OBITUARIES — Patrick Harrison

One of the great shaft-sinkers in Canadian mining history, Patrick Harrison, has died after a long illness. He was 93.

A native of Northern Ireland, “Paddy” was chairman of Patrick Harrison & Co., a mining construction contractor known around the world. He arrived in Canada in 1921 and, after trying his hand at a variety of jobs, chose mining as his line of work.

Entering the contracting business in 1934, he secured his first real contract from Jacola Mines in the Val d’Or area of Quebec.

The firm’s largest and most difficult project involved shaft-sinking and development at Inco’s Thomson mine in Manitoba.

Another challenging project was Steep Rock Iron Mines, where the company was asked to lower the water level of Finlayson Lake without flooding the surrounding area. This was accomplished by driving a 10-by-12-ft. tunnel through solid rock along the route of flood channel beneath the lake; explosives were used to blow the plug out and allow the lake to drain.