AME BC Health & Safety Awards Breakfast

Lena Brommeland, Chair, AME BC; David Barr Award Recipient Doug Flynn; and Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO, AME BC. Photo: Brian Dennehy.

The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) in keeping with its strong commitment to health and safety today congratulated the recipients of the David Barr Award, Safe Day Everyday Gold Award, and Safe Day Everyday Award at the Health & Safety Awards Breakfast at Mineral Exploration Roundup 2010. The breakfast was the 27th annual health and safety awards ceremony hosted by AME BC.

Doug Flynn was presented the David Barr Award for his leadership and tireless commitment as Senior Mines Inspector for the Northwest region of British Columbia. “The award to Doug Flynn exemplifies the strong partnerships between industry and government to work together, find solutions, and ensure everyone has a safe day, everyday,” said Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO, AME BC.

“I would like to congratulate David Barr award winner Doug Flynn and his team of staff in Smithers," said B.C. Minister of State for Mining Randy Hawes. This is the first time this prestigious safety award has gone to a B.C. government staff member and I know Doug is incredibly honoured to receive it. Safety in mining is a top priority for all government staff and this award is well deserved.”

AME BC and the Prospectors Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) awarded the Safe Day Everyday Gold Award to Northgate Minerals Corporation for attaining 195,192 hours (24,266 days) without a lost work day incident. Runners up included the Exploration Division of De Beers Canada Inc. (the winner in 2006 and 2007), which recorded 16,229 days without a lost workday incident, SLAM Exploration Ltd. at 13,930 days, and VMS Ventures Inc. at 13,680 days.

AME BC and PDAC also congratulate the 72 recipients of the Safe Day Everyday Award. These companies reported no lost workday incidents throughout 2008. Of these, there are 25 repeat winners, 12 three-year recipients, and 5 four-year recipients.

Jon Baird, President, PDAC; Joe Wojtus, Site Superintendent, Young Davidson Project, of Safe Day Everyday Gold Award recipient Northgate Minerals Corporation; Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO, AME BC. Photo: Brian Dennehy.

The David Barr Award will also be presented at the AME BC Annual Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. this evening. Other highlights of the event include presentations of the H.H. “Spud” Huestis, E.A. Scholz, Murray Pezim, Hugo Dummett Diamond, Colin Spence, and Robert R. Hedley awards as well as a keynote address by the Right Honourable Jean Chretien, Former Prime Minister of Canada.