Lakehead University's Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining & Exploration Launched Today
(Monday, March 4, 2013 " Thunder Bay, ON)
Lakehead University's Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining & Exploration (CESME), launched today, will play a lead role in economic development by bringing together Northern communities and the mining industry to build better relationships.
The Centre will encourage and support research, education and outreach activities regarding the nature and impacts of mineral resource exploration and extraction particularly in Northern Ontario.
"Building better relationships between mining companies and the communities where they work will be critical to the development of Northern Ontario" said Dr. Peter Hollings, CESME Director and Chair of Lakehead University's Geology Department.
"The strength of that relationship determines how successful the company and the community will be in capitalizing on the natural resources and opportunities that come from mining. CESME will work with our partners to help develop a new model for community engagement that will solidify that relationship from the start," Dr. Hollings said.
The Centre will lead the way to support and nurture the growing mining sector through mineral deposit research. CESME will recognize and address the sociological challenges and economic potential of the industry in this region; develop solutions for the environmental impacts of mineral exploration and northern infrastructure development; and create new mining technology and approaches that consider all of these concerns.
"We will train a new generation of culturally aware geologists to meet these challenges and become this industry's next generation of leaders," Dr. Hollings said.
Lakehead President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Brian Stevenson, is looking forward to the positive impact CESME will have on Northwestern Ontario's future. "Lakehead has played a leading role in Northern Ontario mining since before we were even a University " when we were known as the Lakehead Technical Institute " and we are committed to furthering the economic prosperity of all our Northern communities," Dr. Stevenson said.
"CESME is the evolution of our efforts to lead the region by helping prepare mining companies, communities and citizens for the boom that will occur when the Ring of Fire and other mines start producing," Dr. Stevenson said.
The Centre's three pillars include:
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Mining and Exploration
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Environmental Impact
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Collaborate with First Nation, Metis and local communities
Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Hollings officially introduced and launched CESME at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference in Toronto, today. The Centre will begin consulting with mining companies and communities immediately.
Visit http://cesme.lakeheadu.ca/
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Media: For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177.
Lakehead University
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. More than 8,700 students and 1,850 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards.