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De Beers Canada was named a double-winner at the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) annual convention awards gala on Monday, May 1, 2017, taking home two prestigious national safety awards.
De Beers Victor Mine received its second consecutive national John T. Ryan Award in the Select Mines category as the safest mine in Canada for having the lowest accident frequency rate during 2016. Gahcho Kué Mine received the 2017 Hatch-CIM Mining & Metals Project Development Safety Award, in recognition of its outstanding safety systems, culture and performance during the project phase.
“To have our teams recognized at this level for their demonstrated commitment to Zero Harm is an outstanding achievement that reflects the collective contributions of all employees across De Beers Canada,” said Kim Truter, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Canada. “I want to congratulate all employees at Victor and Gahcho Kué for their outstanding safety performance and for helping establish De Beers Canada as a global mining safety leader.”
The Gahcho Kué Mine in the Northwest Territories is a joint venture between De Beers Canada (51%), the Operator, and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%). This is the fourth major award for Gahcho Kué in the past year: 2017 Viola R. MacMillan Award from the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) in March 2017; Gold at the 11th Annual Project Management Institute’s awards gala in October 2016; and, Workplace Health and Safety Award from the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce in November 20167.
De Beers Canada is a 100% owner and operator of the Victor Mine in northern Ontario, the Mining Magazine 2009 International Mine of the Year, the 2015 and now 2016 National John T. Ryan Award Winner for Mine Safety.
De Beers Canada is also a 100% owner of the Snap Lake Mine in the Northwest Territories, which is currently in care and maintenance.
Over the past few years, De Beers Canada operations and employees have been recognized with a host of safety awards, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to zero harm:
Victor Mine
- 2013 Angus D. Campbell Award from the Porcupine Safety Group recognizing Victor Mine for exceeding 300,000 hours worked with no lost time injuries and lowest medical frequency among all nominees
- 2015 National John T. Ryan Award for safety, select mines category
- Brian Kilbride: 2015 Jim Cluff Award, presented by the Porcupine Northeastern Ontario Mines Safety Group in recognition for exemplary workplace safety
- George Hagerty, Pat Lagace, Richard Carrier, Kevin Seabrook, Dwayne Mcintyre, Frank Parent, Christopher Paul-Martin, Clayton Kunkel, Gord Kerr, and Zack Corbiere: recognized in 2015 by the Porcupine Northeastern Ontario Safety Group for thousands of hours worked without a lost time injury on their crews
Gahcho Kué Mine
- 2016 Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Workplace Health & Safety Award
Snap Lake Mine
- 2009 Western Region John T. Ryan safety award for select mines
- 2013 Western Region John T. Ryan safety award for select mines
Exploration
- Safe Day Everyday Silver Award for 2012 (for operating without an LTI for 1 year)
- Safe Day Everyday Silver Award for 2013 (for operating without an LTI for 1 year)
- Safe Day Everyday Silver Award for 2014 (for achieving more than 10,000 hours without a reportable injury
- Safe Day Everyday Participation Award for 2014 (for participating in Canadian Mineral Exploration Health & Safety Survey for the previous 10 years)
- Safe Day Everyday Bronze Award for 2015
- In January 2017, the De Beers Canada Exploration team marked six years without a lost time injury