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Surplus equipment from Snap Lake Mine valued at over $215,000 has found new life with two organizations in the Northwest Territories.

A scoop-tram that was used to load ore underground, two underground Toyota multi-utility trucks, and several sets of heavy duty wheel chocks have been provided by De Beers to the Aurora College Mining Program. Combined, this equipment is worth more than $190,000.

In addition, two modular construction trailers valued at $25,000 were donated to Habitat for Humanity NWT, for use at the organization’s ReStore located beside the City of Yellowknife’s solid waste management facility.

“De Beers Canada is committed to creating a lasting legacy in the North. Both Aurora College and Habitat for Humanity have huge impact on the people and communities of the NWT,” said Erik Madsen, General Manager of Sustainability for De Beers Canada. “We would also like to thank our business partner Det’on Cho Logistics for their assistance in transporting the items to the College and Habitat for Humanity.”

The scoop-tram and trucks will join the fleet of equipment used by the college’s mine training program, which is being run out of the Thebacha Campus of Aurora College, home to a new $10 million centre for Mine and Industry Training how under construction. This is the second scoop-tram De Beers has donated to the college.

“Being able to train students on real-world equipment similar to what they will encounter on the job site better prepares them for employment opportunities at the NWT diamond mines,” said Jane Arychuk, President of Aurora College. “Donations of equipment, such as the scoop from De Beers, also helps keep our costs down, which allows us to run more programs.”

“Adding a second scoop to our programs could allow our students to have more ‘seat time’ in the equipment,” explained Mike MacPherson, Aurora College’s Program Head of Mining and Industrial Training. A new Underground Miner training program is scheduled to begin in April 2018.

The trailers donated to Habitat for Humanity have been in use since this past summer. The ReStore is a heated workshop and warm retail space where volunteers sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price. An environmentally conscious endeavour, much of what is sold in the ReStore that is new or gently used would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Snap Lake Mine is on extended care and maintenance which made this surplus equipment available.