OBITUARY — Colin Macaulay

Colin Macaulay, a former vice-Chairman of Rio Algom, has died. He was 66.

Born in Montreal, Que., Macaulay graduated from McGill University’s engineering program with a bachelor’s degree in 1954 and a master’s degree in 1955. He later studied at the master’s and doctorate levels in economics and finance at Indiana University.

Macaulay began his mining career at a uranium project near Bancroft, Ont., in 1955 before joining British-based Rio Tinto zinc in 1957. He joined Rio Algom in 1958, and worked on engineering programs at the Lac Nordic uranium mine in Elliot Lake, Ont.

In 1963, Macaulay joined Sherritt Gordon, moving to the Farley gold mine in Lynn Lake, Man. He returned to Rio Algom in 1965 to become the general mine superintendent of the Quirke mine, as well as the underground superintendent of the Nordic mine, both in Elliot Lake. He was also involved in the construction of the Quirke II mine.

In 1971, Macaulay returned to Rio Tinto to work for subsidiary Palabora Mining, a South African copper producer. He rose to the position of general manager before moving on to become the managing director of Rossing Uranium in Namibia. He also held the positions of deputy chairman and chief executive at that company.

Macaulay returned to Canada in 1988 to assume the positions of president and chief operating officer of Rio Algom. He was appointed chief executive officer in 1991, and became vice-Chairman in 1996. He retired in late 1996 but remained a director until April 1997.

Macaulay was a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum, as well as the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario.

He is survived by Elizabeth, his wife of 42 years, sons Douglas, James and Robert, and five grandchildren.