OMA NEWS RELEASE: Helping make communities better: Goldcorp in Timmins

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

As the holiday season is upon us, a couple of items have come to light recently which show how Ontario Mining Association member Goldcorp is stepping forward to help make Timmins a little more of a caring community. The gold producer is doing its bit for the area’s social safety net.

Goldcorp’s Porcupine Gold Mines has provided financial support for the Shania Kids Can (SKC) clubhouse in the local Schumacher Public School. Renowned entertainer Shania Twain donates $40,000 to $50,000 annually to this program designed to help children in challenged situations have a more positive childhood experience.

Those familiar with Ms Twain’s history know her growing up years were crowded with circumstances of hardship and, on occasion, coping with poverty. SKC is a personal mission for Ms Twain, who has a strong attachment to Timmins. The city is home to the Shania Twain Centre, which opened in 2001.

Money from Goldcorp will be used to fix up the SKC Clubhouse at Schumacher Public School and make it a model for other clubhouses in schools across North America. The plan is to make the clubhouse more of a fun facility and a little less of a classroom.

“We have two pilot programs running right now for SKC – one here in Timmins and one in Huntsville,” said Tracy Hautanen. This program allows the SKC to gather data and justify moving ahead with similar programs in other schools. Students who have participated in the SKC programs show significant improvement in reading, writing, mathematics and social skills.

“It is basically education and providing a forum and partnering with organizations to provide learning for children,” said Goldcorp Human Resources Manager Domenic Rizzuto. “Certainly this clubhouse is an example of what can be done.”

Ms Hautanen is pleased with the financial support from Goldcorp. She said “Goldcorp was very quick to jump on board and say it would like to help us with the program here at Schumacher Public.”

In a similar vein, Goldcorp’s Porcupine Gold Mines helped provide presents for the Timmins and Area Women in Crisis Centre’s (TAWCC) annual Christmas party. “The party is for families with low incomes and we’ve bought 200 gifts thanks to Goldcorp and Ontario Power Generation,” said Jazz Marshall, transitional housing support worker for TAWCC. “They donate money every year and we go out and buy gifts that parents suggest their children would like.” The women’s shelter is a 10-bed safe have for women and children needing a temporary safe place to stay.

Mining companies are responsible, solution-providing partners in society. They do more than find, extract and process minerals essential to our modern lifestyle. They volunteer and add great value to the quality of life in their communities and beyond.