Awards presented at Mining Week

For the fourth straight year, the Highland Valley Copper mine has been honored as British Columbia’s safest mine.

The award was presented during the province’s Mining Week by Mines Minister Anne Edwards, who said mining is “B.C.’s safest heavy industry.” Highland Valley received the Occupational Health and Safety Committee Trophy for the best health and safety program. It also took the John Ash award for the best record for an open pit that entails more than a million worker-hours per year.

Other safety award winners were the Nickel Plate gold mine and Steelhead Aggregates’ Abbotsford division. A certificate of achievement was presented to Continental Lime, which was injury-free in 1992.

The Mining Association of B.C. recognized two Lower Mainland school teachers, Bruce and Patti Kiloh, as “Mining Person(s) of the Year.” Mick Henningson of Cominco’s Sullivan mine was crowned “Industry Person of the Year,” while Terrace was recognized as “Mining Community of the Year.”