When the Wright brothers lifted off into their first sustained and controlled flight in 1902, Inco?s Sudbury operations had already been in production for around a year.
To celebrate the conclusion of Inco?s centennial year, they?re throwing ?one hell of a party? at Science North, said Scott McDonald, general manger of the mining company?s Ontario Operations.
On June 8, there will be a ?family day? celebration with free admission for both the event and Science North. Activities include displays on telemining (robotic mining), tree seedlings, a children?s area, dunk tank, classic cars and a hybrid car (battery operated using Inco nickel), and free shuttles via Sudbury Transit.
There will also be six hours of entertainment featuring local talent and musical groups.
?We?re expecting upwards of 10,000 people,? said Cory McPhee, spokesperson for Inco.
Deputy Prime Minister John Manley and Nickel Belt MP Ray Bonin, will be on hand for the festivities.
During a press conference to announce the party, McDonald outlined the seven main reasons for Inco?s continuity and success or ?The Inco Edge? as it was called.
Resources, cost structure, market position, leadership and technology, civic projects and growth are the first six components to the ?Inco Edge.?
However, McDonald said the ?primary? edge factor is the employees of Inco, who in some cases, are second and third generation workers.
Over the years, around 100,000 people have worked for Inco.
?The kids we hire today, we hope can retire from Inco at the end of their careers,? McDonald said.
He also added that although there is still work to be done, Inco has come a long way towards ?cracking? the gender ceiling. Citing one example,
McDonald said, for the first time in Inco history, there?s a female employee being trained as an underground mining supervisor.
