations and FIFO assignments. However, there is a growing recognition that these issues are not “women’s issues” as men are taking larger family responsibilities outside of work and Millennials have greater expectations around flexibility.

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• Workplace culture perceptions impact recruitment and retention. The women in this research were more likely than men to expect to leave the sector within the next five years.

Not surprisingly, survey respondents who were less comfortable in their current mining workplace were more likely to leave the sector within the next five years.

• Accessing mining networks remains a barrier to greater workforce diversity. Finding out about job openings and career opportunities in mining is a continued challenge. Having a personal network appears to be critically important – yet women highlighted that it is difficult for them access these networks.

• Workplace harassment is harming mining workers. Overall, the survey results indicated that in many workplaces, harassment incidents are infrequent – more than half of the survey respondents reported that they “never” or “almost never” see harassment, bullying or violence in their workplace. Nonetheless, one in five “see” it once a month or more, and one in eight “experienced” it once month or more. Almost a third of women respondents (32 per cent) said that they have experienced harassment, bullying or violence in their workplace in the last five years; less than half as many men (16 per cent) said the same.

It has taken time, effort, and some challenging conversations, but the voices and message of industry diversity champions, researchers and critical advocacy work by groups is being heard. Many mining companies are digging into the root causes of these unintended barriers and committing to making real change. MiHR’s Gender Equity in Mining initiative has engaged Champions who have committed to making changes in their companies, including revising recruiting polices, diversifying hiring panels, considering the unique needs of Indigenous women, and using inclusive language in their job postings, to name a few. Helen Francis, Chair of the GEM Taskforce and Vale’s General Manager of Business Effectiveness, believes, “It is both an obligation and in my best interest to champion gender diversity. I want to work in an industry and company that will make the best decisions for today and for future generations to come – we won’t have the best if we only attract a certain homogeneous sector of society.”

Need for Continued Insights and Action MiHR’s recent gender and inclusion activities have revealed that many companies are at different points on their journey toward gender inclusion. There are still many topics that we do not fully understand, including the gender pay gap, the need for targeted solutions, the impacts of mid-career attrition and intersections between race/ethnicity/disability and gender. And those insights we have captured in our research still require collaborative action from a variety of industry stakeholders.

This involves all of us asking some tough questions – and ultimately determining how we would define success. What, collectively, are our gender equity goals? What are we working toward? What actions are most likely to get us there? If you are interested in being part of this discussion, MiHR is currently developing a national strategy and research agenda on diversity and inclusion and launching a diversity in mining online community this October. Add your voice to the conversation, and your conviction to actions that will impact equity in mining.

Connect with Courtnay Hughes, Manager of HR Research (chughes@mihr.ca) or Sarah Gauen, Manager of Diversity Initiatives (sguaen@mihr.ca), for further information. 6

Gender Equity in Mining Works Funded in part by Status of Women Canada, The Gender Equity in Mining (GEM) Works Suite, launched nationally in 2016, helps mining companies update their policies and practices to identify and remove unintended barriers to develop a workplace that is inclusive and welcoming for both women and men. It is a step-by-step guide in how to apply a “gender lens” to analyze an organization`s formal written policies, processes and procedures. Using the GEM Works Toolbox helps companies to create a mining and minerals industry where women and men have the best opportunity to make great contributions and enjoy rewarding careers.

Resources are available in the GEM Works Suite include: • A step-by-step worksheet to guide the review of policies and procedures for gendered barriers summarize the change actions and outcomes; • Four E-Learning modules with information on implementing gender equity; • Being a Gender Champion: Executive Development Session, designed to prepare senior leaders to be visible and active advocates for gender equity.

We are proud to be working with: • Agnico-Eagle Mines • Vale Canada Ltd. • De Beers • The Mosaic Company • Teck Resources • Taseko Mines Ltd. • Hatch Ltd. • Goldcorp

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Nexgen Sets Its Sights on the Athabasca Basin’s

Largest Undeveloped Uranium Deposit

N

exGen’s portfolio of uranium projects extends across the Athabasca Basin, and comprises assets in both the historic eastern Athabasca Basin and the emerging south-western area. NexGen holds over 259,000 hectares of land in the latter.

Within the southwestern Basin lies NexGen’s wholly-owned

flagship property, Rook I. Within the property is the Arrow Deposit, which features NexGen’s sub-vertical high-grade shear zones (A1 to A54) that vary in thicknesses from four to 25 metres. The Arrow Deposit is the largest undeveloped uranium

By Michael Schwartz

The Arrow Deposit’s currently defined mineralized footprint measures 865 metres by 300 metres, starting at 100 metres and descending to 920 metres. Based on findings from 82 holes, the maiden inferred mineral resource estimate which was based on drilling up to the end of summer 2015 totaled 3.48 metric tonnes (mt) containing 201.9 million pounds U3O8 grading 2.68 per cent U3O8 and included a high-grade core of 120.5 million pounds U3O8 contained within 0.410 mt grading 13.26 per cent U3O8 (Arrow’s mineral resources are reported at 0.25 per cent

deposit in the Basin and one of the most significant new min-

U3O8 cut-off grade and U3O8 a long-term price of US$65/lb

eral discoveries made recently. Recent findings there include

U3O8 and estimated costs). This high-grade deposit is hosted

the Bow Discovery (March 2015), Cannon Area (April 2016),

completely within competent basement rocks, making it highly

and the Harpoon Discovery (August 2016).

advantageous from a future potential mining perspective.

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Most recently, in August 2016, NexGen made its secondmost significant uranium discovery in Harpoon, located 4.7 kilometres northeast of Arrow on its Rook I property. The team hit high-grade uranium similar to what it sees in the high-grade parts of Arrow, but located a significant distance away from it.

NexGen’s eastern Athabasca properties in Thorburn Lake and Radio were put into a subsidiary of NexGen called IsoEnergy and will be public this fall. NexGen will own approximately 76 per cent once it is made public. IsoEnergy will be run by former Rio Tinto executive and geologist Craig Parry and exploration will be led by Steve Blower, formerly of Denison Mines.

The company stresses its dedication to injecting as much capital as possible into exploration as compared to corporate and administrative spending. In 2015, the ratio of dollars-inthe-ground to corporate expenditure was >10:1.

Exploration Techniques NexGen’s maiden inferred mineral resource estimate was based on drilling to the end of summer 2015 programme and comprised 82 holes. Via drilling methods comprising 95 per cent angled drill holes, NexGen pierced two to three shears

with each hole, working on the deposit featuring parallel stacked and sub-vertical shear zones.

NexGen’s maiden resource estimate was based on just under 60,000 metres of diamond drilling and a cost of approximately $27 million, making its discovery cost per pound of $0.13 one of the lowest on record.

NexGen commenced its winter 2016 drilling in early January using six drill rigs to achieve 30,000 metres of drilling, the largest programme at Rook I. the company then initiated its first-ever spring shoulder drift season, which completed approximately 10,000 metres of diamond drilling.

NexGen’s summer programme aimed for over 35,000 metres of core with seven drill rigs. It was a huge success for the company in its quest to convert inferred pounds into the more valuable indicated pounds, as well as expanding the overall mineral inventory.

NexGen’s focus will also include continuing baseline environmental monitoring studies and active engagement with local stakeholders, as well as geotechnical and metallurgical testing that will form the basis of future economic studies and permitting activities. 6

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Schooled in Mining: Industry Programs Remain Robust

By Melanie Franner

T

he combined value of mineral production in 2014 for the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba reached $8.5 billion, according to the Facts & Figures of the Canadian Mining Industry 2015 report from the Mining Association of Canada. Saskatchewan accounted for $7.1 billion of that amount.

In terms of total capital expenditures for mineral resource development in 2014, the two provinces reached almost $4.7 billion, with Saskatchewan once again accounting for the majority at $4.4 billion.

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The mining industry is significant, and as such comes with its share of training programs and initiatives. The following is a brief overview of some of the different educational opportunities available to those interested in pursuing a career in this growing industry.

Manitoba Brandon University With a history that extends back to 1912, Brandon University is well schooled in the Department of Geology. The department offers a four-year major honours degree, a four-year major

degree, a three-year major degree and a minor degree in geology.

“Most of the course have lab components,” explains Dr. Ali Somarin, Chair of the Department. “The courses are tailored to the mining industry or the oil & gas industry and are designed to prepare students for working in the field.” A fourmonth co-op option is also available within the program.

According to Somarin, the geology major attracts an average of 15 students per year, plus or minus three.

“Right now, we have 76 students enrolled in geology, with 15 of them being

minors in geology and the rest being majors,” says Somarin. “Forty per cent of them will go to the oil and gas industry, 40 per cent to mining and the rest to graduate studies.”

Potential career opportunities in the mining industry include field geologist, exploration geologist, and project geologist at a mine site (mine geologist) or on an exploration project.

“Mining is one of the highest paid sciences from a career standpoint,” adds Somarin.

University College of the North (UCN)/Northern Manitoba Mining Academy (NMMA) According to Associate Vice President of Career and Workforce Development for the UCN, Rob Penner, approximately 70 per cent of the college’s students are indigenous people. UCN offers both university programs and college programs. In the case of the latter, the college trades programs are suited to heavy industry as opposed to mining per se.

“We have about 250 students a year in our apprenticeship programs alone,” says Penner.

Penner also does double duty as Executive Director of the NMMA, which was founded in 2010 to offer strategic training initiatives and research activities designed to strengthen the social, economic and environmental benefits of a robust mining sector.

“The programs offered through the Academy are highly variable and work on a training-to-employment model,” he explains, adding that the courses themselves can vary from one day to 15 weeks. “We will change our offering depending on what’s needed in the respective communities and industries.”

Penner cites the example of how the Academy offered exploration technician training during the peak of the province’s mining heyday while today’s courses focus more on prospecting in deference to the downturn.

“We’re focused on mining in its entirety, from early exploration to mining to final reclamation,” he adds.

The Mining Academy works in partnership with educational institutions across the province. A unique partnership with Brandon University came into being earlier this year via a shared faculty position, whereby the individual will work with Brandon University during the winter term and with the Mining Academy during the summer.

“Brandon University’s field school in Flin Flon was at the heart of this unique partnership,” explains Penner. “We both wanted to ramp up our relationship as a result.”

Element Drilling Ltd. Although not an educational institution, Element Drilling Ltd. has done its share of teaching since it was founded in 2007. The Aboriginal-owned company offers diamond drilling services – with an eye to hire locals wherever they go.

It currently operates in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario, although the company is looking to branch out to

British Columbia and Quebec as well.

“We tend to work within northern Manitoba,” explains President Ryan Leaman. “We do the drilling for junior companies or mid-tier ones. They tend to have their own hiring and training initiatives, but we sometimes bring our own guys on-site, and if they’re local hires, we teach them on the fundamentals, like First Aid and safety training.”

These local hires tend to be members of First Nation communities. In most cases, the hired locals prefer to stay in their own community and end up seeking employment with the company doing the exploration, after their work with Element Drilling is complete.

“We were in Lynn Lake last year and hired four local helpers to work with our two drill teams,” says Leaman. “We ended up training them for the job but once our work was done there, some opted to stay local and some opted to come on our next drill programs.”

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73

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Polytechnic/ Centre for Mineral Innovation (CMI) Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers over 150 programs across its four campus locations, with more than 60 of them tying directly into the mining industry. Some of the engineering technology programs with a long history of supporting the mining industry include civil, mechanical, electrical, water resources, CAD/ CAM and environmental. There are also a variety of trades programs that support the mining industry.

“We began offering a new Mining Engineering Technology diploma program in 2012 that feeds directly into the mining and minerals extraction industry,” says Joni Brisbin, CMI Director, who adds that the program has been well received. “It’s over-subscribed.”

CMI came into being in 2014 as a consortium of private and public organizations with a mandate to explore educational opportunities for the mining and mineral industry within Saskatchewan.

CMI has just recently completed its first project, which was the creation of a standardized contractor safety training suite of courses. The nine short-term courses are tailored specifically to meet the needs of the mining and mineral extraction industry.

“We created a tracking system in conjunction with the courses so that mining personnel can access the database to see which mining contractors have been certified,” explains Brisbin. “It’s really a ‘mobility booster’ for mining contractors, enabling them to move with ease from site to site within the province.”

Southeast College With a 20-year history of offering safety programs geared to the mining industry, Southeast College is well established with some 20 to 30 courses.

“Because we are located in southeast Saskatchewan, we are in the hub of the energy and exploration industry,” explains Sheen Onrait, Manager of Marketing and Communications. “We pride 74 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

ourselves on being responsive to the community and industry.”

According to Onrait, some 8,000 students a year participate in the college’s safety courses, which are spread across six different campuses. The college also offers trade programs, such Heavy Equipment Operator Training. Industrial mechanic is a recent addition to the trades offering.

“We look at the labour market here in southeastern Saskatchewan and tailor our programs to meet those needs,” says Onrait, who adds that the college employs business consultants to go out and foster relationships with industry for just that purpose.

Northlands College The official launch of the Northlands College Mine School in July 2014 was a strong indicator of the important role that mining plays in Saskatchewan’s northern economy. It was also a reflection of the history that the college had in delivering programs to the mineral sector.

“Our enrollment for fall 2016 is high,” says Chandra McDougald, Director of the Northlands College Mine School.

“All of our programs are full.”

These certificate and diploma programs range from one to two years. Enrollment is limited to northern students from the province of Saskatchewan –

those who have been living in the north for a minimum of 10 years. Courses see an average of 12 students.

“When we introduced the Mine School in 2014, we were offering two programs,” McDougald says. “Now, we’re offering six different programs.”

And based on reception to date, the college already intends to increase that number next year. 6

New Province-wide Training Program Takes a Dig into Safety Partnership between Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatchewan Mining Association provides common training standards for safety at Saskatchewan mine sites

T

he fundamental purpose behind the new provincewide safety standards training program for contractors is to keep workers safe on the job. The secondary purpose is to provide workers with consistent safety training in the most efficient and effective way possible to improve a worker’s ability to move between mine sites.

The Saskatchewan Polytechnic Centre for Minerals Innovation (CMI) launched Saskatchewan’s standardized safety training in 2015. The CMI generates province-wide training dedicated to the education and skills training needs of the mining and minerals industry.

“For contractors, the training program reduces the need for repetitive training and creates one set of training standards, saving time and facilitating mobility between Saskatchewan Mining Association member sites,” says Joni Brisbin, CMI director.

CMI, with initial funding from the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII), works with mining and minerals stakeholders in a wide variety of areas including developing and sharing resources and facilitating access to cutting-edge educational services. CMI and a consortium from the Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA) and its member companies developed the new training program, which currently encompasses eight courses covering topics such as Workplace Hazardous

Materials Information System (WHMIS) and General Mine Safety (SFTY 1808).

“It is an assurance that all contractors working for SMA member companies have the knowledge and training to work safe,” says Brisbin.

According to SMA President Pam Schwann, the program means that everyone who works at any mine in Saskatchewan will have the same approach to safety.

“Whether you are a mine site employee or a site contractor, ensuring that work is done safely is what is important,” says Schwann. “Safety is a fundamental pillar of Saskatchewan’s mining sector, and a safe site is a productive site.”

For Dave Speerbrecker, Health, Safety & Training manager at Thyssen Mining, streamlining safety training is about influencing the culture of safety across the province and ensuring all workers from all levels are as safe as possible.

“Part of safety’s job is to ensure everyone gets home to their family after the work day is done,” says Speerbrecker. “This streamlined training adds to our safety culture in Saskatchewan by creating a level playing field for our industry. If we really want to adhere to a Mission: Zero policy, we need to make this kind of change in training in our province.”

Speerbrecker is also a member of the committee that helped bring the program from concept to reality. He says that by participating in the standardized training, companies can signal to their employees and other workers in the industry that they’re serious about their safety.

“We have such a diverse workforce in Saskatchewan, and if we can get everyone trained to a similar level, we can save time and be more efficient without risking someone’s health,” Speerbrecker says. “We can transfer knowledge from the worker to the instructor to ensure the program is always responding to industry need.”

CMI continues to expand the suite of standardized safety training courses to meet the specific needs of this industry.

The courses are available in various locations and through various delivery modes and were designed to ensure easy access to training. Consistent, timely availability and delivery is critical to training for a culture of safety for the employees of Saskatchewan. 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

75

Training to Help

Communities Become Stronger

T

he Northern Manitoba Mining Academy (NMMA) is a new educational institution located in Flin Flon, Manitoba. Associated with the University College of the North, it is specifically intended to serve the needs of the Northern Manitoban communities with regards to job creation by providing training in a variety of mining, construction, and exploration-related areas.

NMMA’s mission is to provide innovative and responsible solutions for the creation of a knowledgeable, skilled, and sustainable workforce within a vibrant, mineral-rich resource industry. It facilitates strategic training initiatives and research activities in order to strengthen the social, economic, and environmental benefits of a robust mining and resources sector.

The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy is founded on the bedrock values of: • Excellence in education and research; • Dedication to finding solutions to real world problems; • Respect, celebration and diversity of our students, communities and services; • Reducing the environmental footprint of all that we do and all that we leave for the future; • Prudent use of financial, capital and human resources; • Maximizing social, economic and ecological benefits in a manner benefiting all; • Providing innovative and responsive solutions; and

76 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR COMMUNITY UCN graduates go on to many exciting and fulfilling careers. They run their own businesses, become members of the RCMP, treat patients, strengthen Manitoba’s industry and economy, work as I.T. and office professionals, educate children and adults, and are certified general accoutants. Put your knowledge to work.

For more information, visit us at www.ucn.ca

• Creating a knowledgeable, skilled and sustainable workforce within a vibrant, mineral-rich resource industry.

The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy operates as a wide-ranging partnership between academia (University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, University College of the North), industry (Vale, HudBay), Indigenous Peoples in Manitoba groups (Manitoba Métis Federation, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak), and government (City of Flin Flon, Government of Manitoba, Northern Manitoba Sector Council).

A central premise for the location of the Northern Manitoba Mining Academy in Flin Flon is proximity to the potential students, many of whom come from northern communities and for whom travel and accommodation in the south (i.e. Winnipeg) is prohibitively expensive.

Proximity to the students’ community, but also video conferencing capabilities, accessible through the UCN, are major factors in providing education to those who mostly need it in the best possible conditions. From this point of view, accommodating students at a minimal or no charge is the next challenge that would allow the NMMA to grow and better serve its students. The Academy is in the process of securing funding for a modern, comfortable, and friendly ac78 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

commodation right on its premises; planned opening of the residence is early 2017. The Academy is actively reaching to people in the North as they are the people most aware of their wants and needs and of what it takes to live and work in the north.

In terms of education, NMMA offers its own programs, mostly short courses in health and safety, courses organized by the University College of the North (wilderness safety, prospecting, and exploration), and courses organized in association with the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (a variety of construction-related trades). However, the programming is not limited to those courses already on the syllabus: the Academy operates on open-door policy and welcomes people with their unique and diverse needs; it prides itself in its ability to tailor or create specific on-demand courses and deliver them locally in the North.

The NMMA is also becoming increasingly involved in Manitoba Health-related training, such as training trauma counselors and response teams that can be located in northern communities and be prepared for timely and effective intervention. This is an area of increasing importance and growth for the Academy.

NMMA is hosted in its own building, adjacent to the HudBay Minerals min-

ing complex in Flin Flon, Manitoba, and next door to the University College of the North, Flin Flon Regional Centre. It boasts several classrooms, chemical and computer labs, sample preparation facilities, underground mining heavy equipment simulator, and an assortment of geological microscopes. A full list of facilities and equipment is available on the NMMA’s website, miningacademy.ca.

The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy also provides access to its worldclass facilities for field-based undergraduate courses, as well as graduate students and researchers doing field work. Full sample preparation facilities are offered to students and scientists in all natural and environmental sciences.

The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy is a unique educational partnership with the specific purpose to serve the needs of Northern Manitoba communities in providing practical trades training in very close proximity to where potential students are. The NMMA is actively reaching to the northern communities and residents and proactively helping them become stronger; it is also paying heed to the wants and needs of Northern Manitoba residents. The Academy is growing fast and is ambitious in its aim to serve Northern Manitoba in its job creation endeavors. 6

PDAC 2017

The Diamond of Mining Shows

H

ave your registered? From March 5th to 8th, 2017, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Now in its 85th year, the PDAC Convention is the world’s leading convention for people, companies, and organizations connected to the mineral exploration industry. With technical seminars, short courses, guest speakers, and trades shows, attendees will learn about the latest trends, technologies, and people shaping the mineral exploration and development industry.

This year, the convention will again present many of its popular programs including the Aboriginal Program, CSR Event Series, and the Corporate Presentation Forum for Investors. This year, the guest speaker at the Mineral Outlook Luncheon is global economist and author Dr. Dambisa Moyo. Named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, New York Times best-selling author Dr. Moyo examines the future of the mining industry based on the current economic climate.

The Core Shack is also a popular draw, with over 47 exhibiting companies participating last year. Giving attendees handson access to core findings, the latest discoveries – along with maps, charts, and technical information – will be highlighted and examined.

PDAC will once again offer the Capital Markets Program, a forum aimed at education and discussion on a range of topics related to financing in mineral exploration, and the Trade Show and Trade Show North will have approximately 900 exhibitors showcasing the latest technology, products, services, and mining information.

As one of the largest industry events for mining and minerals, the networking opportunities at the PDAC Convention are incomparable. With over 22,000 attendees from over 125 countries in attendance, the mingling and interaction never stops.

Some of the social events include the opening-day reception, awards gala, student-industry networking luncheon, and trade show reception.

PDAC also provides an E-Centre on the trade show floor with free internet access, and private meeting rooms are available on an hourly basis during each day of the conference.

Register online for full all-access or VIP all-access passes, one-day passes, or attend select presentations and events. Special pricing available for students and senior attendees.

Go to pdac.ca/convention to see the full schedule of presentations, workshops, short courses. Register for PDAC 2017 soon and check often for the latest updates. 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

79

Northlands College’s Programs Meet Industry Needs

T

he mission of Northlands College is to provide quality education and training programs that will meet the development and employment needs of Northerners, enhance social and economic development and prepare Northerners to participate in the labour market.

On July 30, 2014, the Northlands College Mine School was officially launched. The creation of the Mine School not only recognizes the significant role that mining plans in the northern economy, but it also recognizes the importance that Northlands College has played, and continues to play, in providing training for jobs in the mineral sector. Northlands College has provided mine training for more than 20 years. The formation of the Mine School brings together existing programs, adds new ones, and utilizes the latest technology to provide training as good as anywhere in the world. With the broad span of skills required for mining, Northlands College wants to ensure that industry needs are being met and that training leads to employment.

Current programing at Northlands College Mine School includes our flagship programs plus some new ones to meet industry and economic needs.

Mine Engineering Technician program will have a new intake in fall 2017. The current program is being reviewed to make sure that the Mine School is meeting the needs of employers.

Radiation and Environmental Monitoring program is a mainstay program that provides entry-level training in Environment and Radiation. Northlands College Mine School is the only institution in the province that offers this particular program, and, to the best of our knowledge, Northlands College Mine School is the only institution in the country to offer a program of this kind.

A new program being offered at the Mine School is Power Engineering Technician. Students will be able to challenge the inter-provincial 4th-class exams.

A shortage of certified technicians means job opportunities have never been better.

Another new program offered at the Mine School is Industrial Mechanics (applied certificate). Industrial mechanics are known by other trade names (maintenance mechanics, millwrights or machine repairmen).

The final new program being offered at the Mine School is Civil Technician.

With an increasing demand for people to conduct materials, soil, surveying and asphalt testing and to build and maintain the roadways, transportation systems, municipal services and other facilities that we use every day, a civil tech graduate will be in high demand.

An added perk to our programs is that mine equipment simulator training has been built into programs being offered at the Mine School.

Given the current economic downturn, Northlands College is not stopping training. This is the best time to train Northerners for employment in the north.

Programs being offered can take students to the north or to other mineral sectors across the province or world. 6 1) 2015/2016 Mine Engineering Technician class – field school.

2) Simulator training –The simulator pic is a local high school. 3) 2015/2016 Mine Engineering Technician class – ventilation training. 4) Civil Technician class – surveying.

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1

2

3

4

The Most Dependable Core Box in the Industry

L

ocated in Pleasantdale in central Saskatchewan, Tigerdale Enterprises Ltd. specializes in manufacturing and selling core boxes, core box lids, core racks and marking blocks used in the exploration and mining industry. Established in 1996, the company has over 20,000 square feet of usable floor space, enabling it to house an abundant amount of stock and product.

With over 40 years’ experience in the drilling industry, company president Fred Graham says, “We are here to meet all of our clients’ needs with the most durable products.”

The “western style” core box is manufactured with construction-grade fir plywood bottoms, ¾-inch rails and dividers, and extra screws for added strength, producing the most dependable core box in the industry. Tigerdale is also able to make all sizes of core boxes from AQ to SQ, and custom-sized boxes are manufactured on request. Two types of core racks – open and enclosed – are also built, using treated wood and metal tubing.

The enclosed rack protects the core from the external elements and the client’s investment. Each rack holds core boxes of 4’ x 5’4” x 10’ or 450 metres of core.

Orders can be picked up on-site at our plant location in Pleasantdale. Tigerdale also ships Canada-wide, so call (306) 874-5540 for shipping arrangements, pricing, and other product information. 6

Mission Statement: Ensuring quality service, providing a durable product to meet the needs of all our clients and investing in Canadian resources.

82 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Community Profile:

Snow Lake

By Shelley Powell, Community Economic Development Officer, the Town of Snow Lake

S

now Lake is a community of approximately 725 residents located on a lake in the boreal forest of Northern Manitoba 700 kilometres north of Winnipeg on Highway 6. Despite the appearance of remoteness, Snow Lake is central to, and a reasonable driving distance from, the major northern centres of Flin Flon (200 kilometres), Thompson (250 kilometres), and The Pas (200 kilometres). With a municipal area of 1, 212 square kilometres (468 square miles), Snow Lake is almost three times larger than the City of Winnipeg. It is esti-

mated that water bodies account for 182 square kilometres (71 square miles) or 15 per cent of the municipality.

Snow Lake was founded on mining in the late 1940s, and mining remains the main economic driver for the town and region. HudBay Minerals Inc. is the community’s largest employer. Rock Cliff Resources and Wolfden Resources Corp. also operate in the area, with Wolfden acquiring the 100 per cent-owned Rice Island property by claim staking in May 2015 and by option agreement in September 2016.

In 2015, Snow Lake won Manito-

baville, beating out nine other challengers. The community’s Beach Enhancement Committee (BEC) received a cheque for of $25,000 that was added to other funds and municipal contributions to be used to make crucial improvements to things such as play structures and add to the splash parks at the town’s Sunset Bay Beach.

Snow Lake is also home to a Manitoba Star Attraction, the Mining Museum, which includes exhibits such as the Rock and Mineral Exhibit and the Exploration Exhibit.

Golden Vista Condo is a new multi-level housing complex in Snow Lake that was always envisioned as a complex for tenants ages 55 and up. With underground parking, an elevator, wheelchair-friendly washrooms, wide doorways and a common room, it meets a variety of needs that arise as age takes hold. This project was a joint venture with the main goal being to improve housing for seniors in Snow Lake. Seniors occupy some of the suites, and HudBay leases the rest while intending to turn those leases over to tenants as the demand arises. The name of the complex is appropriate as great views (vistas) and mining (including gold) merge. 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector 83

Revitalizing a Community: Alamos Gold in Lynn Lake

O

ne of the best-kept secrets in Canada, the Town of Lynn Lake, Manitoba, serves as the service hub for northwestern Manitoba. Located 330 kilometres northwest of Thompson, Lynn Lake is a welcoming town that is proud of its mining heritage and optimistic about its future.

The history of Lynn Lake began in the 1920s in the town of Sherridon, 200 kilometres to the south. Sherridon was established around a rich body of copper ore by Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd., but as the ore began running out, Sherritt laid claim to one of the world’s richest nickel strikes, and the plan for Lynn Lake began. Over a three-year period in the early 1950s, 146 buildings were transported one by one along 265 kilometres of makeshift winter roads. In total, 50,000 tons of buildings and materials were moved to where Lynn Lake stands today.

Since that original mine, Lynn Lake has seen a series of nickel, copper, zinc, and gold mines. Today, we are on the verge of something very exciting. As the town continues to expand its tourism, culture and recreational opportunities, we are also working in partnership with Alamos Gold Inc. on what may become the first new mine in northern Manitoba in a number of years.

In addition to our mining prospects, infrastructure, and rich history, people are attracted to Lynn Lake by our natural beauty and abundance of outdoor opportunities. We are minutes away from the best sport-fishing the country has to offer in the summer and from ice fishing during the winter. A network of trails exists for use by ATV, snowmobile, walking, or hiking.

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Since that original mine, Lynn Lake has seen a series of nickel, copper, zinc, and gold mines. Today, we are on the verge of something very exciting. As the town continues to expand its tourism, culture and recreational opportunities, we are also working in partnership with Alamos Gold Inc. on what may become the first new mine in northern Manitoba in a number of years.

Alamos Gold Inc. Alamos Gold Inc. – a Canadian-based intermediate gold producer with diversified production from three operating mines in North America, including the Young-Davidson Mine in northern Ontario and the Mulatos and El Chanate Mines in Mexico – has identified the Farley Lake and MacLellan former mine sites as two prospective open-pit gold projects.

In 2015, a total of 31,030 metres of diamond, geotechnical, and PQ metallurgical drilling was completed on the two sites to support the delineation of gold resources and collect additional infor-

tec have been working in the Lynn Lake area collecting data since April 2015.

At the conclusion of the feasibility study, Alamos will be in a position to make a

Community Engagement Alamos’ local team is actively engaged in organizing and participating in a wide variety of youth activities within the community. They have run field trips, conducted workshops, and career presentations at West Lynn Heights School.

During these programs, students have been exposed to options for potential post-secondary education in mining-related fields and have been encouraged to pursue jobs in the industry upon graduation.

mation to support a feasibility study that

What’s Next?

is scheduled to be completed in the third

The feasibility study will continue over the next year, with Ausenco Ltd. recently

quarter of 2017. Geological and resource

being contracted to complete the study.

decision on whether or not to proceed with a development plan for a mine.

Regional exploration activities will continue in the Lynn Lake area over the next year.

Alamos Gold is actively engaging with the area’s Marcel Colomb First Nation and the Town of Lynn Lake to seek out items of collaboration to support the positive development of the area. Public consultations have been held and will continue to ensure a healthy relationship and a bright future for the community.

For more information, visit www.lynnlake.ca and www.alamosgold.com. 6

modelling is complete for the MacLellan and Farley Lake projects.

Geotechnical investigations were carried out by Golder Associates Ltd. in 2015 and 2016 to obtain information to support the design of the proposed

LYNN LAKE: Discoveries Await

open pits as well as the location of minerelated infrastructure such as a processing plant, maintenance facilities, waste stockpiles, and a tailings management facility.

Environmental Studies Stantec Consulting Inc. is contracted to complete an environmental baseline study in order to develop a solid understanding of the existing environmental and socioeconomic conditions in the Lynn Lake area. Field crews from Stan-

www.lynnlake.ca 503 Sherritt Ave.

204.356.2418 info@lynnlake.ca PO Box 100 Lynn Lake MB R0B 0W0 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

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Straight as an Arrow

Experience and skill ensure an excellent flight experience

A

rrowhead Helicopters Ltd. is a family-owned and operated helicopter company located in La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

Founded in 2013, they have been steadily building a reputation as a company that provides safe and efficient service. Arrowhead’s objective is to serve the customer with whatever needs they may have and assist the client in planning and organizing aspects of their project.

The company employs experienced and skilled flight and maintenance crews to ensure an excellent experience is accomplished while flying with Arrowhead Helicopters.

to very high standards – if you take care

invested in several optional equipment

of your aircraft, it will take care of you

items to assist in providing customers

and your customers. Aircraft has many

with a safer more reliable helicopter than

optional equipment items installed to

the standard Bell 407:

make them more effective, safer, and re-

• Upgraded engine air-filter system: pro-

liable. Each aircraft is deployed with an

vides better filtration of fine particles

assortment of gear and accessories to

than the original Bell particle separator.

ensure that the helicopter performs as it

Great for the sandy/dusty conditions.

should and meets the needs of the client’s

• Tanis pre-heat system: provides heat to

Fleet

tinuous maintenance and inspections en-

Arrowhead Helicopters Ltd. currently operates two aircraft: a Bell 407 and Bell 206B III Jet-ranger. Aircraft is maintained

sure minimal chance of breakdowns and

• Pilot bubble window: allows pilot better

“down-days” resulting in loss of time and

visibility for long-line/slinging opera-

money to customers. The company has

tions

86 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

job.

Built in 2002, the Bell 407 was first owned privately, flown conservatively, and serviced by Bell service centres. Ar-

vital components of the aircraft while it is parked for long periods of time to assist in winter operations.

• Traffic

collision

avoidance

system

rowhead Helicopters later purchased it in

(TCAS): installed for additional safety

2013, and it has proven to be a very re-

and aircraft situational awareness.

liable, fast, and powerful machine. Con-

• Auxiliary fuel kit: adds 20 more gallons of fuel for extended range

• Bleed air heater: very warm forced-air heater, less window frosting in winter operations • Air conditioning • Programmable VHF/FM TFM-138 radio • GPS tracking system: provides flight followers and ground crew the ability to continuously monitor the position, altitude, and airspeed of the helicopter on a computer or smartphone.

• Iridium satellite phone: aircraft has 24/7 communications with Arrowhead Helicopters’ operations headquarters.

• Passenger photo window: provides a large enough opening for a camera lens to protrude out the window to reduce the glare caused by the plastic.

• 300-pound-limit external cargo basket: more room for luggage, provides storage for long/awkward items and great for placing dangerous items out of the cabin.

The Bell 206B III JetRanger, built in 1976, began its life in India, where it

spent many years. After being imported to Canada in 2001, it went through a total rebuild. The 206 has a history of reliability and owns the best safety record among all single-engine helicopters. Arrowhead Helicopters Ltd. has invested in several optional equipment items to assist in providing our customers with a safer more reliable helicopter than the standard Bell 206B III JetRanger: • Upgraded engine air-filter system • Passenger shoulder harnesses • Intercom systems • Range extender • Bleed air heater: very warm forced air heater, less window frosting in winter operations • Programmable VHF/FM TFM-138 radios • GPS tracking system: provides flight follower and supervisions the ability to continuously monitor the position, altitude and airspeed of the helicopter on a computer or smartphone • Iridium satellite phone: aircraft has 24/7

communications with Arrowhead Helicopters’ operations headquarters

Services At Arrowhead Helicopters, they focus effort to provide the best service to their clients, sparing no expense to be well equipped to handle the task professionally and safely. When you book a job with Arrowhead, helicopters are ready for client-specific needs.

Being a small company allows Arrowhead to focus on the jobs at hand and have better control and knowledge of the day-to-day operational planning. This is beneficial to providing fast and organized service, and makes the company a capable of providing an extensive range of services, including aerial construction, aerial inspection and surveillance, aerial harvesting, aerial mapping, geological support, aerial photography, search and rescue, wildlife management, mining support, exploration, external loads, forest fire management, and firefighting. 6

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

87

Potash Journey safer and more secure than ever before

S

afety and security is important at every stage of the potash journey, from excavating the ore deep below the earth’s surface, to transporting it to port terminals in Vancouver, Portland and Saint John, to shipping it overseas to its final destinations. It’s also important to the systems that enable those things to happen.

“Our weak link was that all our IT infrastructure was located in one building, in our head office in Saskatoon,” says Ken Seitz, President and CEO of Canadian potash exporter Canpotex. “We want to be geographically dispersed, but some of our systems don’t lend themselves well to third-party outsourcing from an operation and maintenance point of view, so we want to have access to those systems. We want our dedicated staff to be able to interact with them.”

Canpotex shopped around for the right solution. “We looked in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, yet we were most impressed with SaskTel’s Data Centre – and that was really from a redundant power-supply point of view, access and multiple lines,” says Seitz.

“SaskTel has security measures in place that allow us to access the system 24/7, so there’s really a lot of control over who can access the system and when.”

More than a decade ago, SaskTel anticipated the enormous impact of the technology age and built SaskTel Data Centres in multiple locations around the province. Today, they host government, corporate, and private customers from across North

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America. The data centres are enterprise class and feature 99.99 per cent guaranteed uptime availability. Each offers a safe and secure operating environment in a geographically stable location with a low risk of natural disaster.

“Every feature of a data centre is designed to be a benefit, from the facilities we use to the backup power generation, to the way the buildings are hardened, to the staff and their qualifications,” says Todd Blahitka, Operations Manager for the SaskTel Data Centres. “And the business doesn’t have to be in the same city. It doesn’t even have to be in the same province.”

SaskTel Data Centres are protected 24/7 by on-site security guards and surveillance cameras that monitor access and infrastructure. All authorized customers are required to obtain a criminal record check before being provided secure key-card access and biometric scanner profiles.

The facilities are connected to a stable public power grid and have two utility feeds from two separate transformers. During a power outage, a redundant uninterruptible power supply provides ample battery backup power to the facility while the N+1 diesel-powered generators are brought online.

Inside temperatures are carefully controlled and kept at a constant level, providing optimal operating conditions for data equipment. Air conditioning units supply ventilation and cooling.

A two-stage fire suppression system with cross-zoned detection responds to either heat or smoke. In addition, Very Intel-

ligent Early Warning (VIEW) smoke detection with advanced laser light source is used.

For Ed Grassie, Director of IT at Canpotex, the move to the SaskTel Data Centres in Regina and Saskatoon came after a series of warning signs. “First, we had a small fire in one of the offices.

The server room was literally 20 feet away, and if the sprinklers had gone off, they would have ruined our computer equipment,” says Grassie. “Second, our air conditioner was getting older and starting to fail. We would walk into the server room and there’d be a fine mist coming out of one of the cooling lines and misting the side of our mainframe.”

While it took several near-incidents at the Canpotex head office to prompt the move, it turned out to be more than a precautionary action. It was also a solid business decision that strengthened the company’s bottom line. “We had a large capital outlay that we were going to have to undertake. It was going to total about $750,000,” says Grassie. “By going to the SaskTel Data Centre, we were able to completely avoid that cost.”

Every SaskTel Data Centre customer comes with a different wish list. To meet the diversity of needs, SaskTel offers its Colocation service at one end of the spectrum and Managed Hosting at the other, both with assurances that everything is customizable.

SaskTel Colocation allows organizations to protect their infrastructure without the expense of building and managing their own data centre. SaskTel provides the data centre space, power and cooling infrastructure services, bandwidth usage, and 24/7 security. Customers keep control of their equipment, data, and applications.

SaskTel Managed Hosting, on the other hand, gives customers all the benefits of enterprise technology without the high capital expense of buying it themselves. Experienced SaskTel IT staff provide management of hardware and operating systems including, but not limited to, a guaranteed service level, patching, monitoring and alarming, back-up, storage, load balancing, Internet, and virus protection.

According to Blahitka, customers can create the level of service that works for them. “A customer might never enter a data centre. They can depend on us to be remote hands, remote eyes,” says Blahitka. “We call it professional services. A customer can ask us to do anything, from ordering the equipment to installing it for them. We’ll rack it, stack it, cable it, connect it.”

SaskTel Data Centres provide a safe, secure, and professionally managed environment for critical data and IT infrastructure.

They’re all that and more. They’re exactly what Canpotex needed so they can focus on what matters most, their core business of helping to feed people around the world. 6

2016-2017 Northern Prospector

89

Looking at

Safety in a New Way

“C

an you take a look at something for me?”

When we’re immersed in a project, we know it’s always useful to have someone else look it over with a fresh set of eyes. The same philosophy underlies one of PotashCorp’s newest initiatives to make its workplaces safer. In 2016, the company began having small teams of employees observe their colleagues as they performed routine, everyday tasks. The goal? To discover instances when those workers were unintentionally putting themselves at risk of a serious injury or fatality (SIF).

“We have been making strides in our safety programs, and we believe this is another proactive step we need to take,” says Rob Bubnick, PotashCorp’s Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment. “We want to find potential dangers that exist in our everyday tasks before they can lead to harm.”

PotashCorp is the world’s largest fertilizer company by capacity, producing potash, nitrogen and phosphate. It operates five potash mines in Saskatchewan that employ approximately 2,225 people. It also has nitrogen and phosphate operations in the U.S. and Trinidad. Ensuring workers go home safe to their families each day is a core value at the company.

PotashCorp describes its new safety auditing process as looking for “SIF in the Routine.” It began in early 2016 with PotashCorp developing its own training materials for staff members.

The initiative was piloted at the Allan potash mine, just south-

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PotashCorp’s Lanigan mine.

east of Saskatoon, and at a nitrogen plant in Augusta, Georgia.

The goal is to reach all locations by mid-2017.

One of the first steps is to create a working group at the site that discusses and confirms which tasks to audit.

The SIF Audit Team – the people who observe the task – includes one employee who’s familiar with task, two employees who aren’t, and one person from the working group. Before this team heads into the field, it receives some guidance about what it should look for during its observations, including “procedural drift” and “normalization of deviance.” These concepts have received a lot of attention recently in safety circles and describe a scenario where a procedure that was originally safe has gradually changed over time – and a higher level of risk has unintentionally become the new norm because no injury or obvious near miss has resulted.

Bubnick says audit team members are told to pay attention when their gut feelings tell them that something may not be right.

“We’re looking for those moments when the person observing the work begins to feel uneasy about the task,” he says.

“That’s our cue that we need to look a little deeper at how the work is being done.”

“People familiar with the task are not uneasy,” Bubnick adds.

“They won’t see the SIF exposure the same way the person with a fresh set of eyes will.”

His next challenge?

Feed 9 billion people.

To feed the global population of 9 billion expected by the year 2050, farmers worldwide will have to increase their crop yields. Sound impossible? The good news is, farmers are up to the challenge. The better news? So are crop nutrients.

Learn more at PotashCorp.com/Nourish

When done well, the audits include a blend of investigation and conversation, along with observation. Crews shouldn’t feel like they’re being called on the carpet, Bubnick says.

“We’re not looking to find fault. We want to see how you’re doing your job. Sometimes people develop more efficient ways to do a task and they’re still being safe, and that’s great. In other cases, maybe we need to redesign the system in which people are required to work, instead of just asking them to work safer.”

After the observations are complete, the audit team brings potential action items to the working group and senior site

management. The site’s SIF Steering Team reviews the results and ensures short-term fixes are in place and long-term solutions are tracked to completion.

While SIF in the Routine is a significant undertaking, Bubnick says the company’s senior managers and Board of Directors have continued to make it clear that safety is not only a top priority, but also a core value for the company.

“PotashCorp is passionate about preventing fatalities and studying the theory to create a practical, structured process that will help keep our workers safe.” 6

Taking Aim at Serious Injuries and Fatalities To avoid tragedy and help workers return home safely to their loved ones, PotashCorp is looking more closely than ever at how to prevent serious injuries and fatalities (SIF). It is using three separate approaches it describes as Reactive, Proactive and Integration.

Reactive

Proactive

Integration

“We have to cultivate a culture where it’s safe to report nearmisses.”

“If we’ve done it the same way for years and years, we need to take a step back and make sure we’re not missing anything so that we’re still doing it safely.”

“Our goal is to always be thinking about SIF prevention so it saturates every level of our organization.”

– Larry Simmons, Senior Director, Serious Injury & Fatality Prevention, PotashCorp •B uilding a culture where near-misses are reported •D oing more in-depth investigation of incidents to determine root causes •D igging deeper when human error is encountered •E nsuring strong, preventative remedial controls are put in place •M aking sure workers are involved in all aspects of this process

92 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

– John Horne, Director, Safety & Health, PotashCorp • Looking for SIF in the Routine • Implementing a systematic and structured process to observe routine tasks • Training to identify overlooked exposures to SIF • Implementing new work systems, procedures and/or controls where necessary

– Rob Bubnick, Vice President, Safety, Health & Environment, PotashCorp • Incorporating a new SIF prevention thinking into all that we do: job hazard assessments, structured pausing, inspections, safety meetings, investigations and more

Enhancing Mine Safety

with Load Cells

What you need to know about measuring weight or force with load cells, load pins, and tension links

I

n industries from mining and manufacturing to construction, transportation, and agriculture, the need to weigh or measure inputs, outputs, and applied force has grown in recent decades to improve production safety and control costs.

“Design engineers are responding as complex systems such as mine lift equipment, construction cranes, industrial tanks, grain silos, and locomotives, which may have lacked weight or force sensing capability in the past, are being upgraded to include load cells, load pins, and tension links,” says Riley Phillips, a mechanical designer at Massload, a Saskatoon, Canadabased manufacturer of quality load cells and weighing systems.

“These sophisticated weight and force sensing devices can help to maximize production-load efficiency while offering some of the enhanced safety features that are increasingly required by regulation, such as automatic shutdown if a load exceeds capacity.”

Here’s a quick look at measuring weight or force with load cells, load pins, and tension links (also known as tension cells).

The Basics A load cell is a transducer that changes force into a measureable electrical output. There are many varieties of load cells, of which strain gauges are the most common. Load cells can range from versatile single-ended shear beam, which can be used in weighing applications such as blenders, hoppers, and floor scales, to double-ended shear beam, which can be used in ap-

plications such as tank weighing and large capacity platforms.

“Load pins and tension links are subcategories of load cells,” explains Phillips. “Load pins can be substituted anywhere there’s a pin and a need to know the shear force on it. Tension links are a type of strain gauge transducer that measures force in tension applications such as wire rope, chains, and pulleys.

These are often used in lifting, pulling, and winching applications such as for cranes and mine lift equipment.”

Standard load cells and tension links are typically used if the system is standard or an engineer can adapt the system to an offthe-shelf item. This tends to occur in applications where there’s some system flexibility in the early stages of design. Most load cells, load pins, and tension links are custom designed when they must be adapted to fit existing systems. However, designers should consider the potential for custom load cell solutions even for new designs where their use enhances the overall system integrity, safety, or performance.

How to Avoid Pitfalls Planning a superior weighing system or retrofitting an old one on existing equipment can present challenges to even veteran design engineers. Bringing in your weighing system vendor during the planning stage allows you to improve safety and control costs while meeting specific code requirements.

“A lot of issues need to be considered,” says Larry van den Berghe, president and CEO at Massload, which has refined its custom design flow over the past decade. “It’s important to look 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

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at the design process up front to ensure reliability and manufacturability while controlling costs. For instance, fit is critical on load pins because they normally have to interface with tight tolerances. Depending on where the load is applied, if the supports, loading area, pin diameter, or other factors are off, the load pin may not work as expected.”

To avoid pitfalls, insist on a regulatory-approved quality management system that traces the load cell manufacture at each critical step from start to finish, and request a design-flow checklist from the weighing system vendor to ensure critical steps are not omitted.

“CAD modelling is not always straightforward, and sometimes you have to think beyond software’s presentation,” adds Phillips. “A stress concentration in the CAD modelling may look artificially high in one area but may be masking a stress pattern in another. You need accurate data on stress patterns throughout the component.”

Ask the weighing system vendor to validate the output of their load cell component against simulated real world conditions. This could be achieved through a digital photo of the test set up for enhanced accountability.

The design specifications, loading, testing, and application must be aligned, explains Phillips.

“It’s critical to get accurate CAD modelling and test data because that’s how the product will act, but it must be backed up by actual testing,” he says. “A mistake as simple as using the wrong supporting restraints could artificially strengthen load pin CAD results, and if real-world testing doesn’t catch it, the component may not have its stated capacity.”

To ensure output stability, engineers also need to know how the load cell output may vary depending on material strain over time, according to Phillips. Conducting a creep test to determine how stable the output is over time can also be important.

Because the accuracy of any load cell is only as good as its calibration, it’s vital that the reference cells in any testing system be traceable to a trusted standard, such as that of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). To guarantee that your supplier complies with the Verified Conformity Assessment Program (VCAP), a program implemented by the National Conference on Weights and Measures, it’s also a good 94 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

idea to ask for a copy of the VCAP auditor’s report.

“When warranted, it’s advisable for a vendor to cross-check their results against an independent, third-party engineering firm as an added layer of reliability and quality assurance,” adds Phillips.

The right vendor partner will also pay attention to small details that will streamline manufacture of the weigh system component, such as bonding, grounding, sealing, and gauge selection, to ensure lasting performance and resistance to water intrusion.

Phillips notes the importance of knowing the correct location where load cells, load pins, or tension links are supported, “because if you over-support a load cell, it won’t have the output you’d expect.” Placement of internal electronic components such as bondable or trimmable resisters can also affect device performance, he says.

“Even details such as putting scribe lines on where to place components can ease manufacturing,” says Phillips. “When these sorts of details are overlooked, they can require the manufacturer to rebuild a load pin or load cell before it’s done right.”

Details such as the types of bolts used should not be overlooked.

“The customer may require a countersunk bolt arrangement to hold lids on, if they’ve found that during operation bolt heads have been knocked off because they’re close to walls or equipment,” he explains.

The right weigh system vendor partner will also consider finer points that will affect field performance and maintenance.

“It’s important to include loading direction arrows because once a product like a load pin is sealed and symmetrical, the customer won’t know which way to place it in their equipment otherwise,” notes Phillips. “To enhance field performance, it’s necessary to specify the right type of connector, whether hard wired, wireless, or quick disconnect.”

As design engineers respond to the growing need to weigh or measure inputs, outputs, and applied force to improve production safety and control costs, working and consulting with the right vendor partner can be a critical choice in designing weigh systems with the optimum load cells, load pins, or tension links. 6

At All Cost

Protect your employees’ eyes

By Darren Mirau, LO, LCLP, Occupational Vision Care (OVC) Coordinator, Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists (SAO)

I

n accordance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations, it is required that where workers’ eyes may become irritated or injured from flying particles, splashes, ultraviolet or infrared radiation, an employer must supply approved eye or face protectors and ensure workers use them. The employer must also ensure the protection of workers in areas adjacent these dangers.

In the above statement, we can determine that it is the employer who is responsible to provide their employees with CSA-approved eye protection for use in the specific environment that they work.

Under no circumstances are regular eyeglasses to be considered a substitute for approved eye protection. Safety eyewear must conform to a higher standard of impact resistance and follow specific industry standards that include non-prescrip-

96 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

tion and industrial thickness prescription lenses. Various forms of eye protection – from shield-style frames to goggles to full face masks – are available to guarantee protection in all work situations.

According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, over 700 Canadian workers per day sustain eye injuries on the job, resulting in lost time and temporary or permanent vision loss. Any time lost due to injury and to rehabilitate can cost your business immensely. Reports indicate 90 per cent of eye injuries occurring are preventable through the use of protective safety eyewear.

The most common causes of eye injuries at work are: • Flying objects such as bits of metal, nails, glass, stone or wood • Unsafe handling of tools • Particles such as sand and sawdust

• Chemical splashes • Radiation • Sparks and slag from welding and cutting • Pipes and wire sticking out of walls • Objects hanging from ceilings • Sun and wind Workers and safety managers can prevent injuries by following simple procedures that include completing a hazard assessment, eliminating any determined hazards through engineering controls before starting work, and confirming appropriate vision protection is being worn.

All control measures must be integrated into well-developed safe work procedures and training. Eye injuries can occur when control measures are lacking or are not appropriate for the type of work being performed. The employer must also make sure the protective eyewear is being used, is comfortable to wear, does not impede

According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, over 700 Canadian workers per day sustain eye injuries on the job, resulting in lost time and temporary or permanent vision loss.

peripheral vision, and is adjusted to provide a proper fit. Improper or ill-fitting safety eyewear can be just as dangerous as going without. Eye and facial protective equipment must also be maintained and stored in a way that limits scratching and dirt build-up. Dirty or scratched protectors will inhibit the fields of vision and may result in workers not using them when required or removing them completely.

The cost of providing eye protection to your employees is minimal in comparison to the possible costs of an injury. Give serious thought to what the dangers are and how you can eliminate all injuries in your workplace.

To learn more about workplace safety or for information on a comprehensive Prescription Safety Eyewear Program, personalized for your company, please contact Darren Mirau, OVC Coordinator at the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists (SAO) at 306-652-2069. 6

Take Responsibility for your employee’s eye safety by tailoring the program to meet your company’s safety eyewear needs

LET US PROTECT YOUR SIGHT

Occupational Vision Care Program

The Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists 306-652-2069 | ovc@saosk.ca www.optometrists.sk.ca DEL Communications Inc. and you,

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2016-2017 Northern Prospector

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Srk bolsters rock mechanics program for leading fertilizer company

By Tim Coleman

S

ince 2012, SRK has been working with a major North American producer of agricultural nutrients that owns and operates a potash mine in Canada and a phosphate mine in the USA. SRK has been helping the mine’s engineering department to expand their rock mechanics program, with a focus on collecting data to aid daily operational and long-term mine planning decision making.

Because data management and collection methods are integral to this program, SRK is creating a centralized database to store the rock mechanics data collected by instruments installed around the mine. This centralized database will enable rock mechanics engineers to access the data more quickly and efficiently than if it was dispersed across the instruments that collected it. SRK has also developed a front-end application that queries the data and makes it easy to produce charts that

Cradle to cradle

Exploration, feasibility, due diligence, engineering and operations through to mine closure.

Our global experience gives you expert, integrated solutions on every phase of your mining project.

Same team — start to finish.

>1,400 professionals • >45 offices • >20 countries • 6 continents

SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. Suite 205, 2100 Airport Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada S7L 6M6

98 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Mark Liskowich, P. Geo T: +1.306.955.4778 E: mliskowich@srk.com

support daily operational decision making.

To save time with data entry, SRK has implemented the Environmental Systems Research Institute’s Collector for ArcGIS application. Running on a tablet, this app allows users to electronically record data from rock mechanics instrumentation while underground, therefore saving office time for data analysis and review. It also enables instrument locations to be represented spatially on a mine plan, making it easy for users to refer to the data collected for each area of the mine. Furthermore, SRK has set up the app to enable users to map geological features directly on a tablet while underground. By eliminating the need for geologists to convert hand-drawn maps into digital maps, they have more time for carefully interpreting the data in the office.

About SRK Consulting SRK Consulting is an independent, international practice providing focused advice and solutions to the earth and water resource industries. As a one-stop consultancy, SRK offers specialist services to mining and exploration companies for the entire life cycle of a mining project, from exploration through to mine closure. Formed in 1974, SRK employs more than 1,400 professionals globally in over 45 permanent offices on six continents. SRK’s specialists are leaders in fields such as due diligence, feasibility studies, mine waste and water management, permitting, and mine closure. The industry background of many of SRK’s staff ensures that advice is not only technically sound but also thoroughly practical. Among SRK’s clients are many of the world’s major, medium-sized and junior metal and industrial mineral mining houses, exploration companies, financial institutions, construction firms and government departments. To learn more about SRK Consulting, visit www. na.srk.com.

Contacts ­– Tim Coleman, Principal Consultant, Mining and Rock Mechanics, SRK Consulting (Vancouver) T: 1-604-681-4196 | F: 1-604-687-5532 E: tcoleman@srk.com ­– Mark Liskowich, Principal Consultant, SRK Consulting (Saskatoon) T: 1-306-955-4799 | F: 1-306-955-4750 E: mliskowich@srk.com 6

Mining for Solutions Fortis Mining Engineering and Manufacturing provides unprecedented service through its unique methodology

By Jonathan Hamelin

W

hen Garry Clarke first joined Northern Strands – a leader in mine hoisting and rigging equipment in North America – he brought a problem-solving mentality to the company.

“I had worked underground in the mines for quite a number of years. Basically, I had solid contacts in the mines and I knew the problems they had and gaps where they needed help with certain projects,” says Clarke, who joined Northern Strands in 1998. “One of the big problems involved succession planning. Around this time, a lot of the miners who had grown up around the same period were beginning to retire, and many of the mines really didn’t have a good succession plan in place.”

Early on during Clarke’s time with Northern Strands, he said the company 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

99

was presented with ample opportunities to provide mining solutions, so much so that it became a bit short-staffed.

In 2006, Clarke provided a solution to this problem by forming a subsidiary of Northern Strands called Fortis Mining Engineering and Manufacturing. The privately owned company based out of Saskatoon was created to provide mining, engineering and manufacturing services to the mining and construction industries.

“We really started off small with a small fabrication and machine shop,” Clarke says. “We wanted people to view us as the full-meal deal. We wanted to be able to take on a job and control whatever it took to get that customer back up and running again. From the beginning, one of Fortis’ biggest assets has been that we hire the right people.”

Fortis quickly expanded to offer a wide range of services to the mining and construction industries. For example, the company is involved in everything from exploration drilling and mine development to steel erection, piling and con100 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

crete work, and decommissioning. The company performs site assessments and creates safe work procedures to complete jobs, whether through a custom procedure, the design of a new piece of equipment or a combination of both.

Clarke explains that Fortis has capabilities that other companies don’t. He says the thing that sets the company apart is its policy of approaching a job almost from “before the start” and seeing it through right to the end and commissioning of the system.

“When we go to a mine, we ‘take inventory’: What does the mine have for equipment? What resources are available at the mine? Can the work location at the mine change in status?” Clarke says. “Fortis’ experience enables the company to analyze a job and break it down into manageable steps, with the tasks to each step outlined.”

“Often times, the solutions devised to address a problem or potential problem are simple and logical, and many people wonder why they didn’t think of those solutions. The answer is that Fortis per-

forms this work for a living. We have been doing rope work and underground mining work for years and have developed tangible critical analysis skills that are unmatched in the industry. Fortis has been following this methodology for years – well before the mining industry introduced the concept of critical path.”

It’s an approach that Mike Hydomako can speak to personally. Before joining Fortis, where he now serves as General Manager, he was a client of the company. When he was involved in mining operations, he noted that shaft time was valued at upwards of $1,000 a minute.

He said that Fortis really understood the importance of controlling the whole value stream and employing people who understand what needs to be done.

Now as an employee with Fortis, Hydomako is proud to be offering the same high level of assistance.

“We actually rehearse to the point where we pick stuff up in our yard with a crane to mock it up just to make sure everything’s going to fit the way we say.

We have computer programs we can

use, and in some cases we physically do some of the job in our yard before going out to the client,” Hydomako says.

“For one project, we had an employee waiting at the airport at 6 a.m. to pick up some parts that needed machining in our machine shop. That machining process was finished at about 3 p.m. and driven straight to a customer four hours away. We did not let the product leave our hands because the downtime is just that important to the customer.”

Fortis prides itself on continuously improving its processes, which results in increased efficiencies that are passed along to the customers. The company has achieved and maintained ISO 9001 Quality Management, 14001 Environmental Management and OHSAS 18001 Health & Safety Management Certifications, which ensures its products and services are safe, reliable and meet standards.

The majority of Fortis’ consulting work is done locally in Saskatchewan.

However, through its association with Northern Strands, its mining attach-

ments are sold all over North America and overseas in places such as Mongolia and Africa. When it comes to Fortis’ international work, the company has benefitted from being a member of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP).

“The marketing and industry research that STEP has done for us has been very beneficial,” Clarke says. “They’ve researched different mines throughout North America and their capabilities and other facts about their mines.

They’ve helped organize potential meetings in foreign countries and put us in contact with translators.”

One of the company’s recent achievements that can benefit mines across the globe has been the development of the Mobile Reel Handler “Fortis recognized the challenges that the mines faced when dealing with a 45,000-pound reel at the bottom of the shaft. There was no easy way to move it; safety of the workers was an issue as multiple workers were required to help maneuver the reel itself,” Clarke says.

“We designed the Mobile Reel Handler so one worker could load the reel and position it in place without ever having to leave the seat of the machine. It’s safer for the workers, safer for the reel and wire rope, and more efficient.”

“Safe” and “efficient” are key words for Fortis, as they permeate through every project, procedure and piece of equipment manufactured by the company.

“At times, we literally wrote the book on mine safety and the mines appreciate it,” Clarke says. “More often than not, the mines call Fortis when something has gone awry, to assist in repairs and create new safety procedures to prevent it from happening again. It’s a business partnership built on trust. The mines trust Fortis and its employees.”

Whether local or global, Fortis can meet customer’s needs. 6 This article was originally printed in the Fall 2016 issue of Global Ventures magazine.

2016-2017 Northern Prospector 101

Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals:

Supporting Safety on the Jobsite

By Tonya Lambert

S

afety first. These are the words you’ll hear again and again when you speak to the management and staff at Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals in Saskatoon.

At CMC, they know that the key to any successful mining or construction operation is safety. By using wellmaintained equipment and following the proper safety procedures, companies are not only able to lessen down time by preventing accidents, but also to increase efficiency and boost productivity.

Quality Equipment Success through safety begins with the best brands, and CMC carries nothing else. Their shelves are filled with products by top manufacturers such as Thern, 3M, Vitali, Atlas Copco, Multiquip and Wacker Neuson. “People come to us from across the country to buy and rent products they know they can count on,” says Paul Cranford, General Manager.

CMC recently added the products of three more industry leaders to their already impressive selection of specialized mining and construction equipment. Welders and compressors

by Red-D-Arc, battery-powered mobile mining and tunneling equipment by RDH, and an unparalleled selection of air chain hoists by JD Neuhaus are now available from CMC, the sole 102 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Saskatchewan distributor for all three lines.

“The main advantage of RDH equipment is the lack of emissions due to being battery powered. Air quality is a big deal in the mines,” explains Cranford. “This equipment can lower mine operating costs by reducing ventilation upgrades that would be needed with diesel-powered equipment” All products are available for sale or rent. CMC rents items on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, delivering the equipment to your job site ready-to-go within 24 hours, complete with paperwork and a maintenance program in place.

As part of their service standard, CMC provides underground-ready rentals, something which few other companies offer. This means they ensure that it has the correct type of batteries, fire suppression and scrubbers for exhaust so that it can be safely operated underground. They will also include a lift plan and, if needed, will disassemble the equipment, transport it underground and reassemble it again.

Service and Support “First, you need good equipment and, then, you need good support to keep that equipment going,” says Garry Clarke, owner of the Northern Strands Group of Companies of which CMC is a part. “CMC provides both with the dependable assistance of our valued suppliers.”

Certified offers 24/7 service on equipment it rents

CMC supplies onsite service, parts and commissioning on all their rental equipment and has emergency support available 24/7. If any tools or equipment need to be taken back to their shop for additional servicing, they will provide a fully certified replacement immediately. Their fleet mechanical services include oil changes, inspections, tune-ups, mechanical work and rough terrain vehicle service.

Regular Recertification As a charter member of Mission: Zero, CMC takes the safety of its clients very seriously. This is why the company has a program in place whereby every time a piece of equipment leaves the shop, it is recertified. “Even if it was only used for three weeks, we recertify it,” says Clarke. “This way, we know and our clients know that it meets the highest safety standards.”

CMC also tests and recertifies older equipment, ensuring that it meets the latest safety regulations. They recertify and repair both chain and level hoists, tuggers, 3M reloads, Kubotas and rough-terrain vehicles. Staff also go onsite to test equipment for those companies that have purchased one of Northern Strands Group of Companies’ new rigging test beds.

Another new product provided by CMC is a wireless camera for inspections. Able to record, zoom and pan, these cameras can be attached to cables and guided into areas where you cannot or should not send a person, such as a damaged mine shaft.

If need be, Certified can provide trained personnel to operate the camera.

Haulmaster 800-35. Certified now rents RDH battery-powered equipment.

tomers to provide them with the equipment they need, ensuring it is ready-to-go and meets the most stringent safety regulations. 6 Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals 810 - 57th Street E. , Saskatoon, SK Phone: 306.384.8593 | Toll Free: 1.844.384.8593 Fax: 306.384.8597 orderdesk@certifiedsalesandrentals.com www.certifiedsalesandrentals.com

Commitment to the Community As part of the Northern Strands Group of Companies, CMC is dedicated to improving lives both on and off the worksite. As part of its commitment to social responsibility, CMC is a major supporter of the Children’s Wish Foundation. Throughout the year, the staff participates in regular events such as summer barbeques to raise funds to grant the wish of a child with a life-threatening illness. They also support many community endeavours throughout the province, such as the Agrium Delisle Rodeo and the Vimy Dinner to assist wounded soldiers.

At CMC, they work with their customers and for their cus-

Certifed repairs and recertifies all types of hoists.

2016-2017 Northern Prospector 103

Northern Strands:

Exceeding Expectations for Over 45 Years

By Tonya Lambert

F

or over 45 years, Northern Strands in Saskatoon has been helping mining and construction companies to grow their businesses, safely and efficiently.

Northern Strands’ company motto is “exceed their expectations”, and they are constantly developing new ways to do just that. This past year alone, they have become the exclusive North American distributor of the world-renowned Becorit synthetic liners, have launched a new rigging-testing program, established distributors across the province, and have purchased the province’s first under-bridge access Hydra Platform.

Quality Questions Northern Strands’ commitment to its clients begins the minute you walk in their door or contact their office. Every member of their staff is trained in rigging so they can help you to find the right tool or piece of equipment to meet your unique needs.

Owner Garry Clarke explains: “If you were to phone us and ask for some rigging, basically we would start asking you questions and interviewing you. We would ask where you’re working and what type of things you do. In some cases, we would even ask to come out and see the site so we could ensure you were getting exactly what you needed.”

The Becorit synthetic liners are a good example of the quality for which Northern Strands is known. These sheave liners are a high-end dependable product that are easy to work with. The 104 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Mining Ropes & Attachments Division is continually searching for the highest-quality products for their customers.

If the company doesn’t have the equipment you need, they will find it. And if it doesn’t exist, they will design and build it.

Together with affiliate companies Fortis and Certified, Northern Strands employs a wide range of experts who embrace challenges and will brainstorm everything from customized rigging and lift plans to new types of equipment,

Safety First In keeping with the company’s motto, Northern Strands offers an extensive variety of programs and services designed to keep your workers’ safe and your operation flowing smoothly.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility at Northern Strands and is a key value across the Fall Protection Division as they work with customers to eliminate or manage the risks associated with working at heights.

In addition, Northern Strands Training Division has several courses that create better worker awareness on the jobsite. Some of the more popular courses include Fall Arrest, Crosby Rigging, Tugger Safety, Emergency Responder, Wirelock Socketing and First Aid/CPR-C. Each course is offered regularly at Northern Strands, but companies also have the option of requesting onsite training for their employees. Such individualized sessions can be arranged for anytime – days, evenings, nights or weekends – anywhere in North America.

Five Divisions Strong

Mining WirE roPE, attachMEntS & EquiPMEnt

EnginEErEd Fall ProtEction

training

gEnEral rigging SaSkatoon - 3235 Millar ave P (306) 242-7073 Regina - 125 Henderson dr P (306) 352-7073

toll fRee: 1-800-242-7073 e info@northernstrands.com www.northernstrands.com northern strands proudly supports Children’s Wish saskatchewan

SuSPEndEd accESS

In addition, Northern Strands, a COR- and ISNET-certified company, now offers mobile rigging demonstrations. Using a mobile test bed built by their affiliate company Fortis, Northern Strands will conduct onsite testing demonstrations of your rigging equipment. Clarke says people are often surprised at just how much of a difference a seemingly small deficiency, such as a tiny tear, mineral coating or improper usage, can make. The rope or sling can no longer handle anywhere close to the amount of weight or force that it was designed to manage. This testing really emphasizes the necessity of proper maintenance, correct usage and when you should replace your rigging.

Access Granted Northern Strands recently acquired a Hydra Platform HP 32.

This under-bridge access platform makes construction work safer and swifter by reducing inspection, maintenance and repair down times as well as decreasing the amount of lane shutdown on bridge traffic. Northern Strands will be using it to carry out its own inspections as well as renting it out to other companies to use.

“Northern Strands has a Suspended Access Division, which is like our limousine service,” explains Clarke. “It gets you to where you want to go, whether it’s to the top of a building down in a mine shaft or underneath a bridge. Where you need to get to, we provide the access to that as well as providing the training if you want to do it on your own.

Expanding Availability

“If you want to do mine shaft training, we will go in your mine shaft,” says Clarke. “If you want to go underground, we’ll go underground. If you want to go in a grain elevator, we’ll do that, too.

This way the training really means something to your employees because we are in their own work environment.”

Tested and True Well-maintained equipment goes hand-in-hand with worker awareness when it comes to safety. For several years now, Northern Strands has been running a chain-and-lever hoist exchange program whereby they will give you a discount on your purchase of a new chain or lever hoist when you bring in your used hoist.

“We don’t care what kind of hoist it is,” says Clarke. “What is important is getting that old equipment out of the mix because when those old mechanical devices (hoists) fail, it can be disastrous.”

106 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Over the last five months, Northern Strands has established nine distributorship locations across the province. These distributors provide access to rigging products in geographical locations distant from the company’s offices in Saskatoon and Regina. Northern Strands supports its distributors by offering the same technical expertise they would offer to a client purchasing direct. As Clarke notes, “We support our distributors, who in turn support their customers. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Northern Strands’ commitment to the safety and well-being of the people of this province and beyond encompasses much more than its training courses and test beds. The company was a major sponsor of the 2016 Saskatchewan Health & Safety Leadership Charter Event and Mission: Zero Awards, and is a charter member of the organization. Northern Strands also supports many local charities, events and sports teams, including the Children’s Wish Foundation, the Agrium Delisle Rodeo and the Vimy Dinner for wounded veterans.

Let Northern Strands help you to exceed your expectations.

Their excellent sales, service and support are geared to ensure your safety and success. 6 Northern Strands 3235 Millar Avenue, Saskatoon, SK Phone: 306.242.7073 | Toll Free: 1.800.242.7073 Fax: 306.934.2920 info@northernstrands.ca | northernstrands.com

Complete Aquatic Intervention Options with ECO Technologies

E

CO Technologies recently announced a major service contract with a world-class iron ore mining company.

“After much time and energy invested to establish our expertise and services as an added value to their supply chain, we are extremely pleased to announce that our subsidiary – ECO Minas Dragagens Ltda. (based in Belo Horizonte) – has entered into a major tailings dredging service contract with one of the largest miners operating in Brazil,” says Marc Maurice, President of ECO Technologies.

Located in the state of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte is Brazil’s sixth largest city, widely considered the country’s mining capital as it is surrounded by a large number of mining operations such as iron ore, gold and a variety of other metals and gemstones.

“Growth opportunities were identified in South America – namely in the state of Minas Gerais (Brazil) – where the local mining activity creates vast expanses of tailings dams, some requiring main2016-2017 Northern Prospector 107

tenance, others holding economic value for the owners once reprocessing efforts get underway,” adds Maurice. To this end, ECO Technologies partnered with a local entrepreneur and created the aforementioned subsidiary to bring their expertise and array of services to the Brazilian mining industry.

ECO Technologies is currently in the final stages of planning the operation with the client and expects to begin operations onsite in September of this year.

About ECO Technologies Established in 1997 after having identified a lack of marine and environmental dredging capacity, ECO Technologies has since become a preferred supplier – and trusted advisor – for a variety of clients and organizations for aquatic interventions.

As ECO Technologies’ reputation grew, so did its offering, adding new services such as industrial and tailings dredging, trenching and pipeline/cable laying, aquatic habitat restoration, preventive ice breaking, passive sludge dewatering, as well as operational support for water-based infrastructure projects.

Operating a rare fleet of amphibious excavators allows this New Brunswick-based company to offer a variety of efficient 108 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

aquatic intervention options to its clients across Canada, all while maintaining a minimal footprint being applied to the target environment. The fleet – nimble, efficient, and operated by a team of operators boasting decades of experience at the helm of these types of dredges – gives the company the ability to offer a variety of services in a variety of industries, which has been instrumental to ECO Technologies’ growth. Whether for conventional dredging (excavation), hydraulic (suction) dredging, or any other type of water-based intervention required, odds are ECO Technologies’ expertise is exactly what your project team needs to succeed.

Projects in recent years are as complex and varied as they are challenging and rewarding for ECO Technologies staff and management. Some endeavours have included pumping contaminated sediment from a river after a train derailment; cleaning out industrial ponds and tailings ponds on an active mine site; restoring wetlands; removing invasive vegetation from a lake; breaking ice to prevent flooding during spring thaw; and dredging a navigation channel for fishermen so they can go out – and come back safely – without having to worry about the low tide being a threat to their livelihood. 6

TM

Winkler Structures Adds Heavy Hitters to their Lineup

I

t has been a busy year for Winkler Structures. The Winkler, Manitoba-based fabric building manufacturer has added new buildings to their offering designed with the mining industry in mind.

In July, Winkler Structures unveiled the Spartan, a postfabrication, hot-dipped galvanized building series. Specifically designed for heavy commercial and industrial use, the Spartan also features the Winkler-designed Keder cover system.

“Winkler has always been about listening to our customer and building a solution,” says Brad Adrian, Winkler Structures Vice President of Product Design and Development. “The Spartan is no different – we’ve designed a building to meet and go beyond our customers’ demands. We have standard sizes, but the Spartan can easily be modified to meet a project’s scope and loading requirements.”

The Spartan is about sheer size and scale. Built to exceed commercial and industrial demands, the building series comes in widths of 40 feet all the way up to 160 feet and boasts an interior height clearance of almost 60 feet.

Using the unique hot-dipped galvanization process, the Spartan is protected inside and out against corrosive environments, meeting codes and standards from the CSA, ASTM and AASHTO. Its straight leg maximizes square footage while allowing for multiple side-entry points. Additionally, the custom truss

Winkler Structures releases their first hot-dipped galvanized building with the Spartan.

110 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Winkler Structures’ newly released building, the Trident, offers widths up to 250 feet on a rigid steel frame.

depths available have been designed to meet considerable wind and snow loads.

Also new to the Spartan building series is the Winklerdesigned Keder cover system. The Spartan utilizes individual Keder covers between rafters, ensuring even fabric tension across the building and make for easier install. Fabric panels are pulled through the aluminum Keder track and tensioned at both ends, and the tracks are sealed with PVC caps to prevent leaks. With the Keder system, the fabric doesn’t touch the building’s frame, reducing the risk of wear and adds to the structure’s longevity.

The Spartan isn’t the only new face in the Winkler Structures lineup. The Trident offers an innovative rigid-steel frame that literally widens the possibilities that Winkler Structures can provide. The Trident’s solid web beams offer widths up to 250 feet with a clear span design, creating a spacious, obstructionfree area inside the building that can be customized to any length. Its straight wall design means that doors can be added to any area of the building for easy accessibility, or additionally, end walls can be left completely open for quick transfer of large machinery and equipment in and out of the building. Due to their strength and resistance to corrosion, the Trident’s solid steel beams also offer superior protection and durability. Various coatings are available, including grey primer, powder coated, or hot-dipped for extreme protection against corrosion.

Rounding out the lineup is the QuickBuild Bantam. An industry first, the Bantam is an engineered single-tube building that offers easy installation. With its heavy-duty 38-foot wide frame, this structure has been engineered and certified to meet city, provincial and federal permit requirements and building codes. The range of rafter spacing, between six and 14 feet, is designed to meet high snow and wind loads, meaning the Bantam can stand up to the worst weather conditions.

At their core, these heavy hitters remain design-built structures, with all the customizable features you expect from Wink­ler Structures. All three buildings come with a wide array of foundation options, ventilation systems, eave kits and door styles that can be added for specific applications. The strength afforded by the Spartan and Trident’s frames also allows for hanging accessories like catwalks and conveyors. Any of these structures can be used in mining operations and offer critical efficiencies. With install time running as little as a week, fabric buildings from Winkler Structures are easier, faster and costefficient installations. The polyethylene covers provide natural lighting, further reducing operating costs. Winkler Structures’ line up of engineered-certified “No Compromise” fabric buildings make them an obvious choice for mining equipment maintenance facilities, bulk storage and warehousing, machinery storage, housing units, and anything else that requires superior protection from the elements. 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector 111

Best in the Business

P

ark Derochie continues to lead the way as one of the top industrial coating contractors in North America, specializing in all types of industrial coatings, fireproofing, firestopping, blast cleaning, and scaffolding as well as mechanical and spray foam insulation.

Park Derochie offers the advantage of providing a diverse package of coordinated services with a single project manager, resulting in superior project coordination as well as time and cost savings on any project. The company has experienced continued growth and diversification, expanding nationally with branches located in Surrey, British Columbia; Edmonton and Fort McMurray, Alberta; Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan; and its latest expansion into Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Aboriginal Engagement Despite being a non-Aboriginallyowned company, a significant focus is placed on Aboriginal engagement, including local partnerships with First Nations, as well as working with various community educational groups and tribal councils throughout Saskatchewan.

Doug Barker, President of Park Derochie Coatings (Saskatchewan) Inc., says, “As an equal opportunity employer, we have taken the initiative to work in partnership with First Nations to train and facilitate career growth of Aboriginal people from various communities. As part of that partnership, we also contrib112 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

ute financial assistance to First Nations education and youth service programs.

We need a good labour force with youth and energy, and we believe the Aboriginal community can provide this.” Barker goes on to say that “Park Derochie has recently implemented a program to hire and train youth. With the current average age of our employees being 35, we offer the opportunity for young First Nations people to build synergies and work closely with other young workers.”

Working closely with Potash Corp and Aboriginal Engagement initiatives such as Stepping Stones Career Fairs in Regina and Saskatoon and Potash Corp Aboriginal Awareness Events, the company regularly sends various levels of management to these sessions to learn about the aboriginal culture. There is also significant effort to continue building partnerships with Aboriginal com-

panies, and the goal for Park Derochie’s new shop facility in Regina is to be operated by Aboriginal employees.

Since it was established in 2010, Park Derochie Coatings (Saskatchewan) Inc. has built a workforce of more than 160 employees. Not only has Aboriginal engagement created amicable working relationships with the First Nations groups, it has also provided Park Derochie with a workforce of young, enthusiastic workers that make up an average of 30 per cent of their employees. Park Derochie has employed cost control analysts, site superintendents, general foremen, foremen and general workers from various Saskatchewan Aboriginal communities. The company is also proud to note that 50 per cent of Park Derochie Saskatchewan’s operation is made up of Aboriginals, women and visible minorities.

New Market, Same Principles Park Derochie has now entered the Manitoba market providing all of the above-mentioned services. “By working closely with the large population of First Nations in Manitoba, we feel that our growth into this market will mirror what has been done in six short years in Saskatchewan,” says Barker.

As one of Canada’s largest union contractors, with operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Park Derochie has the ability to transfer workers, who in many cases are already familiar with our standards and policies, to any area of Western Canada when there are labour shortages. And with the local union head office based out of Winnipeg, access to training and skilled tradesman is assured. Aboriginal employees are also being registered in the Painters’ Union training to become Certified Applicators through the Society of Protective Coatings (SSPC) along with our other tradesman.

History of Excellence Bodes Well for the Future PD Group of Companies Inc. was named one of Canada’s Best Managed 114 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Companies in 2015 for excellence in business performance and proudly celebrates the 60th Anniversary of its flagship company Park Derochie Inc. in 2016.

Park Derochie was built on principles of strong work ethic, commitment to customer satisfaction, developing a skilled and dedicated workforce, and a belief that “loyalty begets loyalty”. Because of these principles, this thriving company has developed a strong reputation for excellence in the areas of safety, quality, and production. Making every effort to be the best in the business,

knowledge and experience enables their experts to think outside the box, allowing them to provide the best products and applications to ensure clients are presented with viable solutions to even their most challenging projects.

The Park Derochie difference is apparent: striving to provide well-managed, turn-key, hassle-free services to clients, and dedicated to enrichment of the communities in which they operate, Park Derochie has proven to be an unparalleled sub-contractor when it comes to corporate social responsibility, innovation and expertise. 6

At the ForefronT of Underground

Technical Rope Rescue

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ver the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in mining operations training underground mine rescue teams in technical rope rescue. It’s interesting to note that most have had surface rope trained teams for a number of years. The change has been due to incidents underground requiring a combination of rope rescue and confined space skills.

Time is vital, and bringing in a surface team that’s not orientated to the underground world can be time-consuming and problematic. In making the decision to train the underground team for rope rescue, one should first perform an audit of the potential problems. Sumps, stopes, and ore bins are some examples.

Training should be specific for underground operations, starting with anchor systems; working in low light; protection of the casualty; and basic rope systems that are quick to put together and simple to operate with few people.

As mentioned, mining organizations are starting to train underground teams, but most don’t realize that technical rope training in mining started underground; Trans-Care Rescue was at the forefront, and it’s proud to have been involved in the mining industry since 1981.

The first training was again brought about because of tragic situations that occurred; but it also came about because of the vision of mine rescue trainers of the time, including Brian Wilson, Olaf Hettrick, Don Peake (HBMS), Charlie Bonnet (Inco), and William Shular from the Manitoba Mines Branch, to name a few. The training and equipment have changed and improved since the first courses at Flin Flon and Thompson, and TransCare has been there working with the teams to adapt to their specific mining operations whether in Canada or overseas operations. 6

Trans-Care Rescue Ltd.

has been providing professional training, equipment and standby rescue services to industry in Western Canada since 1981.

We specialize in confined space entry and rescue, fall protection, ice rescue, working near water, trench rescue, first aid, SCBA, HAZMAT, fire extinguisher and high angle technical rope rescue courses.

C O N T A C T: TRANS-CARE RESCUE LTD. Toll Free: 1-800-71RESCU Ph: 306-283-4496 Fax: 306-283-4456 Email: trans.care@sasktel.net

www.trans-carerescue.com 2016-2017 Northern Prospector 115

Solutions with a Vision

By Justin Hunt, Ens Auto

“I

think it’s the solution for the future. And I think we’re almost there,” says Josh Ens, President of Ens Industrial. “Within the next two to five years, that’s going to become a big part of the way we do business.”

Ens is talking about how rapidly battery technology has developed in the last few years. Today, automotive and commercial vehicle applications are effectively using battery power and electric drives to reduce the need for internal combustion engines and fossil fuels. Ens Industrial, based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is one of only a handful of companies worldwide driving the research, development and introduction of this electric vehicle technology to the underground mining industry through personnel carriers and service and support vehicles. The electric vehicle is particularly attractive to the underground mining industry due to the potential reduction in ventilation and heat, and the obvious occupational health aspects related to diesel exhaust in an underground environment. The elimination of diesel fuel dependency means the elimination of fuel costs!

“Our approach was to take our underground mine-proven Toyota Land Cruiser cab and chassis, equip it with state-of-the-art dual lithium-ion batteries providing 68 kilowatts of capacity, Remy 90S electric motors and a battery management system developed for Ens Industrial by EV drive systems,” Ens goes on to say.

“In keeping with our original concept, we have designed our electric vehicle drive system to be retrofitted to nearly any Land Cruiser underground application.

“We did this for a number of reasons; interchangeability and multi-application use are central to our plan” Ens says. “The batteries replace the engine, and the drive motor is coupled to the original power train.” It sounds simple, but rest assured it’s not an easy proposition.

After two years of product development and prototyping, Ens Industrial’s first production trucks are ready to enter the market with first two units scheduled for delivery to Mosaic’s underground potash mine near Colonsay, Saskatchewan. These electric vehicles will each be equipped with two on-board battery chargers, one 120V charger with an eight-hour charge time plugged into a 120V outlet and a 600V charger with a one-hour charge time designed to be plugged into mine power. The vehicle offers self-diagnostics, a view of operational characteris-

116 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

tics such as speed control, and state-of-battery charge through a dash-mounted human-machine interface (HMI) seven-inch touch screen, as well as a regenerative braking system and a driving range of 108 kilometres under normal load.

Reaching this point represents a significant milestone in achieving Josh Ens’ vision for product development at Ens Industrial, but it is not the end post. Ens goes on to say, “We have significant interest from the underground hard-rock mining sector for our electric vehicles; this presents a number of challenges with regards to a variety of factors. Temperature differences, and grades of operating surfaces are the most significant hurdles. We have a few select clients who are willing to work

with us in the early introduction of the electric Toyota Land Cruisers into this environment, so we are very optimistic about being successful here.” Ens also announced that Ens Industrial has entered into an distribution agreement with Marcotte Mining Machinery Service Inc. a Canadian manufacturer of medium to large underground mining equipment that includes shotcrete gear, ANFO chargers, scalers, crane trucks, scissor lifts and scalers to name a few. This another important milestone toward realizing Josh Ens vision of positioning Ens Industrial as a full product line, full-service provider of underground service and support utility vehicles to the underground mining industry. This new partnership further enables Ens Industrial to serve customers to a greater capacity, offering a wider variety of products and services. 6

GTC North America Creates Value for Industrial Tire Customers

G

TC North America (GTCNA) provides top-quality, defectfree, on-time tires that meet the needs of its customers. Headquartered in Canton, Ohio, GTCNA markets Samson and Advance branded tires (supplied by Guizhou Tyre Company) throughout North America.

Authorized distributors can mix and match any type of tires in one container shipment. A wide range of tires is offered including MTR/Mobile Crain, Medium Radial & Bias Truck, OTR Radial & Bias Truck, Logging, Industrial, Agricultural, Skid Steer, Press-on Solid and Giant/Solid Giant tires.

GTCNA provides over 1,000 products, mixing capabilities and order-fill services to increase customer profitability and maintain consistent cost management. A dedicated sales representative is available

to all direct account to ensure continuous communication on order tracing and production status.

GTCNA is a one-source supply that provides the following product categories to choose from: • Radial and Bias OTR: Manufacture and distribute OTR tires in all sizes for all applications across the globe.

• Bias Truck: Economy and value in a commercial bias truck tire.

• MTR: Developed to deliver performance, durability, long tread wear, and re-treadability.

• Radial Skid Steer: Delivers excellent tire life and outstanding productivity for aggressive ground conditions.

• Skid Steer: Deliver performance, reliability and superior results in severe job conditions.

• Radial Farm: A wide range of tires tai-

lored to your agricultural vehicle.

•F arm Fronts and Implements: Extra load-carrying capacity and the slip resistance you depend on.

•L ogging: Tires that perform in the most severe and challenging forest environment.

•M obile Crane: High-speed service in a line of mobile crane tires •P ress-On Solid: Wide range of sizes and applications •G iant Solid: Durability and performance for heavier loads •S olid: Maximize durability and operator comfort even in extreme applications.

Certifications include: ISO9001, ISO14001, American NHTSA DOT certification, European E-Mark and the Gulf Standards GCC certification.

More information on GTC North America is available at www.gtcna.com.6

330.498.5000 www.gtcna.com

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2016-2017 Northern Prospector 117

Industrial Solutions for the Mining Industry

T

PG The Pritchard Group was incorporated in 1923 as Pritchard Engineering. Most people still refer to us as Pritchard Engineering. As the company grew, it added hydraulics, air compressors, standby/prime power generators, diesel engines, metal fabrication and exploration drilling equipment to augment the original machining division.

In the 1980s, the company restructured into several divisions. The Pritchard Group now consists of a total of six divisions with three locations in Winnipeg and one in Toronto.

With the diversity of multiple divisions, The Pritchard Group now covers a wide range of products and services for the industrial marketplace.

One of the past special projects that stands out was rebuild-

The Pritchard Group Let our 93 years of experience work for you.

TPG HYDRA-MOTION WE SERVICE ALL TYPES OF HYDRAULICS PUMPS / MOTORS / CYLINDERS / VALVES WE ALSO SELL LODAR REMOTE CONTROLS WE ARE AN OFFICIAL DANFOSS SUPPLIER

ing the internal structure of Winnipeg’s famous Golden Boy, a gift from France that stands atop our Manitoba Legislature Building. His internal structure was full of rust and corrosion and needed to be repaired. Pritchard Machine was selected as the shop that could do it. After he was dismantled by our team, Pritchard Machine constructed a new frame, reassembled him and sent him off to be gold leafed. Modifications had to be made to the shop for security reasons.

The Pritchard Group can now handle a wide range of special projects, including all types of repairs, product sales, and servicing. Whatever the requirement is, The Pritchard Group can take care of it.

For more information, visit http://www.thepritchardgroup.com/. 6

R

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RELIABLE METAL BUILDINGS LTD.

BOX 985, CARLYLE, SK S0C 0R0 TEL : (306) 453-6410 FAX : (306) 453-6775 andy@reliablemetalbuildings.com www.reliablemetalbuildings.com

TPG MACHINE FULL SERVICE MACHINE SHOP MILLING / TURNING / BORING MILLWRIGHT SERVICES / WELDING 200 TON PRESS AND MUCH MORE

Ask us about our other division called BBS Exploration Sales & service plus direct OEM replacement parts

111 Bannister Road, Winnipeg, MB. R2R 0P2 Phone 204-694-0336

Hydra-motion email: hmcustomerservice@thepritchardgroup.com Machine email: pmservice@thepritchardgroup.com 118 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

SUITE 300, 6 ROSLYN ROAD, WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

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From the Ground Up

by Lyndon McLean

Access Helicopters reaches new heights with experience and passion

I

n late 2012, Michael Holcroft and Joel Valentine established Access Helicopters as a small operation to service the Athabasca Basin uranium market. With more than 50 years of combined industry experience and over 25,000 hours of flying time between them, the pair started out with one AS350 B2 helicopter, a remote base of operations in the Patterson Lake, Saskatchewan, and a goal of providing high-quality service.

Today, Access operates nine AS350 helicopters – one of the newest fleets of AStars in country – with payloads ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds. They have a staff of more than 25 pilots, engineers and support staff, and the company is still 100 per cent owner operated by Holcroft and Valentine.

Still operating from Patterson Lake – as well as a sub-base in Leask – Access specializes in external load lifting relating to diamond drill exploration. The confined area of a Diamond Drill requires that a helicopter pilot have more than exceptional load placement skills in various harsh climates and regions such as the Arctic/mountainous areas. The experienced Diamond Drill pilots at Access Helicopters ensure that drill components are not only safely, but also efficiently placed to keep the core cost per metre within expectation.

The company is currently working with many uranium exploration companies across the Basin, and also has a crop-spraying division and a heli-ski operation in the winter. Currently, there aren’t many projects obtaining funding, so maintaining a high calibre of service is the most important aspect of the job.

The team at Access is led by Holcroft and Valentine, who both have the experience and know-how to make the company work. Holcroft has extensive knowledge of the helicopter industry, having begun his career as a shop labourer and learning all aspects of the business. A passion for adventure inspired

him to become a helicopter pilot, and he earned his commercial license in 2002. He has built a reputation as a distinguished pilot and has made the secure travel of his clients his number one priority. And Valentine earned his Commercial Helicopter License in 1985 and has been working in the Helicopter industry ever since. He has extensive long-line and mountain flight experience, and is a Transport Canada Approved Check Pilot. In 2001, he established a major helicopter operator in the Canada in the role of Operations manager before starting his own heliski operation in 2010.

But along with their experience, the pair also have the passion and focus on personalized customer service to make the company a success.

“We take the time to build our programs around each customer’s specific needs, and Access takes pride in ensuring the highest level of service and customer satisfaction,” Holcroft says. “We believe a returning crew of pilots, maintenance engineers, and ground crew contributes to our personalized service that larger operations have a hard time providing. We take pride in knowing all of our pilots personally and not only send professionally skilled pilots but also individuals who get along well in a camp setting. Customer satisfaction is our goal on every project.”

Access Helicopters’ owners are proud to say the company was built from the ground up to become more than just another operator. “We would like to keep the small owner operated company environment and atmosphere,” Holcroft says.

“An extensive aviation background and a clear vision of a core team with highly skilled pilots and support staff ensuring customer satisfaction and safety have molded Access Helicopters into what it is today.” 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector 119

Looking to Save Money on Your Utilities?

Comairco has the Answer

By Reimund (Ray) Krohn, Comairco

W

hen your trailer maintenance facility in Swift Current needs power for lights, you don’t go buy a generator. When your pharmaceutical plant in Brandon needs a soft water supply for production, you don’t go build a water treatment plant. When it’s time to turn on the furnaces to heat your shop in Thunder Bay, you don’t drill for gas. No, you turn to your utility providers to answer your needs: electricity, water, and natural gas are sold on the grid – provided by your municipality through infrastructure owned by third parties. Those third parties provide you what you need, so you don’t need to worry about all the other pieces that you don’t.

Compressed air is the fourth utility, and it’s the lifeblood of your plant. Without compressed air, you can’t use your pneu-

120 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

matic tools, paint, transport media, open pneumatically controlled valves, operate your CNC machines, aerate your acid baths, or do any of the hundreds of other processes that you need to do in manufacturing, mining, milling, or production.

In fact, when your compressor is down, you might as well send your staff home. But what if you didn’t have to worry about your compressors anymore? What if you could buy compressed air as a utility? From Comairco, now you can.

With a detailed Comairco Air Audit by one of our CACcertified system specialists, we can measure your compressed air needs, and provide you an onsite all-weather air package to meet those needs. These AWA Airtility packages are brought to your site – you just need to supply level ground and a power source, and we’ll take care of all the rest. After plugging our sta-

tion into your system, we provide all the compressed air you require – you just pay for the CFM (cubic feet per minute). No more purchasing equipment that will become obsolete, and no more worrying about scheduling maintenance or what happens when your warranty period is over. We’ll take care of the compressors so you can take care of business.

Groupe Savoie, a leader in the hardwood industry in Saint-Quentin, New Brunswick, has been using the Airtility service from our Atlantic Division for the past six years.

“Since then,” says Marc-Andre Pineault, Director of Operations, “using compressed air has been as simple as using electricity for us. Service on our compressors has been set up on intervals that are suitable for our needs and applications; and the professionalism and technical knowledge from their maintenance team gives us peace of mind.”

Comairco Equipment Limited, with 23 branches across Canada and the United States, has been in continuous operation since 1972. With literally tens of thousands of compressed air systems equaling hundreds of millions of horsepower installed and serviced across the provinces and states, we stand ready to meet your compressed air needs.

Look for us on the web at www.comairco.com to find your local contacts.

At last, a common sense approach to buying compressed air: Comairco’s AWA Airtility. Pay for what you need, not for what you don’t. 6 Reimund (Ray) Krohn is the General Manager for Comairco in Central Canada (Northwest Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan). He has served in the compressed air industry since 1999.

When the Mining Industry needs Compressed Air, they trust COMAIRCO to meet their needs.

SINCE

1972 1.800.205.9975 I COMAIRCO.COM

2016-2017 Northern Prospector 121

A New Standard in Remote Workforce Accommodations

C

old weather. Long hours. Time spent away from family. For those working in remote locations, this a reality they bravely face for many months a year.

For these people, the accommodations they are provided are a form of sanctuary, a retreat where they’re able to relax and recharge after a long day’s work.

Unfortunately, these accommodations are often small, basic, and lacking the many comforts of home.

Enter Nomodic Modular Structures.

Founded by CEO Kevin Read in 2012,

122 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Nomodic’s mission is to improve the quality of life of those working in remote areas of Canada by providing turnkey, high-quality permanent modular buildings that are just as comfortable, if not more so, than home. The benefits of these buildings are experienced not only by their occupants, but by employers who are able to use these premium accommodations as a tool to attract and retain the best employees in their industries. In addition, high-quality structures built durably and sustainably save costs over the long term, requiring less

upkeep and repair.

Read saw tremendous opportunity in modular construction and its many benefits over conventional construction. Prefabricated in an environmentally controlled facility, then shipped and assembled onsite, Nomodic’s structures are precision-constructed and free from exposure to weather. They are delivered 85 to 90 per cent complete, with minimal onsite finishing work completed in the days following.

The advantages of building modular also include:

• Less time to completion, faster occupancy (buildings open 30 to 50 per cent sooner) • Lower labour costs (cost savings passed onto the client) • Improved production and quality control (higher-quality end product) • Minimized construction waste (cleaner site, better for environment) • Less disruption to the community (reduced road/sidewalk closures, less construction noise, and minimized vehicle and equipment traffic) Read and his team have set out to revolutionize workforce housing and remote buildings by adopting an innovative and holistic design-build approach.

Nomodic provides all-encompassing services that guide projects from concept to completion, including custom in-house design and architecture, permitting, project management, and construction & installation services. This leads to a stress-free, collaborative experience with clients and partners who

are involved throughout the process and can customize their buildings down to the finest detail while letting Nomodic’s experienced design and project teams do the heavy lifting.

Over four years since founding Nomodic, Read and his team have successfully completed multiple remote projects, including accommodations, offices, and warehouses. In September 2015, Nomodic finished phase one of a planned 68-suite permanent operator lodge for Canbriam Energy. Completed on time and on budget, the state-of-theart lodge includes a KDR core building equipped with a kitchen, dining room, games room, theatre room, and fitness centre, plus dorm units containing 34 bedrooms. Each bedroom features a queen-sized mattress, custom millwork, desk, chair, mini-fridge, 40-inch television, and private bathroom.

Shortly after completing the building, Nomodic, in partnership with Alta-Fab Structures, was awarded another project

by Progress Energy to design and build a much larger 120-suite full-service complex (60 suites in Phase 1) modelled after the Canbriam Lodge, with the addition of an office complex and steel-framed shop building. This project is now in production, with expected completion in Fall 2016.

Over the last year, Nomodic has expanded its products and services to include commercial, recreational, and residential developments, and their team has grown from seven employees to over 20. With their innovative approach and unwavering focus on maximizing and aligning community values with returns for clients and partners, it’s clear that Nomodic will continue to raise the standard in permanent offsite construction while helping people, businesses, and communities grow futures, sustainably.

For more information, visit www.nomodicwork.com. 6

A new standard in remote workforce, industrial & commercial building.

A division of Nomodic Modular Structures Inc.

From concept to completion, nomodic helps you custom design and build the perfect building for your business.

Using an innovative and flexible modular design-build approach, your building will be delivered 30-50% faster than conventional construction, with lower labour costs, improved quality, and less disruption to the site and community.

ContaCt us today:

403.271.3932

Whether you’re looking to build an operator camp, office, warehouse, or something entirely different, you can enjoy peace of mind as Nomodic takes care of the details through every step of the build process to ensure you receive the best possible product and ongoing service, catered to your needs.

info@nomodic.com

nomodicwork.com 2016-2017 Northern Prospector 123

Global Mining Ventilation Door Solutions

B

y now, most of us in the industry are familiar with the high-pressure steel sectional door coined the “superhero door “due to its robust construction, UL classified 1.5-hour fire rating, and standard red cape like colour. The high-pressure steel sectional door is proudly manufactured by Provincial Doors Inc. (PDI), based in Sudbury, Ontario. As an ISO9001:2008-certified mining ventilation door manufacturer to the global market, PDI can tailor a specific turnkey solution to fit your needs. From concept and design, to manufacturing and automation, their world-class team is ready to deliver. The PDI approach is simple: we choose the best integrated solution to manufacture and deliver our products so you can focus on your business targets. We call this “the PDI difference”.

With an industry reputation of manufacturing built-to-last and efficient automation products, PDI’s manufacturing capability is further highlighted with another industry-leading mining ventilation door: the sequential swing door system. The sequential swing door consists of two hinged steel panels that are mounted to a channel frame and swing in contrasting directions, working with rather than against the environmental pressure. The fabricated door panels come with two or three heavy-duty hinges per panel and, dependent upon design specifications, can withstand 10 to 20 inches of water-gauge pressure. If the need for a man door is also required, PDI can integrate their concave man door or double-swing man door into one of the panels. Frames are supplied as part of the package and come equipped with Nelson studs that can be used as attachment points to secure the frame into place. The sequential swing doors can be equipped with various types of actuators: pneumatic, linear activation or optional electro-hydraulic.

The doors come standard with red epoxy paint; however, the option of an intumescent two-component high-performance elastomeric polyuria/ polyurethane spray system was recently introduced for an extra rugged finish with optional flame retardant properties that meets the requirements of MSHA, for use in the mining industry for protection against abrasion, corrosion and impact – an industry first. The doors can also be controlled using numerous activation devices and automation controls built to your specification. Available options include (but are not limited to) pull cords, remote-control openers, motion detectors, and remote activation through automation such as RFID/push-button stations. A range of accessories is also available, including warning horn/light, cycle counter, PLC interface electrical interlocks, battery back-up, motion detector, and remote NEMA four push buttons – all specifically tailored to meet your needs.

As a full-service solution provider with a specific focus on quality and customer satisfaction, PDI offers doors and systems that are second to none. If you are looking for a Hulk-like mine ventilation door, look no further. Contact PDI with your business needs – the competition will be green with envy. 6

124 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

Westlund Works With You for All of Your PVF Solutions

W

estlund has specific expertise in providing client solutions for mining, power and industrial piping, valving, and fitting-related products. Founded in 1963, Westlund has been supporting mining operations for over 50 years and was acquired by EMCO in 1986. At Westlund, we pride ourselves on being solution providers, and we’re always seeking innovative ways to assist our customers in achieving their unique project and operations goals.

Westlund in Saskatoon is strategically located to cover the mining and power operations in Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. We pride ourselves in being able to stock and supply PVF to save customers time and money toward the goal of making them more profitable, and we have strength in and have developed key strategies in: • Valve Actuation – we have the actuators that can operate process controls such as butterfly valves, ball valves, high-performance valves, plug valves, gate valves and dampers.

° Rack & pinion pneumatic actuation in aluminum housing (low cost) or stainless housing for high-corrosion environments. ° Vane-type actuation ° Electric actuation for quarter turn, linear and spring return with multiple configuration of on/off/jog or proportional control • Smart Tagging – having the information available regarding a valve or process is important when you need it.

Westlund has created a system that allows that information to be at your fingertips saving time and money.

• Specialty alloys sourcing – having the right product already manufactured and waiting for you in Saskatoon before you need it is possible when working with Westlund; we scour North America, Europe and Asia to meet our partner’s expectations.

• Expediting /Project Supply – Westlund knows the importance of having valves available in the supply chain accessible to keep your plant running, but sometimes important parts are needed quicker than the original plans stated.

We are there for you to make things happen 24 hours a day.

• Materials Management – Online supporting material documents are available, along with staging, and material preparation can be handled by Westlund to make material available when you need it to keep costs lower and controlled.

• Victaulic – Westlund is Canada’s biggest Victaulic distributor and has found many ways, using Victaulic’s product ingenuity, to find savings in operations costs, along with project completion on time and below budgets.

Westlund is committed to fostering a long-term partnerships and contributing to your company’s continued success for years to come. Our ISO 9001:2008 facility is ready to support your operation by continuing to offer our expertise and service to you, our partner, including (but not limited) to piping solutions, logistic streamlining, and effective QA/ QC protocol.

We look forward to being selected as your PVF supplier and working toward combined objectives and goals. 6 2016-2017 Northern Prospector 125

Acquiring Crown Mineral Dispositions in Saskatchewan

By Brett Ledingham, McDougall Gauley LLP

Introduction In Northern Saskatchewan, the Provincial Crown holds virtually all mines and minerals. The granting of rights of exploration, development and production with respect to base metals, precious metals and other mines and minerals such as uranium and diamonds that are held by the Provincial Crown is administered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy (“MEcon”) and is provided for within The Crown Minerals Act and The Mineral Tenure Registry Regulations (the “MTRR”).

The MTRR applies to the granting of rights of exploration, development and production of Crown minerals that are not described in the other regulations to The Crown Minerals Act, such as petroleum and natural gas (The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulations, 1969) and potash and sodium chloride (The Subsurface Mineral Tenure Regulations).

Acquisition of Mineral Dispositions from the Saskatchewan Provincial Crown Effective December 1, 2012, the MTRR came into force replacing The Mineral Disposition Regulations, 1986. The MTRR contemplate the implementation of the electronic Mineral Administration Registry System (“MARS”) in Saskatchewan and dramatically changed the process for acquiring a Crown mineral disposition. Prior to the passage of the MTRR, in an unsurveyed area a party would stake out a claim and then apply

126 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

to have the claim recorded with MEcon. Provided the applicant complied with the regulations in force at that time and the claim area was not the subject of another claim, MEcon would record the claim and issue a claim certificate to the applicant.

The MTRR establishes an electronic parcel mapping system.

Pursuant to the MTRR, MEcon will “re-open” or make available certain Crown mineral parcels for acquisition as either a permit or claim. A notice specifying the Crown mineral parcels available for disposition and the date when applications will be accepted is published on MEcon’s website. An applicant will submit electronically, through MARS, a list of Crown mineral parcels it wishes to have included in its permit or claim, as the case may be, together with the applicable registration fee.

A Crown mineral disposition is granted by MEcon on a firstcome first-served basis.

A permit and a claim each grant the holder the exclusive right to explore for any Crown minerals governed by the MTRR within the permit lands or claim lands, as the case may be. Neither a permit nor a claim grant the holder the right to produce subsurface minerals, but a permit holder may convert its permit to a claim and a claim holder may, in turn, convert its claim to a lease. A lease grants the holder the exclusive right to explore for, produce and dispose of any Crown minerals governed by the MTRR within the lease lands.

Neither a permit nor a claim grant the holder the right to produce subsurface minerals, but a permit holder may convert its permit to a claim and a claim holder may, in turn, convert its claim to a lease.

Acquisition of Mineral Dispositions through a Third Party Purchase and Sale Transaction The MTRR allow the holder of a Crown disposition to transfer a Crown disposition to a third party. A party acquiring a Crown mineral disposition through a purchase and sale type of transaction should be aware, however, that such dispositions do not constitute the type of property in which there is an assured certificate of title or as to which there is a comprehensive public registry for registration of encumbrances, charges or instruments. A Crown disposition may be affected by matters not recorded on the available disposition search abstracts or disclosed in an instrument search conducted through MEcon.

A careful review of the vendor’s files related to the Crown disposition, together with the completion of public searches available through MEcon, should be undertaken by the parties to ensure that the Crown disposition(s) being transferred are, inter alia, in good standing and that the purchaser is made aware of

any encumbrances against the target disposition. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, some matters to consider include (i) environmental concerns, (ii) breaches of the Crown disposition, (iii) the identity of the recorded holder and working interest holders, (iv) the effective date and term remaining, (v) assessment work reported and approved, (vi) deficiency deposits and or cash payments made in lieu of assessment work requirements, (vii) registrations or other instruments placed on the disposition file, (viii) unrecorded encumbrances or instruments that may constitute interests in land, (ix) notices of dispute and (x) builders’ liens or other types of liens.

The above is not intended to be an all-inclusive guide to acquiring Crown mineral dispositions in Saskatchewan. Rather, it is intended to highlight the process of initially acquiring the Crown disposition and to provide some considerations when acquiring a Crown disposition from a third party.

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2016-2017 Northern Prospector 127

To the North and Beyond A Message from Curtis Ross, CEO and President, Thompson Regional Airport Authority

T

he aviation industry has undergone many changes that have challenged small and regional airports across Canada while also making them rethink their original business models. Fortunately, the Thompson Regional Airport Authority (TRAA) has a great group of individuals dedicated to improving and developing one of the most successful regional airports in Canada.

Anyone living in the northern regions of Manitoba – or Canada, for that matter – knows that air service is a critical piece of infrastructure connecting all communities.

It is integral to freight, medical, business, government and development of the north and remote communities. It continues to be the longest established and most consistent mode of transportation connecting us to the world and our region. Given the climatic change we have been experiencing over the past years and predictions for the future, the feasibility of permanent roads or ice roads is becoming less and less a reality. Given that the cost of building one mile of highway in geographic areas which have suitable ground costs near a million dollars these days, connecting all commu-

nities would run into the billions in less suitable areas. This is not a legacy that we or future generations can afford in times of economic restraint. We must ask ourselves if we can work with the aviation industry to make this mode of transportation more viable and affordable for the people moving in and out of these regions. Can it come in the form of initial capital contributions or rebates? Are there partnerships that make sense in the industry that we can develop to assist such as Private, Public Partnerships (3P)? We are only limited by our biases, specific political agendas or reluctance to look at all affordable and viable options.

Are we as regional airports any less important than the national airport system when it comes to subsidized air travel? Is there a model out there that can assist in keeping north-south air travel as affordable as eastwest travel? These are the challenges facing airlines, airports and governments that must maintain safety and services.

Thompson has established itself as a key partner in the winter weather testing industry, and it continues to grow new markets in the tourism industry that depend on safe and efficient airports. Developments such as the University College of

“We welcome over 35,000 flights per year!”

w w w . t h o m p s o n a i r p o r t . c a 204.677.0720

128 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

the North and growing interest in being the Wolf Capital of the World will bring people from all reaches of the globe and walks of life. I have always said that the first impression we currently present to people of the world and region when they arrive at our airport is that of a poor and aging city. It is a standard far below what we require to attract people and businesses to our city and region. This is where governments have to step in and participate, as they become the direct benefactors of tourism, business, and emerging market developments (hydro, mines, oil & gas) in northern Manitoba. Other benefits include a better health care and education network that could establish a better work force and healthy population, critical to an economically stable and healthy community.

We look forward to hearing from all people regarding the present and future development of the Thompson Airport.

As we move closer to the development of a new air terminal building, the TRAA will be holding public consultation meetings throughout Northern Manitoba and with prospective partners. The development of this new terminal will be a critical piece of infrastructure that will greet people from all over the world and our regions. One has only to look at what a difference the new James Richardson Air Terminal Building has made to people arriving from all over the world. It has provided the Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba with a professional, vibrant atmosphere that indicates to all that we are a great place to live and do business. It shows we care and want a better future for all generations to come.

Because the WAA is our main connecting hub, we want to ensure that we extend that experience to the north and beyond.

As we have heard many times from people in the industry: One mile of highway takes you one mile up the road but one mile of runway can take you anywhere in the world. 6

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Minetec Des Nedhe Development......................................... 38

Aggressive Drilling Ltd........................................................... 12

Nomodic Custom Modular Structures................................ 123

Alair Mha Enterprises Ltd..................................................... 16

Northern Strands................................................................. 105

Alex MacIntyre & Associates Ltd........................................... 20

Northlands College Mine School........................................... 81

Ames Construction................................................................. 43

Osprey Wings Ltd.................................................................... 49

Arrowhead Helicopters Ltd.................................................... 39

Park Derochie Inc................................................................. 113

Athabasca Fuel Service Ltd................................................... 69

Perimeter Aviation LP............................................................ 29

Becker Varis............................................................................ 36

Points North Freight Forwarding Inc..................................... 13

Belterra................................................................................... 65

PotashCorp............................................................................. 91

Big Ice Services / Ross Industries Ltd................................... 71

Prairie Crane.......................................................................... 21

BPT Components & Parts Inc................................................ 35

Provincial Doors Inc............................................................... 41

Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd............................. 21

Provincial Helicopters Ltd...................................................... 18

Calm Air International............................................................ 53 Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals.................. 4 Comairco............................................................................... 121 Copper Reef Mining Corporation........................................... 22 Dimatec Inc............................................................................. 73 Dux Machinery Corporation................................................... 32 Eco Technologies Ltd.......................................................... 109 Element Drilling Ltd............................................................... 34 Ens Industrial......................................................................... 11 Fortis Corporation.................................................................... 7 Friuli Suite Rentals................................................................. 19 GMR Electric Motors.............................................................. 29 GTC North America Inc.................................................. 35, 117 Heli-Lift International Inc...................................................... 33 Hitachi/Canadian Construction & Forestry

John Deere Canada ULC........................................ 17, 129

Reliable Metal Buildings Ltd................................................ 118 Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists.......................... 97 Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy................................ 30 Saskatchewan Polytechnic.................................................... 40 SaskTel...................................................................................... 9 Scott’s General Store.............................................................. 73 SCR Mining & Tunnelling..................................................... IBC Senett Control........................................................................ 47 SRK Consulting...................................................................... 98 The Pritchard Group............................................................. 118 Thompson Airport Authority................................................ 128 Tigerdale Enterprises Ltd........................................................ 6 Town of Lynn Lake.................................................................. 85 Town of Snow Lake................................................................. 83 Trans-Care Rescue Ltd........................................................ 115

King Cable Canada Corp........................................................ 32

Transwest Air Group of Companies....................................... 55

Lawson Consulting & Surveying Ltd..................................... 71

Tron Construction & Mining................................................... 42

LCE Inc.................................................................................... 18

University College of the North.............................................. 77

Leon’s Manufacturing Company............................................ 69

West Wind Aviation................................................................. 61

Macpherson Leslie & Tyerman LLP.....................................IFC

Westlund Industrial................................................................ 37

Manitoba Mineral Resources................................................. 15

Wiebe’s Steel Structures.......................................................... 3

Massload Technologies Inc.................................................... 95

Winkler Structures..............................................................OBC

McDougall Gauley LLP......................................................... 126

Yamana Gold........................................................................... 43

130 2016-2017 Northern Prospector

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