EDITORIAL & OPINION — Mining expertise a national asset — Unsung achievers (January 11, 1999)

This January’s post-Christmas blues are bluer than most years for the mining sector. Metals prices are going nowhere, equity markets remain mired in the doldrums, and money is tougher to raise than ever. Mining may be a cyclical industry, but the downturns are tougher to take when the cold winter winds are blowing and adding a frosty icing to the general doom-and-gloom. Fortunately, a small respite will come later this month when Canadian miners gather in Toronto to honor those who made their mark in this tough-as-nails, roller-coaster industry.

This year’s Canadian Mining Hall of Fame event will honor the pioneers who triggered the Klondike gold rush a century ago, geophysical and scientific wizards, a couple of remarkable engineers, and several of the country’s top mine-finders. As always, the accomplishments of the inductees are an inspiration to all.

The Hall of Fame ceremony is important because it celebrates the accomplishments of those who beat the odds to find mines, and those who rose above adversity or technical setbacks to finance, develop and build them. These achievers stood out during their lifetime and were not forgotten after death. But, as many living inductees often remind us, each major industry accomplishment involves many other people, including those working quietly behind the scenes in minor but critical roles. New mines and new technologies reflect the combined talents of teams of people working toward the same goals, and, more often than not, these unsung heroes are rarely brought to public attention.

The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) acknowledged this talent pool when it recognized the contributions of 36 special achievers as part of its 1998 centennial celebrations. The inventions, talents and leadership of these outstanding individuals were highlighted in The Achievers, published by the CIM last year. The idea was to put the spotlight on talented mining people who are as much a national asset as our natural resources. By doing so, the CIM portrayed an industry that is at the cutting edge of technology and scientific expertise. The individuals profiled are living proof that mining is indeed a knowledge-based industry.

The CIM says The Achievers deserves a place on the office bookshelves of every person involved in Canadian mining and metallurgy. We’d take that one step further and urge politicians and the public to pick up a copy and enlighten themselves on the talents and expertise and contributions of some remarkable individuals.

Meanwhile, the Mining Works for Canada campaign has put the spotlight on some remarkable people who are connected to the mining industry. The list of eleven includes an academic who studies butterflies in New Brunswick, a leading Montreal-based financial analyst and a metal-detecting hobbyist from Edmonton. The winners of the Mining for Connections awards were selected because the mining industry has an impact on their everyday lives, even though they do not live in mining communities or work for mining companies. One example is an Ontario ophthalmologist who uses a keratome diamond knife to insert foldable intracolular lenses during cataract removal procedures. The diamond knife allows him to perform surgery with less risk, and it results in faster recovery time. Another is an Ontario engineer who used electromagnetic technology — a procedure originally developed in the mining sector — to locate and drill more than 2,000 wells for drinking water and agricultural purposes in sub-Saharan Africa.

The mining industry has many unsung heroes, and we’re heartened that industry organizations are now singing their praises.