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A young Canadian jewelry designer immersed in the diamond pipeline during a two-week visit to the Northwest Territories said the experience underscores her view that natural diamonds are unique and special.

Emily Vander Vlugt won third prize in the 2020-2021 De Beers Group Designers Initiative Shining Light Awards. Her award included a four-day visit to Gahcho Kué Mine, learning about diamond sorting and evaluation with a De Beers Group diamond expert, and trying her hand at diamond polishing at the Diamonds de Canada facility in Yellowknife.

“From my experience, Gahcho Kué mine has shown that the natural diamond mining process is just as special as the diamonds recovered. Safety is the number one rule and I learned that if it can’t be done safely then it won't be done at all,” said Emily. “I have also learned that it is important to not only protect the employees but to protect the environment. They are aware of the well-being of wildlife and preserving their habitat, as they have a full team dedicated to ensuring the safety and protection of the environment.”

During her visit to Gahcho Kué, Emily’s tour of the mining operations, included a ride-along in a 200 tonne haul truck. She also experienced on-site environmental monitoring, learned about how the remote site functions like a small town, and toured the process plant, including time in the sort house where the diamonds are recovered.

“As part of the conversations I had with each department, it was demonstrated to me the high level of education and knowledge of the process that each person is responsible for.”

Emily is a self-employed jewelry designer/goldsmith from Guelph, Ontario, who also works as a visual arts painter.

The Shining Light awards have been held every two years with winners selected from De Beers’ diamond producer countries: Canada, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. In 2020-2021, the judges reviewed a record 123 entries from the four countries.

Canadian first prize winner Valerie Lamiel receives a 12 month post graduate scholarship at Poly.Design – Polytechnic di Milano, in Milan, Italy. Canadian second prize winner Virginia Muralt will be enrolled in a gemology program at George Brown College, in Toronto, Ontario in the fall.

Click Here for more information on the Shining Light Awards.

Gahcho Kué mine is a joint venture between De Beers Group and Mountain Province Diamonds. The mine is located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, approximately 280 km northeast of Yellowknife.