Canadians are known around the world for innovation and expertise in the mining field. Our high standard of living, especially in this community and many others across Northern Ontario is directly related to the mining industry. However, the history of this important contributor to the economy has not been highly publicized.
Most people do not realize there is a Canadian Mining Hall of
Fame. Retired editor and publisher of The Northern Miner,
Maurice R. Brown, conceived of the idea as a way to recognize
and honour the legendary mine finders and builders.
The hall was established in 1988. At the time, Brown
convinced the Mining Association of Canada, the Prospectors and
Developers Association of Canada, the Canadian Institute of
Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, and the Northern Miner to
sponsor the Mining Hall of Fame with an annual financial
contribution and staff support.
Robert Ginn, past-president of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada during 1989/90 helped establish the Hall of Fame.
"The Mining Hall of Fame allowed the extraordinary
contributions of many people who have helped establish this
country as a global mining powerhouse to be publicly
acknowledged and not forgotten by following generations," he
said.
The Hall of Fame is located on the ground floor of the
Mining Building at the University of Toronto. Photos of
inducted members with descriptions line the walls. The hall
also forms part of the Mining Museum in Elliot Lake's Lester B.
Pearson Civic Centre on Highway 108.
To be honest, during a recent visit to the Toronto facility,
I found the exhibit a bit underwhelming if not downright boring
in this digital age of entertainment.
The hall does very little justice to the many extraordinary
individuals and characters, all of whom have made tremendous
contributions to this country's history. Think about what must
happen to discover the basic foundation metals that practically
everything we build and use must come from - iron ore, copper,
nickel, aluminum, zinc and lead - or the excitement of gold and
silver deposits.
The engineering challenges of digging holes in the ground so men can safely work, the complexities of milling, smelting and refining of different ores and the safe deposal of wastes all require talented individuals. Think about the enormous challenges industry people faced fifty, a hundred or even five hundred years ago. The Canadian mining industry and Hall of Fame certainly deserves a world-class museum. And I can think of no better place to establish it than right here in Sudbury.
Why not ensure a mining museum is an essential component of a
performing arts centre/convention centre initiative? Of course,
all of this would be built downtown to help reinvigorate the
city's central district. The mining museum would help position
the community as a top tourist destination and help attract
more conventions that would help ensure the performing
arts/convention centre was economically viable.
A museum of mining could focus on individual metals and the contributions this country has made in the mining and use of these metals. Inco was instrumental in developing the super nickel alloys that made the development of the jet engine possible.
Strategic Sudbury/Inco nickel helped win two World Wars, was
essential for the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and allowed man
to go to the moon. The social aspects, including union battles,
strikes and land restoration successes would also be an
essential part of this museum.
Canadian aluminum production facilities in Quebec's Saguenay
region was another critical contribution to the allied victory
during the Second World War while Elliot Lake's uranium mines
were essential for the West during the Cold War. The gold mines
of Timmins and Kirkland Lake helped this province and country
during the depression years. The prospectors, engineers,
geologists, technicians, financiers and miners, all have
fascinating stories that helped make this country a global
leader in the mining sector.
Take a look at the Mining Hall of Fame website: www.mining.ca/halloffame .  It is a great introduction to the tremendous legacies previous generations of men and women have left us.
 Stan Sudol is a Toronto-based communications consultant and policy analyst who writes extensively on mining issues.[email protected]
