The Sudbury branch of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) has earned the prestigious Mel W. Bartley Outstanding Branch Award.
The Sudbury branch implemented a number of new initiatives over the last couple of years, including mentoring activities for future mining professionals.
Branch chair Trang Tran-Valade explained that college and university students who attend branch meetings benefit from ice-breaker activities that connect them with seasoned industry professionals. “Many of those mining professionals have become mentors to the students,” she said.
CIM national president Garth Kirkham presented the award to Tran-Valade and CIM branch colleagues George Darling and Peter Villgren at the convention gala earlier this year.
Kirkham described CIM Sudbury as a branch that strengthens industry by featuring topical presentations, fostering networking opportunities and supporting youth pursuing careers in mining.
The Mel W. Bartley Outstanding Branch Award is given annually to the branch judged to have made the most progress toward achieving the aims and objectives of the CIM. The award is named after the 1976-77 CIM president.
Several other Sudburians active with CIM were also honoured at this year’s national convention:
• Peter Edmunds earned the CIM Fellowship Award, which recognizes members for their outstanding contributions to the mining, metallurgical and petroleum industries
• Oliver Koski received the CIM Community Service Award for his contribution to the branch and his longstanding community involvement
• Damien Duff received the Julian Boldy Geological Society Service Award, recognizing exceptional service to the Geological Society of CIM; and
• Allan Akerman accepted the McParland Memorial Award, recognizing outstanding performance in civil engineering design, general plant design, project engineering, and/or management of mine plants.
During its regular membership season, CIM Sudbury features several keynote speakers from across the country, and hosts a number of networking and social events. CIM Sudbury is hosting a major industry event, the Maintenance, Engineering & Reliability/Mine Operators Conference and Exhibition (MeMO 2016), to be held at the Radisson Hotel in Sudbury October 16-18.