Walking the exhibition floor at the Manitoba Mining and Minerals Convention, held last month in Winnipeg, was like stopping by a Snow Lake reunion.
A wide variety of people who have either lived in the community, or had extended visits, were around every corner, or in some cases working a booth on the RBC Convention Centre’s massive exhibition floor.
This was indeed the case for several gents clustered on one of the central avenues of the floor to drum up interest in their “prospective” properties.
Dan Ziehlke, representing his company Strider Resources, was welcoming and conversational as he dined on what he called his “miner’s breakfast” – a bag of popcorn from the popcorn-maker set up on the convention floor.
Dan firmly believes – and he can back it up with the geology, prospecting and geochemical work – that he has another Nor-Acme type deposit on the east side of Wekusko.
Jim Parres was set up immediately to the left of Ziehlke and promoting his Jiminex properties: Misehkow River near Pickle Lake, Northern Eagle near Hemlo, and Parres and Parres Two near Osborne Lake.
Jim was also advancing the books Nor-Acme Gold Mine and Headframes, Happiness, and Heartaches, as well as a third yet-to-be-titled volume that he plans for the near future.
To the right of Strider was Peter Dunlop of Peter C. Dunlop Mining Exploration/ W. Bruce Dunlop Limited.
Peter, as with the previous two gents mentioned, is a tireless promoter of the Snow Lake mining camp. He had a large sample from the Moosehorn-Ballast property – originally staked in 1914 – on display at his booth, and spoke vividly of the lack of exploration work done on East Wekusko’s Rex/Laguna property.
Peter noted there hasn’t been any serious work done on this once-prominent producer since the 1940s.
Across from these three was former Snow Laker Ken (Pete) Klyne Jr., representing Klyne Exploration. He has an interesting property on Pemmican Island, located near the west shore at the north end of Lake Winnipegosis (said to contain up to 1.18 per cent nickel and 0.76 per cent zinc).
Kenny, an old school chum, is as gregarious and engaging as ever, and advised he is seriously considering taking a run at provincial politics. He is particularly concerned with what he says is the NDP’s infatuation with turning prime mineral property into parkland.
He says he will very likely run as an independent in the Flin Flon Constituency on a pro-mining platform.
Also up for a chat was former Hudbay Snow Lake mines manager Mike Willett, who is currently vice-president, mining and business development, with Saskatoon-based March Consulting.
Discussing that day’s signing of a declaration of priorities for the development of a resource revenue-sharing mechanism with Aboriginal communities, Willett said it was a crucial step for the communities and the Manitoba mining industry.
Neill Brandson, a field support manager at Manitoba Geological Survey (MGS), was keen to discuss the amenities of Snow Lake.
Neill has visited on numerous occasions throughout his long history with MGS and feels the Snow Lake Mining Museum is something not just Snow Lakers, but all people associated with the industry in Manitoba, should be proud of.
“You have a real treasure there,” he said.
Another Manitoba Mineral Resources employee who is mightily impressed with Snow Lake is Dale Wride, a claims inspector stationed in Flin Flon with the Mining Recording Section.
Dale mentioned the community and his affinity for it several times during a convention.
My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
