Editorial Recognition is well deserved

The mining industry is not one that receives a great deal of attention from the general public. It receives even less applause. We in the industry are well aware of the contribution mining makes to society as a whole, but that contribution is often taken for granted by others. So it’s nice to see awards going to people and companies involved in mining and mining-related endeavours. In the past couple of months we’ve seen:

* Fording Coal of Calgary receive a silver award for business excellence in the category of productivity. The award, from the federal department of regional industrial expansion, was presented to only sixteen entries from more than 700 submissions.

* Noranda Research Centre at Pointe-Claire, Que., receive a similar silver award for business excellence in the category of innovation. Noranda’s award was for the development of a gold leach refining process in conjunction with Noranda’s CCR division.

* Keith Brimacombe of Vancouver, B.C., win the $75,000 Manning Award for his research into computer-aided analysis for the develoment and improvement of metallurgical processes such as the continuous casting of steel, flash-smelting of lead and copper converting.

* Knelson International Sales of Langley, B.C., receive one of 12 Canada Export Awards. Knelson was cited for its precious metal gravity separators. “Their export success creates jobs and is vital to our national prosperity,” said Minister for International Trade Pat Carney.

* E. D. Dainty, a research scientist at the federal department of energy mines and resources’ canmet, win one of ten engineering medals awarded by the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario for his research and development in the area of diesel emission control for mines.

* E. W. Mitchell, research co-ordinator at the Ontario labor ministry’s mining health and safety branch, win the same award for professional management also in the field of emission control technology for mines.

There are many other award winners we haven’t mentioned. And for every award there are a dozen others who deserve recognition but who must wait to be singled out.

Nevertheless, it is award winners such as Noranda, Fording, Knelson, Brimacombe, Dainty and Mitchell that assures the Canadian mining industry of a leadership role in the international world of mining. The industry may go largely unnoticed by the public, but it’s place in the Canadian way of life is secure as long as contributions such as these continue to be made.