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.
Ontario Mining Association member Noront Resources’ Ring of Fire Christmas Fund is once again helping ensure Santa visits three First Nations in the vicinity of its Eagle’s Nest project. Noront’s Christmas Fund will be providing approximately 700 wrapped gifts to every child under the age of 13 in Webequie, Marten Falls and Neskantaga First Nations.
This will be the fourth year the Ring of Fire Christmas Fund, with the involvement of Noront employees and supplier volunteers, has assisted Santa’s transportation. Along with visits to each of the communities, the Christmas Fund takes Santa to Thunder Bay for celebrations and gift giving to people from the Webequie, Marten Falls and Neskantaga First Nations living off reserve in that larger community.
“Every year our volunteers enjoy going above and beyond their tasks to spread the Christmas cheer to the youth of the communities we work with,” said Kaityln Ferris, Manager Corporate Responsibility for Noront. “Judging by their smiling faces, we think providing a wrapped gift for each child at Christmas and providing individual recognition is very important.”
Santa’s entourage this year will include two people from DAREarts. Lee Pham is a break dancer who will be providing lessons and entertaining students. Cathy Elliott is a singer and songwriter who will be encouraging the youth to perform for parents, other adults and elders in the communities.
“This year, we are expanding the Christmas celebration in the communities to incorporate the parents and elders as well the youth in these communities,” said Ms Ferris. “It is important, especially for the principals and teachers to be involved in creating something special for the students. There will be combinations of performances and participation from all of our volunteers and the community youth.”
Noront Resources, which has its head office in Toronto, is focused on developing the high-grade Eagle’s Nest nickel-copper-platinum-palladium deposit and the exploration and development of the Blackbird chromite discovery while carrying out regional mineral exploration for additional deposits. The company holds a large land position in the Ring of Fire, an emerging multi-metals camp located in the James Bay Lowlands.
DAREarts is a non-profit organization, which aims to empower Canadian children who are challenged by life circumstances to unlock their potential through the arts and build leadership skills. Over the past 16 years, DAREarts has reached more than 140,000 young people. Earlier this year, this organization was involved with Noront in holding movie making workshops in First Nations communities, which was a tremendous support for the OMA’s So You Think You Know Mining high school video competition.
Along with Noront’s employees, its Board of directors, suppliers and friends donate their time, money and service to this effort. Noronto thanks Nakina Airways, Intercity Canadian Tire in Thunder Bay, Carrick Express, Pennocks Nakina Country Kitchen, NUNA and Engage Learn for their generous donations of their time, services and financial support.
While it may be a secret who will be the Noront Santa this year, one of the elves has whispered that it might be Glenn Nolan, Noront Vice President Aboriginal Affairs and currently President of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.
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.