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About the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines

The NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines, which continues to serve companies operating in the NWT and Nunavut, has been the voice of the Northern mining and exploration industry since 1967. Its goals are to promote the industry and the North to Northerners, Canadians, and the world at large. It continues to speak out on industry opportunities, concerns and issues. It advises governments, investors, the media, educational institutions, and the public on industry positions and initiatives.

 

Vision

Our Vision: “A vibrant and sustainable exploration and mining industry in the NWT and Nunavut which has the support of the peoples of the North.”

 

Mission

Our Mission: “To be the leading advocate for responsible and sustainable mineral exploration and development in the NWT and Nunavut.”

 

Objectives

As outlined in the Constitution, the objects and purposes of the Society are:

  1. To encourage, assist and stimulate prosperous, orderly and environmentally responsible development and growth of mining and mineral exploration, in all modes and phases, in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada;
  2. To consider, study and discuss matters of public interest affecting the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and other parts of Canadian in relation to mining and mineral exploration;
  3. To encourage, assist and undertake research and inquiries into matters relating to mining and mineral exploration, particularly in reference to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada;
  4. To inform the public of matters relating to mining and minerals exploration particularly in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada;
  5. To cooperate with and seek the co-operation of all persons, associations, corporations and authorities, both public and private, to attain these objectives; and
  6. To be the leading advocate for responsible sustainable mineral exploration and development in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada.

 

Operations

The Chamber of Mines operates out of an office in Yellowknife, staffed by the Executive Director, Office Manager and Analyst, and an office in Iqaluit, NU staffed by the General Manager, Nunavut. The Chamber acts as the point of contact for the NWT & Nunavut Mining industry, researches current issues, arranges meetings, and assists in organizing special events including the annual Geoscience Forum and Nunavut Mining Symposium, NWT Mining Week, and the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting.

 

Board of Directors

At the November Annual General Meeting, the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines elects a Board of Directors comprising 24 members. Executive positions of the Board are: President, Vice-President Northwest Territories, Vice-President Nunavut, Secretary/Treasurer and Past President. The Board of Directors meets as required to carry out the objectives of the organization.

 

Chamber Activities

Government Liaison: The NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines has the responsibility and mandate to represent the interests and concerns of the mining industry in theNorthwest Territories andNunavut. The Chamber continues to address the major issues facing our industry, including: land alienation and single-use land withdrawals, increasing public awareness of mining’s substantial economic and social roles in northern development, mineral policy and legislation and environmental regulation, taxation issues, the long-standing need for a broader base of infrastructure support, and devolution of responsibility for mineral resources from the Federal to Territorial government. Through public awareness initiatives and dialogue with political leaders and senior officials, the Chamber will continue to influence the environment for mining in the best interests of our Members.

 

Events: The Chamber organizes the largest annual conference in the north, the Geoscience Forum, which brings together members of the global geoscience community who are working in the North, and also provides information updates on other topics of concern to the industry.

Similarly, the Chamber helps host the largest conference in Nunavut, the Nunavut Mining Symposium. Both events commonly host sessions on mining and the environment and regulatory initiatives, as well as a trade show that allows companies serving the mineral industry to show their wares and meet the decision makers. NWT Mining Week inYellowknife is a promotional event sponsored by the Chamber, held during June each year. This allows us to show the public what we do and how our industry benefits Northerners and Canadians in general. From the Miner’s Picnic to panning for gold, it’s a fun time with lots of events for young and old alike.

 

Services: The NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines provides members with use of our office facilities, issues regular Activity Alerts and provides a stream of relevant daily media clips of relevance to the North. We maintain a website at www.miningnorth.com,  issue promotional products and publications including a monthly on-line newsletter Northern Mining News , an annual full colour magazine Mining North, the Nunavut Country Supplement, an on-line map of Active Exploration and Mining Projects, and two videos: Rock Solid that explains the process of Northern mining and exploration, and Mine Your Business, a career video for youth.

 

Lend your support and join the Chamber of Mines!

Any company, organization or individual with an interest in the mineral industry can join the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines. We currently have over 900 members including mining and exploration companies, consulting firms, a wide range of service suppliers from drilling to aviation companies, expediters, geologists and prospectors, and many others simply interested in supporting our great industry.

 

In addition to knowing that your support is helping the Chamber advocate for your interests, membership in the Chamber allows you to keep tabs on what is going on in the mineral industry. The Chamber publishes regular newsletters and also emails news items to members. If you are engaged in any business in the North, you need to know what’s going on in mining and exploration or you’ll miss out on some exciting opportunities. All northern business, no matter how big or small, or what your focus, is directly or indirectly tied to a healthy and vibrant mining industry, something the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines promotes every day.

Click here for the Chamber of Mines Membership Application Form.

 

History of the Organization

The years leading up to 1967 saw increasing attention directed towards government affairs in the Northwest Territories. As both the mining industry and government became aware of the need for a centre of contact, which could represent the views of the mining industry, a group of interested individuals applied for a Charter to form the Northwest Territories Chamber of Mines.

 

In February 1967 the original meeting was chaired by Charles Vaydik and attended by several of Yellowknife’s mining community. The Constitution and by-laws were signed by Charles Vaydik, R.W. Spence, F.A. McCall, Norman W. Byrne and Mark M. de Weerdt, and witnessed by Carol Repchuk and Elizabeth R. Byrne.

 

Shortly after division of the Northwest Territories created the new territory of Nunavut in April 1999, the organization’s Board of Directors and members voted to change the Chamber’s name to “The NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines” to further express its representation of the mineral industry in both Territories.