The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Marc Jackson Snow Lake Writer It's 17 kilometres from Snow Lake to the Lalor property and one kilometre down to the ore body. And it's been five years from discovery to initial production. That's a short time frame in the mining business, but Tuesday's ceremony celebrating the first ore from Lalor was a long time coming in the minds of many of the gathered guests. Due to the cyclical nature of mining, Snow Lake has seen good years and weathered harsh ones, but most in this small community look forward to the long-term promise of Hudbay's world-class Lalor deposit. The number there is 20, as in 20 projected years of mining that comes with a high-grade deposit whose starting point is known but whose end point is still undetermined. Entering the property just before noon on Tuesday, one could sense the excitement in the air. While it has been five years from discovery to this date, construction on the Lalor project began just two years ago. And though mining is transient in nature, most of the folks who were working here back then are still here today. There is something about being in on a mine from breaking ground to first ore. Many have never done it before; most won't ever do it again. Not alone But the workers weren't alone on this day. Provincial Mines Minister Dave Chomiak was here along with about 250 others who have some connection to, or interest in, Manitoba's newest mine. With most of the people assembled in Lalor's cavernous hoist house, Brad Lantz, vice-president of Hudbay's Manitoba business unit, walked to the microphone. Acting as emcee, he welcomed everyone, commenting on the massive turnout. Lantz then introduced Hudbay employee Pam Marsden, who stood to say a prayer in place of Chief Arlen Dumas of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, who was still in transit from Winnipeg. Minister Chomiak was then introduced. He noted that it isn't every day that a minster, or anyone for that matter, gets to be at the opening of a major project that will provide jobs with a company that has founded over 25 mines and been operating in Manitoba since 1927. Chomiak said it was a great day to be a Manitoban, and to know there is going to be a producing mine that will bring families to the Snow Lake area. 'It is something we can all be proud of,' he said. Chomiak closed, thanking Hudbay for its work and the community for its commitment, and said he was glad to know there would be prosperity and cooperation in the community for many years to come. See 'Snow...' on pg.6 Continue from pg.1 Deputy Mayor Rupert Klyne spoke on behalf of the Town of Snow Lake. He said it was an honour for the town to be included in the celebration and that since the opening of the Chisel Lake Mine in 1958, Snow Lake and Hudbay have worked together to provide jobs, homes and a strong sense of community. Klyne said this partnership will remain bright into the future through collective cooperation and communication. 'This important milestone celebrates not only a significant development of the Lalor Mine at Snow Lake, but continues a rich history of success for Hudbay and northern Manitoba development,' said Klyne. Hudbay President and CEO David Garofalo was the final speaker. 'To put the significance of this event in some perspective, as the original Flin Flon deposit of 1927 marked the first 85 years of our history, I think Lalor will mark the next 85 years,' he said. Giving thanks Garofalo said the $560-million investment that Hudbay originally committed to Lalor was a down payment, and noted how a year later they committed to $704 million and a new concentrator. 'I can all but guarantee you that we're going to find a lot more as we get underground at Lalor,' he said. 'And, we are going to be making significantly more investments over the ensuing 20, 30, 40 years that we will be mining here on this ground. So just stay tuned, there is a lot more to come here. 'We've assured the future of Snow Lake as a community. We've made investments both in this mine and in the infrastructure of the community. And what this means for Snow Lake is not lost on us. What this means for Manitoba is not lost on us as well. Manitoba happens to be one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world, and it is thanks to people like Minister Chomiak that we can get projects readily permitted and get going on a very expeditious basis.' Garofalo added that on behalf of Hudbay's board and shareholders, he wanted to thank some people. Stating that it takes hundreds, even thousands of people to build a mine, there were some people he wanted to thank in particular. 'Tom Goodman, who retired as our chief operating officer after 34 years of service, and now joins our board,' said Garofalo. 'Brad Lantz has ably stepped into his shoes, in northern Manitoba and is running our business hereÉand Kim Proctor and her project team, who have done a remarkable job in two short years in building what is standing here now from nothing _ really this was just moose pasture two years ago. It is incredible what we have been able to accomplish in a really short time.' Lantz again took the microphone and asked that folks move outside for the conclusion of the ceremony. At this point, the group assembled in the yard outside the hoist house, just as a 60-ton underground Atlas Copco truck, laden with Lalor's rich ore, arrived on the scene. And just in case it is ever a trivia question, the driver was Snow Lake's Scott Morrell. The load the truck carried, Lalor Project Manager Kim Proctor said, was running around 10 per cent zinc. See 'Heav...' on pg.12 Continue from pg.6 'It is the heaviest ore you can possibly imagine,' she said. Lantz, Garofalo, Chomiak and Proctor, along with Hudbay Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Alan Hair and board chairperson Wesley Voorheis, then cut the ribbon on Lalor's first ore. After lunch and ample time to discuss the significance of what just took place, the cavalcade of ceremonies continued with an 80-kilometre drive to the Reed copper project between Snow Lake and Flin Flon. Reed appears to be advancing quickly, with the footprint cleared and defined and a number of buildings in addition to a cloud of activity well underway. The mine will be built over the next year and a half and will be accessed by a ramp that reaches down to the 510-metre level. From the engineering drawings on display at the ceremony, it appears the footprint will encompass: a 42-by-120-ft. cold storage, an office; changehouse and warehouse; compressors and diesel generators; temporary storage; propane tanks; the vent raise; an escape raise; the powder mag; a sedimentation pond; and the portal. Mining at Reed is expected to begin by the latter part of 2013, and should be in full production of about 1,300 tonnes a day by the outset of 2014. Workers were in the process of furrowing a massive trench, at the end of which the portal will be placed. The mine will be powered by diesel generators. Currently Reed is a five- to seven-year mine and could warrant running a power line, but that would no doubt be dependent on economics. Lantz was again on deck as the emcee for this ceremony, welcoming the 100 or so people in attendance and thanking those who worked at carving the footprint out of the unforgiving terrain (a lot of gigantic limestone boulders were around). Chief Dumas of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation was asked to come to the stage, where Lantz presented him with a traditional gift of tobacco. Chief Dumas thanked Lantz, first in Cree, then interpreted his words: 'I'm honoured to be asked to do this and very appreciative of the token of respect and offering of tobacco to do this prayer.' He then said a Cree prayer, which he again interpreted. Reverence Chomiak, the mines minister, followed the Chief and made note of the reverence he felt in representing the government, particularly at a place where there was opportunity for development and growth. Chomiak commented on the splendour of the area and noted how jobs and beauty could co-exist. He said he had a long speech ready if people really wanted one, but he thought not. 'Let us grow and develop together,' he said in closing. Speaking next was Rick Mark, CEO of VMS Ventures, the junior miner that owns 30 per cent of Reed to Hudbay's 70 per cent. Always articulate, he began by stating how thrilled VMS and its shareholders were to be living the dream of a mine. He asked all of his workers in the audience to individually take a bow and singled out John Roozendaal, president of VMS, noting that Roozendaal had found the ore body. Mark also commended Hudbay and noted how interesting it was coming to an agreement on the discovery and how much he has enjoyed working with everyone involved. Noting his background from North Vancouver, Mark said, 'I really am thrilled to see what the beginning of a mine looks like. This is my first.' Garofalo spoke last, noting that while Reed is not the largest Hudbay mine, it is nonetheless vital. 'For every Lalor, for every 777, for every Flin Flon, we've discovered ten Reeds,' he said. 'They are no less important to perpetuate our business here. They've helped us feed this large industrial complex for 85 years.' Garofalo said Steve Polegato, Hudbay's manager of small mines, and Don Last, the Reed Mine foreman, deserved much credit for what they developed on the site in very short order, and he knew the mine would be a success. The crowd was then asked to gather in an area closer to the location of the portal and watch as dignitaries cut the ribbon on the Reed copper project. Hudbay has been opening mines and putting people to work in Manitoba for 85 years, and on this day they did it again _ twice.
