NEWS RELEASE: Keep dates open for seventh annual mine reclamation conference

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.

The Ontario Mining Association and the Canadian Land Reclamation Association are once again combining forces for the Ontario Mine Reclamation Symposium and Field Trip, which is being held June 17 and 18, 2014 in Peterborough. This will be the seventh annual conference dedicated to this industry environmental activity.

A one-day symposium will highlight the history and status of mining in Southern Ontario. Also on the agenda are updates on current research and rehabilitation practices and specific reclamation projects.

The field trip will take participants to mine and aggregate sites in the Peterborough and Bancroft areas. This area was home to some of the earliest mining sites in Ontario. As part of the program, there is also a reception and banquet.

The ceremony will include the presentation of the Tom Peters Mine Reclamation Awards. There are two components to this environmental award – for companies rehabilitating specific mine sites and a $5,000 scholarship for university students, who must deliver a presentation on their research topic. Nominations for these honours should be submitted to Bryan Tisch btisch@nrcan.gc.ca before May 16, 2014.

Mr. Peters was a pioneer in the field of mine reclamation and a founding member of the CLRA, which was established in 1975. Mr. Peters died in 2007. He enjoyed a lengthy and successful career at Vale’s predecessor company Inco where he led the company’s tailings re-vegetation and land reclamation programs. He played a major role in the re-greening of Sudbury and was awarded a honourary degree from Laurentian University in recognition of that significant contribution.

The OMA and CLRA have held this mine reclamation conference in a variety of communities across Ontario in the past. This year’s location marks the first time this event has been held in Southern Ontario. Previous locations for the workshops have been Kirkland Lake (2008), Timmins (2009), Elliot Lake (2010), Sudbury (2011), Thunder Bay (2012) and Cobalt (2013).

For further information on the symposium and field trip contact Mr. Tisch at Natural Resources Canada or Lesley Hymers at the OMA lhymers@oma.on.ca. A detailed symposium program and information on the venues and hotels will be forthcoming soon.

The purpose of these mine rehabilitation conferences is to encourage the pursuit of excellence in mine reclamation, share knowledge, information and research results and to share best practices. It is also to promote a better understanding of the outstanding achievements in mine reclamation to Ontario’s mining industry, the environmental community and the broader public