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Co-operative [industry/First Nations]approach to mining venture – (Timmins Daily Press – February 2, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Company, two First Nations sign memorandum of understanding

An agreement has been reached between a mining firm and two First Nations over mineral rights to about 60,000 hectares of land. Ring of Fire Resources Inc. has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Matachewan and Mattagami First Nations with respect to its mineral exploration activities in 10 townships just north of Timmins.

The memorandum sets out the provisions of a co-operative approach to developing the Ring of Fire Inc. interests within the territorial homelands of the two First Nations. The agreement provides for business and employment opportunities that encourage First Nation participation in the mining industry.

The parties have also committed to negotiating an Impact and Benefits Agreement should the project warrant a mining operation.

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Goldcorp plans draining, mine site reclamation – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – January 31, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper

Timmins council was provided with an outline Monday night of two projects being undertaken over the next couple of months by Goldcorp. The two projects reflect opposite ends of the spectrum for mining operations.

One relates to the planned re-opening of the Hollinger mine site, while the other concerns the reclamation of the old Halnor site.

In preparation for the Hollinger open pit mine, Goldcorp is draining groundwater and letting it flow into Pearl Lake. The lake is already used as a basin for groundwater that is pumped out from the old McIntyre mine workings.

Luc Duval, the city’s director of public works and engineering, said the Hollinger project requires the pumping of more water. It will flow into a creek the crosses under McIntyre Rd. and empties into Pearl Lake.

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Party leaders still must earn our trust – by Wayne Snider (Timmins Daily Press – january 31, 2012)

Wayne Snider is the city editor for The Daily Press , the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper. Contact the writer at news@thedailypress.ca

North’s 11 seats suddenly seem more relevant

The North may not have been a key political battleground during the last few Ontario elections, but it is starting to get more interesting.

Checking out the political landscape after last fall’s campaign, the Liberals came within one seat of getting a majority by relying heavily on the vote in the Greater Toronto Area. The Conservatives did well in rural Southern Ontario, while the NDP largely painted the North orange.

For the first time in recent memory, all three parties came out with a dedicated Northern Ontario policy during the campaign. Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, four months into being the leader of the opposition in a minority government, is still selling ideas from his Changebook North.

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Sweeten the deal for mining companies in Ring of Fire: Bisson – by By Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – January 30, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper

NDP seeks support from Liberals

The New Democrats are suggesting the province use a carrot instead of a stick to convince chromite mining companies operating in the Ring of Fire to do all their processing in Ontario.

The NDP will ask the government to cover infrastructure costs as an incentive. “The Ontario government has got to respond by providing infrastructure to the site, namely hydro and transportation, which are critical to making it work,” said MPP Gilles Bisson (NDP — Timmins-James Bay).

Bisson is working with other member of the NDP caucus to put together an incentive package which they intend to pitch to the governing Liberal Party within the next couple of weeks.

The package would include an offer to develop transportation to the site in the form of railway or roads, as well as offer an industrial energy rate in the form of about four cents or less per kilowatt hour.

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Solid Gold fights court order – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – January 27, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper

A mineral exploration company that was forced by injunction to halt drilling outside Wahgoshig First Nation has responded with a two-pronged legal attack.

Solid Gold Resource Corporation has filed an appeal against the court’s decision to award an injunction and it is suing the Ontario government.

“We’re appealing the injunction that was awarded to Wahgoshig, ordering the Crown and Solid Gold to enter some kind of consultation,” said company president Darryl Stretch. That appeal is to be heard on Feb. 29 in Toronto.

“We have also just served notice to the Crown for damages that have affected our company as a result of this injunction,” said Stretch. “That claim is for at least $100 million.”

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Minister points finger at McGuinty [Ontario power rates to high] – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – January 17, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper

Tony Clement says high energy costs in Ontario forces industry to take processing elsewhere

As the federal minister for Northern Economic Development, Tony Clement says he would like to see processing of minerals from the Ring of Fire done in Northern Ontario.

However, Clement says it is up to the provincial government to make that happen. Officials with Cliffs Natural Resources, a Cleveland-based company looking to develop a chromite mine within the James Bay lowlands, have publicly expressed interest in doing some of the processing in Asia.

“We’d like to see more of the processing here but one of the major impediments are energy costs,” Clement said during a stopover in Timmins on Monday. “That’s Mr. (Dalton) McGuinty’s bailiwick. He’s got to do his job as premier of this province to get energy costs more in line.”

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[Timmins] Mine shops aid war effort – by Karen Bachmann (Timmins Daily Press – January 14, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper

Karen Bachmann is the director/curator of the Timmins Museum and a local author.

Second World War impacted everyday life in the Porcupine Camp during 1942

A few local news briefs from 1942, courtesy of the Porcupine Advance newspaper. Jan. 25 was the date that was finally set for the official opening of the brand new United Church in Timmins. Located at the corner of Mountjoy Street and First Avenue, only the basement had been built at the time. Construction of the rest of the church was to move ahead in the spring with the help of both regular and volunteer workers.

Rev. J.C. Cochrane, D.D., superintendent of northern missions was secured as the guest speaker. A newly formed choir under the auspices of Mr. Wallace Young was prepared to sing special anthems and other musical numbers during the dedication service.

At that time, the charter roll of membership was to be presented as the basis of the organization, and the keys were to be turned over to the new church minister.

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[Timmins Goldcorp] Mine ramping up – by Chris Ribau (Timmins Daily Press – January 10, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper

Blasting for open pit begins this summer

Corporate approval is all that stands in the way.

Representatives from Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines announced on Monday that it will commence development of the Hollinger Open Pit Mine Project following corporate approval to fund the project.

Construction is planned for the next 12 to 18 months at a cost of $75 million. Blasting is expected to start sometime this summer. The reasoning behind the 12 to 18 month timeframe is because the berm is the longest part of the construction. Construction of the haul road will start immediately.

The initial focus will be on equipment procurement, installation of the dewatering system, site clearing and stripping and the development of a five-kilometre haulage road between the Hollinger site and the Dome Mill.

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Lots to celebrate in [Timmins] 1912 – by Karen Bachmann (Timmins Daily Press – January 7, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Karen Bachmann is the director/curator of the Timmins Museum and a local author.

HISTORY: Newspaper articles highlight the unbridled enthusiasm seen in the early days of the Porcupine Camp 

OK, I’m feeling the pressure. This is the first article I get to pen for Timmins’ 100th anniversary, and it has to be special – so, of course, I’m frozen at my keyboard, awaiting Divine Intervention (or a third cup of coffee).

How to begin? What is there to be said?

Sadly, the stuff I should be writing about I am afraid to say, I have already written – the beginnings of the camp, the development of Northern Ontario, etc. … So, I pray your indulgence as I present to you a small piece based on the items from the front page from the very first Porcupine Advance newspaper, published on March 28, 1912 (Vol. 1, No. 1).

I have chosen to do this because the tone of that first newspaper and the articles presented back then really do illustrate the unbridled enthusiasm that was rampant in those early days of the Porcupine, and of the Town of Timmins.

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Northern [Ontario] MPPS say growth plan fails – The Daily Press (January 6, 2011)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

A pair of Northern MPPs say a government growth plan has missed the mark. Gilles Bisson (NDP — Timmins-James Bay) and Michael Mantha (NDP — Algoma-Manitoulin) say the Northern Growth Plan has failed to address the real needs of northern Ontario.

The plan calls for the creation of “hubs” to promote development, but Sudbury and Thunder Bay are the only cities designated as such.

“The fact is that there is no money tied to the Northern Growth Plan. We’re not even sure what these two ‘hubs’ in Sudbury and Thunder Bay are meant to do. What money is being allocated to make these projects work?” said Bisson.

“I’m not only concerned for the cities like Timmins and Sault Ste Marie that are left out but I’m also concerned for Sudbury and Thunder Bay because without a clear vision and funds attached to it these centres are not likely to succeed.”

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Injunction ‘a matter of respect’ for First Nations – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – January 6, 2012)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper

Wahgoshig First Nation is not out to stop development, says Chief Dave Babin. The community, he added, simply wants its values respected by industry.

Wahgoshig won an injunction this week to halt mining exploration by Solid Gold Resource Corporation on its territory. The company was drilling in an area which the First Nation had identified as sacred ground.

“It’s a long-overdue issue that First Nations are facing with the industry and these are the things the industry has to understand with First Nations,” said Babin. “I’m not going to have people coming around here and terrorize the land because they feel they are following the Mining Act.

“They have to have respect for our cultural values within our territories. We have issues out there that we want to protect. It has no value to them but it has value to us.”

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Timmins Celebrating 100 years – by Karen Bachmann (Timmins Daily Press – December 31, 2011)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Karen Bachmann is the director/curator of the Timmins Museum and a local author.

Timmins centennial kicks off New Year’s Day at the McIntyre Arena — one of the community’s icons

Well, here we are, finally, sitting on the cusp of our 100th anniversary celebrations for Timmins – and yes, we have much to celebrate, commemorate, ponder and enjoy.

From a small boomtown based on a hope and a prayer, Timmins has grown into one of the world’s most important mining municipalities.

We have been home to the world’s largest gold mine, the world’s largest zinc mine and one of the world’s deepest mines. We are still home to the mine that started it all, and it promises to be in production for many years to come.

Timmins also has many heroes in the fields of sports, culture, art, science and business. The city has seen many of its sons and daughters go on to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, be it in the laboratory or on a stage or in an arena or a lecture hall.

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Timmins faces challenging 2012 – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – December 30, 2011)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Mayor Laughren hopes to see city’s economy diversify in 2012

There will be much emphasis on mining’s glorious past, and the legendary prospectors who helped found this city, as Timmins celebrates its centennial anniversary over the next year.

High gold prices, the startup of several mines in the area and potential spinoffs from development within the Ring of Fire has spurred a sense of confidence that these glorious days are still with us.

However, the proverbial elephant in the room will always be the fact minerals are a finite resource and some of the mines currently employing people throughout the region are not expected to still be in operation 15 to 20 years from now.

To address this, Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren said one of the key challenges in 2012 will be laying down a foundation to attract alternative industries.

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Mine firm [Dumas Mining] digs deep – by The Daily Press (Timmins Daily Press – December 24, 2011)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

Dumas spreads Christmas cheer locally and internationally

A local mining company stepped up locally and internationally to help people in need this holiday season. Employees from Timmins-based Dumas sponsored gifts and events for families in their areas.

For example, this year staff in Timmins raised $10,000 to buy Christmas gifts for 55 children, and the crew at the Yauliyacu mine site in Peru supplemented corporate donations to sponsor the year end celebration for children at the tiny village school.

In Timmins, the tradition started in 2008 when Dumas staff decided to rally together to help local underprivileged children. They contacted Child Family Services and collected enough money to buy Christmas gifts for 10 children. Over the years, the amount raised and number of children supported has grown.

Last year, gifts were purchased for 30 children and Christmas dinner was sponsored for a whole family.

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Drawings of the Porcupine Camp 1909-2009 Graphic Book – by Denis Newman

 

A Great Christmas Gift

To order a copy of this $33.00 book, click here: http://www.highgradermagazine.com/books.html

Drawings of the Porcupine Camp 1909-2009 is a compendium of the Porcupine drawings of Denis Newman as we celebrate the Porcupine mines’ centennial.

Reminisce as you appreciate Denis Newman’s renderings of places where you worked and lived, or perhaps only visited in years past. These sketches will surely engender memories, both happy and sad, of all tha was near and dear to tose of us who knew and loved the Porcupine.- Syl Belisle

Denis Newman was born in Timmins and spent his early years on the Paymaster and Dome properties. After working at the Dome, Denis graduated from North Bay’s TEachers College and later Queen’s University. He now lives in Bellville with his wife Geneva. Most of his renderings focus on mine head frames and landscapes.

See below for more images:

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