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.
Jonathon Naylor Editor A flustered David Garofalo fired back at a disgruntled Hudbay employee who claimed company pride is a foreign concept to those working for Flin Flon's largest employer. Garofalo, the company CEO, and the employee, who did not identify himself, exchanged words at the conclusion of a recent question and answer session at the R.H. Channing Auditorium. After being handed a microphone, the employee stood up and made reference to the word 'Proud' that appeared on a panel behind Garofalo as a way to describe Hudbay. 'I've worked through this whole company and not once have I heard one employee say they're proud to work for HBMS,' the man charged. As he stood on stage in front of upwards of 500 people, mostly Hudbay employees, Garofalo's demeanour instantly changed. 'I completely contradict that. I have been here (in Flin Flon) almost every month since I started (at Hudbay) in July 2010,' he said. 'I talk to individuals. I've never heard that attitude. Ever. I've been in the mining business for 22 years and this is the best operating culture in the mining business in the world.' Applause That line earned Garofalo applause, but he was not done yet. 'So I don't appreciate that comment in the least,' he said. 'We have a lot to be proud of here.' At that point Garofalo, his arms crossed, paused for several seconds before going for some comic relief. 'Sorry, I'm Italian, I get worked up easily,' he said to laughter from the audience. The wrangling between the two men began shortly after Garofalo noted that Hudbay will purchase the homes of about 36 families who need to move in order for the Constancia copper mine in Peru to proceed. He said the families, who represent about 200 people, have agreed to relocate, so it is now simply a matter of compensating them for homes that will be demolished. That arrangement evidently upset the Flin Flon employee. 'If you're going to do this with Peru, help them move their houses, what about us people that are going to Snow Lake, are you going to help us with houses, too?' he asked Garofalo in a raised voice. See 'Garof...' on pg. 3 Continued from pg. 1 This time, Garofalo played it cooler. 'The reason we're moving them is because their homes are located on the pit and on the waste dump (at Constancia),' he said. 'So we are actually buying their land from them.' Drawing laughter from the crowd, Garofalo added: 'I can assure you that if we found a deposit under your house, we'd be knocking on your door.' The question and answer session followed Garofalo's announcement that all entities under the HudBay Minerals banner, including HBMS, will now be known as Hudbay. 'By using the same brand across its business, Hudbay expects to drive future success in attracting new partners, investors and skilled and talented workers from around the world,' the company said in a news release. 'The company believes a consolidated Hudbay brand will facilitate the alignment of new projects and acquisitions, and will strengthen relationships with local communities that are built on trust, transparency and accountability. The brand will also help to promote greater collaboration and the transfer of knowledge, skills and experience from location to location across the organization.' Before joining HudBay, the Toronto-based Garofalo was senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer with Agnico-Eagle Mines, which he had joined in 1998. Prior to that, Garofalo served as treasurer and in various finance roles with another international mining company beginning in 1990. In 2009, Garofalo was named Canada's Chief Financial Officer of the Year by Financial Executives International Canada. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto (B.Comm.) and a chartered accountant by profession.
