Archive | Corporate Social Responsibility

Miners aim to rebuild global reputation – by Nelson Bennett (Business in Vancouver – December 12, 2018)

December 13, 2018 in Aboriginal and Inuit Mining and Oil/Gas, Canada Mining, Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Corporate Social Responsibility, Goldcorp Inc.

https://biv.com/

Canadian companies working to improve industry’s image

Over the years, Canadian mining companies operating overseas in developing countries have earned a bad reputation for their treatment of the environment, workers and local indigenous people.

There have been recent high-profile cases of Canadian mining companies being sued in Canadian courts for alleged violence against protests in Guatemala and alleged use of slave labour in Eritrea. Less frequently in the headlines are the positive things some Canadian miners are doing in the countries where they operate.

B2Gold Corp. (TSX:BTO), for example, has won a number of awards for its corporate responsibility efforts in Nicaragua, the Philippines, and Namibia, and NexGen Energy Ltd. (TSX:NXE), a Vancouver uranium mine developer, recently won an award from the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada for social development programs it has initiated in La Loche, Saskatchewan. Continue Reading →

OPINION: Why Canada should be the home of ecologically-responsible natural resources – by Lorraine Mitchelmore (Globe and Mail – December 11, 2018)

December 11, 2018 in Canada Mining, Canadian Media Resource Articles, Corporate Social Responsibility, Oil and Gas Sector-Politics and Image

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/

Lorraine Mitchelmore is chair of the Resources of the Future Economic Strategy Table and former president of Shell Canada.

The expression “can’t see the forest for the trees” could have been coined by a typically modest Canadian. It summarizes perfectly much of our current attitude to the embarrassment of riches that constitute our natural resources: our vast forests, our wealth of metals and minerals and our diverse reserves of energy that make us a top producer in many categories.

We have commodities that would be the envy of any other country in the world. And yet, for a variety of reasons, we seem determined not to take full advantage of them. We are not building as many projects as we should, we are not attracting our share of global capital, we are not fully reaching global markets and, in certain cases, we are selling our products at significant discounts to the benefit of other countries.

As a result, the resource sector is not generating the level of wealth for Canada in the form of taxes, royalties, community investments, jobs and business opportunities of which it is capable. Continue Reading →

NEWS RELEASE: VALE DONATES $100,000 TO PLACE DES ARTS (November 12, 2018)

November 15, 2018 in Corporate Social Responsibility, Sudbury Basin, Vale

(Sudbury, November 12, 2018) In its capital fundraising campaign, Share Our Sense of Place, Place des Arts has received a generous donation of $100,000 from Vale. The company made the announcement at the Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario’s annual benefit concert on Friday, November 9, 2018.

“Vale is proud to support Place des Arts and the future role it will play as a cultural hub in the City of Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario,” said Ricus Grimbeek, Chief Operating Officer for Vale’s North Atlantic Operations and Asian Refineries. “We look forward to the grand opening and celebrating this centre for the arts with everyone in our community for generations to come.”

Place des Arts will be Northern Ontario’s first multidisciplinary arts and culture centre. It will be home to eight cultural organizations and is expected to host 850 events in its first year and generate 50,000 admissions. Phase 1 of construction began on October 29th and Phase 2 will follow in 2019. The estimated economic effects of construction are $18.7 million, with the creation of 180 jobs. Continue Reading →

NEWS RELEASE: IGF Releases Guidance for Governments on Local Content Policies to Strengthen Economies

July 18, 2018 in Corporate Social Responsibility

View Doc Here: https://www.iisd.org/sites/default/files/publications/igf-guidance-for-governments-local-content.pdf

Ottawa, Canada – A new toolkit developed by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) aims to help resource-rich countries find more sustainable and inclusive economic solutions, fostering stronger linkages between mineral resources and the rest of the economy.

The IGF Guidance for Governments focuses on local content policies and strategies created by governments requiring mining companies to utilize local goods and services when operating in another country. It also highlights how countries can move away from commodity dependency and diversify their economic base. Local content policies are being utilized more often by governments, particularly as they review or revise their mining and investment codes and contracts.

“An estimated 90 per cent of resource-rich countries employ some sort of local content policy. But in countries where there are only a few other strong sectors, the success of these policies is critical,” said Greg Radford, Director of the IGF. “However, it remains unclear which local content policies work best, produce results and minimize unintended consequences. Our Guidance for Governments takes these on-the-ground realities into account.” Continue Reading →

NEWS RELEASE: VALE’S SUDBURY OPERATIONS HONOURED WITH NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

May 9, 2018 in Corporate Social Responsibility, Green Mining, Nickel, Ontario Mining, Sudbury Basin, Vale

SUDBURY, May 8, 2018 – Vale’s Sudbury Biodiversity Program received the national Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Environmental Excellence Award from the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) at an awards gala during the 2018 CIM Convention in Vancouver on May 7th.

“We are proud to be acknowledged for Vale’s biodiversity program in Sudbury,” said Lisa Lanteigne, Environment Manager for Vale’s Ontario Operations. “The program has been successful because of a sustained commitment to community collaboration and an innovative approach to environmental stewardship. The program exemplifies one of our core company values — Prize Our Planet.”

Vale’s biodiversity work in Sudbury focuses on regreening and reclamation efforts; transforming historically stressed lands and waterways back to their natural states after more than a century of mining activities. To improve biodiversity within the community, Vale undertakes a number of activities, including: Continue Reading →

NEWS RELEASE: MAC fetes Vale and IAMGOLD with 2018 TSM Excellence Awards

May 8, 2018 in Canada Mining, Corporate Social Responsibility, Ontario Mining, Sudbury Basin, Vale

Projects raise the bar in environmental protection and community engagement

OTTAWA, May 8, 2018 /CNW/ – The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has awarded Vale’s Sudbury Operations in Ontario and IAMGOLD’s Essakane Gold Mine in Burkina Faso with TSM Excellence Awards for their innovative sustainability projects. The companies were recognized with the awards yesterday at the CIM Awards Gala in Vancouver.

“We congratulate Vale and IAMGOLD for their outstanding projects. Together, they showcase what best practice looks like in our sector, whether it be spurring local economic development and entrepreneurship in communities where they operate or adopting innovative methods to restore mining areas back to nature,” said Pierre Gratton, President and CEO, MAC.

“These projects are making meaningful change in communities by restoring mined areas back to nature, and spurring local economic development and entrepreneurship. We can all learn from these projects and bring the knowledge to our own communities.” added David Walkem, Chief of the Cook’s Ferry Band, and Member of MAC’s COI Panel and TSM Excellence Awards Selection Committee. Continue Reading →

NEWS RELEASE: Anaconda Mining receives Industry Excellence Award for Environmental Stewardship

April 3, 2018 in Corporate Social Responsibility, Newfoundland and Labrador Mining

TORONTO, March 29, 2018 /CNW/ – Anaconda Mining Inc. (“Anaconda” or the “Company”) – (TSX: ANX) is pleased to announce it has been recognized with the Natural Resources Magazine’s Industry Excellence Award for Environmental Stewardship.

Natural Resources Magazine’s Industry Excellence Awards recognizes companies in Atlantic Canada’s natural resources sectors that are striving for and achieving greatness in resource development, health and safety, innovation, environmental stewardship and championing communities.

“Anaconda Mining strives to be an environmental leader in the mining sector with a focus on implementing proven and innovative green initiatives that contribute to the sustainability of the environment. Continue Reading →

Accent: Vale Enhancing Sudbury’s biodiversity – by Keith Dempsey (Sudbury Star – March 24, 2018)

March 26, 2018 in Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications, Corporate Social Responsibility, Mining Environmental, Water Shortage and Land Reclamation/Revegetation Issues, Nickel, Ontario Mining, Sudbury Basin, Vale

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Thousands of fingerlings, about an inch in size, entered two 4,500-litre rearing-like tanks at Vale’s Copper Cliff Greenhouse almost a year ago.

It’s where they were joyfully raised for 10 months by Vale staff, fed pelletized food, carefully having the water parameters in their tank monitored to make sure the water is being filtered.

“We want to make sure they’re happy in there,” said Quentin Smith, environmental engineer with Vale. Those fingerlings have now matured into healthy brook trout. Some of them have grown to 10-inches long. They’re ready for release into their natural environment. Continue Reading →

PDAC 2018 Environmental & Social Responsibility Award: Golden Star Resources

March 24, 2018 in Africa Mining, Canada Mining, Corporate Social Responsibility, PDAC Award Banquet Inductees

PDAC 2018 – Environmental & Social Responsibility Award – Golden Star Resources from PENDA Productions on Vimeo.

http://www.pendaproductions.com/ This video was produced by PENDA Productions, a full service production company specializing in Corporate Communications with a focus on Corporate Responsibility.

Enviro. & Social Responsibility Award - Golden Star.jpg

Sam Coetzer, President & CEO of Golden Star Resources (left) and Donald Lindsay, President & CEO of Teck Resources Limited

This award honours an individual or organization demonstrating outstanding initiative, leadership and accomplishment in protecting and preserving the natural environment and/or in establishing good community relations during an exploration program or operation of a mine.

Golden Star Resources – For exceptional community relations, commitment to sustainable development, and support for employees and local businesses at its two producing gold mines in Ghana

Golden Star has reached beyond expectations of corporate environmental and social initiatives at its operations on the Ashanti gold belt in Ghana. From protecting and preserving the environment, to encouraging local businesses to supply goods and services to its gold mines, Golden Star is recognized as a global leader in corporate responsibility. Continue Reading →

ICMM’s Butler: Mining an ‘agent of change when it comes to alleviating poverty’ – by Matthew Keevil (Northern Miner – December 11, 2018)

January 16, 2018 in Canadian Media Resource Articles, Corporate Social Responsibility

Northern Miner

VANCOUVER — On Dec. 6, The Northern Miner sat down for an interview with Tom Butler, CEO of the U.K.-based International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM), to discuss climate change politics and other prominent themes for miners on the international stage in 2018.

Butler became CEO of ICMM in July 2015. Before that, he spent 18 years with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation in its infrastructure and natural resource teams, with an emphasis on mining and power projects in Africa.

The Northern Miner: How is the mining industry is perceived globally today?

Tom Butler: There’s a trust gap, and the question is: How do we close it?

The mining industry isn’t doing well in many countries. You see that in the loss of social license where governments feel they have political room to take actions because the industry doesn’t have the support of local populations. Continue Reading →

Remembering the ‘magical’ Falcona Camp: former company-run camp closing after 80 years – by Eric White (CBC News Sudbury – December 11, 2017)

December 11, 2017 in Canadian Media Resource Articles, Corporate Social Responsibility, Glencore

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/

Name of camp switched to Camp Falcona when taken over by YMCA in 1990s

Lana Sissons has spent most of her summers on the shores of Nelson Lake, in the northern reaches of what is today Greater Sudbury.

When she was five years old back in 1948, she first went to Falcona Camp, which was built in 1937 for the children of the men who worked in the Falconbridge nickel mines.

For Sissons, it meant spending the summer with all of her friends, who also lived in the company town of Falconbridge. Among them was her future husband Bob, who grew up across the street. Continue Reading →

Displaced by mining, Peru villagers spurn shiny new town – by Mitra Taj (Reuters U.S. – December 7, 2017)

December 7, 2017 in Copper, Corporate Social Responsibility, International Media Resource Articles, Latin America Mining

https://www.reuters.com/

NUEVA FUERABAMBA, Peru (Reuters) – This remote town in Peru’s southern Andes was supposed to serve as a model for how companies can help communities uprooted by mining.

Named Nueva Fuerabamba, it was built to house around 1,600 people who gave up their village and farmland to make room for a massive, open-pit copper mine. The new hamlet boasts paved streets and tidy houses with electricity and indoor plumbing, once luxuries to the indigenous Quechua-speaking people who now call this place home.

The mine’s operator, MMG Ltd (1208.HK), the Melbourne-based unit of state-owned China Minmetals Corp CHMIN.UL, threw in jobs and enough cash so that some villagers no longer work. Continue Reading →

AWARDS: Lundin Gold Recognized by UN Compact for Its Sustainable Development Best Practices (Canadian Mining Journal – November 22, 2017)

November 23, 2017 in Canada Mining, Canadian Media Resource Articles, Corporate Social Responsibility

http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/

VANCOUVER – Lundin Gold is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the United Nations Global Compact Networks of Colombia and Ecuador at the Best Practice Awards for Sustainable Development for its work undertaken jointly with the Lundin Foundation and Catering Las Peñas (“CLP”), the supplier of food preparation, cleaning and laundry services to the Company’s Fruta del Norte gold project in Ecuador.

Global Compact is a United Nations’ initiative through which companies and organizations voluntarily undertake to align their strategies with ten universal principles of corporate social responsibility.

Following the Global Compact’s evaluation process, Lundin Gold was recognized for its work with CLP, which relates to Sustainable Development Goal (“SDG”) 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth. This award will allow the Company to be evaluated in the 2018 Regional SDG Awards with companies from other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Continue Reading →

Barrick Gold hopes to strike it rich with Fraser Canyon ski resort – by Susan Lazaruk (The Province – October 22, 2017)

October 23, 2017 in Barrick Gold Corporation, British Columbia Mining, Canadian Media Resource Articles, Corporate Social Responsibility

http://theprovince.com/

Barrick Gold Corp. is floating the idea of turning an old nickel mine near Hope into a year-round recreational resort

Is there gold in the hills above Hope? Barrick Gold Corp. is floating the idea of turning an old nickel mine in the area into a year-round recreational playground called the Giant Nickel All Season Resort. It would include a ski hill and gondola and restaurants that grow their own vegetables.

The 10-run ski hill in terms of vertical drop would fall between Whistler Blackcomb and Sun Peaks, said Dennis Adamson, electoral director of Electoral Area B of the Fraser Valley Regional District, and the project’s No. 1 booster.

“I’ve been pushing this for years,” said Adamson, who’s the elected official of the area, which includes communities like Yale, Spuzzum, Dogwood Valley, Othello and Ruby Creek, total population 721. Continue Reading →

Peter Munk donates $100 million to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre – by Julien Gignac (Toronto Star – September 20, 2017)

September 20, 2017 in Barrick Gold Corporation, Canada Mining, Canadian Media Resource Articles, Corporate Social Responsibility, Gold and Silver

Peter Munk’s impassioned and gracious speech begins at the 33 minute mark.

https://www.thestar.com/

Munk extolled Canadian graciousness he experienced when he emigrated here in the late 1940s. “You opened the door. You gave us everything,” he said, referring to Canada as “paradise.”

Peter Munk said his donation to a Toronto heart hospital is a “debt to repay” to Canada for taking in his family after the Second World War. On Tuesday, $100 million was contributed to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, said to be the largest contribution to a Canadian hospital in history.

In a long, impassioned speech, Munk, founder and former chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation, extolled Canadian graciousness he experienced when he emigrated here in the late 1940s.

“When you thank me for what I’ve done for Toronto, and you thank me for what I can do for this community, it doesn’t begin to express my immense gratitude for what this country has done for me and my family,” said Munk, who was born in Hungary. “You opened the door. You gave us everything,” he added, referring to Canada as “paradise.” Continue Reading →