NEWS RELEASE: Timmins miner aims to boost expertise of community social agencies

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 Kidd Operations (Glencore) is helping to stage a conference to better align goals of private sector donors and community non-profit fund raisers. Kidd Operations and the Cochrane District Social Planning Council (CDSPC) are holding a Working Toward Sustainability Conference and Training event November 14 and 15, 2013 at the Timmins Native Friendship Centre. The goal is to help non-profit social agencies achieve sustainability in a competitive fundraising environment and be better prepared to fulfill funding applications.

“Local businesses and companies receive donation requests surpassing their budgets by several hundred thousands of dollars annually,” said Carole Belanger, Communications and Community Relations Coordinator at Kidd Operations. “With so many worthy projects, it is difficult and agencies applying for support need to understand corporate donors are moving from a traditional charity approach to strategic social investing for community development.”

Presenters at the conference include Helen Burstyn, former Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and special advisor and chair of the provincial government’s Partnership Forum, and Ethel Cote, Director Social Enterprise Development at the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal. Also, Ms Belanger, who administers Kidd Operations’ Community Partnership Program, will be sharing her perspective on support and sustainability.

“Kidd Operations is proud to partner with the CDSPC to deliver this skills development opportunity to the community,” said Tom Semadeni, General Manager Kidd Operations. “In fact, we are doing so in direct response to feedback provided by our stakeholders who have identified the need for training in sustainability for non-profits.”

“Through our Community Partnership Program, we fund numerous local organizations and projects and as a major private funder in Timmins, we also feel in addition to financial support, it is important for us to contribute to local capacity through the sharing of knowledge and expertise,” he added. Since 2007, Kidd Operations has provided nearly $4 million in financial support to community organizations and projects.

“We are pleased to see Kidd Operations leading this type of event in response to needs identified by stakeholders and funders for a greater understanding of sustainability and skills development for our local non-profit sector,” said Tom Laughren, Mayor of Timmins and Vice President of the CDSPC. “The Council, in collaboration with partners like the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, Timmins Native Friendship Centre, the Leadership Training Network and Kidd Operations, our major private sector employer, is supporting strategic social investment in the community.”

For further information on Kidd Operations Working Toward Sustainability Conference and Training contact information is info@timminschamber.on.ca and 1-705-360-1900.

Kidd Operations in Timmins produces copper and zinc concentrates. The site employs approximately 1,200 people including contractors. This mine, which started operations through predecessor companies in 1966, is the deepest base metal mine in the world.

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.