AME BC announces 2014 award winners

The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) has announced the recipients of its annual awards for 2014.

The winners represent a cross-section of the industry. From prospectors, engineers and financiers to innovators and educators, these individuals and organizations have contributed significantly to mineral exploration and development across the globe.

The winners will be celebrated at a gala on Jan. 27, 2015 during the Mineral Exploration Roundup conference in Vancouver. To buy tickets for the event, visit www.amebc.ca/roundup. 

Peter Ogryzlo is the recipient of the H. H. “Spud” Huestis Award for excellence in prospecting and mineral exploration. He is recognized especially for his contributions to the discovery of two additional ore zones at the Huckleberry copper mine, 85 km southwest of Houston in west-central B.C. These newly defined resources have led to major open pit and plant expansions to extend the mine life — first from 2007 through 2012, and then from 2012 through 2021.

Bob Gallagher and Jim Currie are recipients of the E. A. Scholz Award for excellence in mine development. They are being acknowledged for their key roles in the early stages of resource and economic evaluation, mine design and construction of the New Afton copper-gold mine near Kamloops, B.C. Their co-operative spirit and enthusiasm led to the successful development of the largest underground panel block-caving operation in Canada.

David Elliott is the recipient of the Murray Pezim Award for perseverance and success in financing mineral exploration. Over his 40-plus year career he has financed many mineral-exploration companies, particularly at the early stages. He has also provided seed capital and follow-on financing for hundreds of mineral exploration and development companies, both public and private.

Jim Excell, Dan Johnson, Jeff Stibbard and Mike Rylatt are the recipients of the Hugo Dummett Diamond Award. They are acknowledged for their key roles in advancing the Ekati diamond mine in the Northwest Territories from concept to reality, on budget, without any major injuries and with an exemplary record of northern and community involvement. Ekati, which opened in October 1998, was Canada’s first diamond producer.

Duane and Morgan Poliquin are the recipients of the Colin Spence Award for excellence in global mineral exploration. This father and son team is being recognized particularly for its roles in the recent discovery and advancement of the Ixtaca gold-silver deposit for Almaden Minerals at its Tuligtic property in eastern Mexico. This is one of the most greenfield discoveries of recent times, following several years of diligent research and exploration efforts focused on an underexplored area.

The Aboriginal Mentoring & Training Association (AMTA) is recognized with the Robert R. Hedley Award for excellence in social and environmental responsibility. From 2009 through 2014, AMTA achieved its mission “to be the best team in Canada empowering First Nations to create economic health for themselves and their communities through skills training, education and career opportunities,” as more than 1,000 of its candidates gained employment with more than 350 employers.

Geotech Drilling Services is the recipient of the David Barr Award for leadership and innovation in mineral exploration health and safety. Geotech Drilling has emerged as a leader in developing and nurturing a safety culture within its crews that has been transferred from client to client. In 2013, Geotech Drilling recorded 308,848 hours without a lost workday incident and is also being awarded the Safe Day Everyday Gold Award by AME BC and the Prospectors & Developers Asssociation of Canada.

John Thompson and the late Bob Cathro are recipients of Special Tributes for their contributions to the Vancouver mineral exploration and mining community. John Thompson has been an energetic supporter of the exploration and mining community since arriving at Vancouver in 1991. He has advanced economic geology research, mentored students who are now active in the industry, supported volunteer professional activities at local, provincial, national and international levels, and has played pivotal roles in the creation of Geoscience BC and the Canada Mining Innovation Council. The late Bob Cathro (1935–2014) was a pioneering western Canadian mineral exploration geologist and industry leader through his co-founding of Archer, Cathro & Associates, contributions to geological publications and service to AME BC (formerly the BC & Yukon Chamber of Mines).

Dan Jepsen is the recipient of the Gold Pan Award for his service to the mineral exploration community through his work with the association as the past executive director from 2002 to 2006, and president and CEO from 2006 to 2008. 

Bogart Cross is the recipient of the Frank Woodside Past Presidents’ Award for his service to the industry through supporting the Vancouver Mining Exploration Group, AME BC, MineralsEd and other industry initiatives. 

Finally, AME BC has awarded Outreach Education Funding to MineralsEd for coordinating Kids & Rocks hands-on classroom workshops for children and students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 in Vancouver-area schools, and to the Britannia Mine Museum toward supporting education programs for 12,500 Kindergarten to Grade 12 students, and for developing new exhibits.