Vale Inco Limited, in partnership with the Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) and the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), is pleased to announce the creation of the Tom Peters Memorial Mine Reclamation Award, which celebrates groundbreaking and innovative work in the promotion of mine reclamation.
The inaugural award ceremony took place Monday at the Ontario Mining Association’s convention in Windsor, Ont.
The Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines was the winner of the award, recognizing its progressive reclamation of the former Kam Kotia Mine in Timmins. The award was presented by Mike Peters, Tom’s son, who works in Vale Inco’s Environment Department in Sudbury.
“This award is a fitting tribute to the legacy Tom Peters left in the field of mine reclamation,” said Fred Stanford, president of Vale Inco’s Ontario operations. “It is also a testament to Vale Inco’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship everywhere we operate."
Bryan Tisch, co-president of the CLRA Ontario chapter said, “Tom Peters was a gifted leader who championed environmental causes related to the mining sector and was internationally recognized in the field of land reclamation. The CLRA is very proud of Tom’s achievements and we think that this award is a fitting way to recognize his efforts and lasting contributions as a founding member of the CLRA.”
“The Ontario Mining Association represents companies with a vested interest in environmental stewardship,” said Chris Hodgson, president of the OMA, “And it is our goal to seek out, promote and share best practices and technologies across the industry. We view the Tom Peters Award as a fitting way to honour an environmental trailblazer, recognize excellence among practitioners today and lay the groundwork for an even brighter future.”
Tom Peters began his career at Vale Inco (formerly Inco Limited) in 1948 and played a key role in initiatives to support tailings re-vegetation and overall land reclamation. He pioneered the use of agricultural practices in the re-greening of mine tailings, including basic recipes for the addition of limestone, fertilizer, seed and the planting of fall rye as a cover crop. His work yielded excellent results on Vale Inco’s Copper Cliff tailings area and his methods have become standard practice for mine sites all over the world.
In addition to the award, a $5,000 bursary will be awarded in the winner’s name to a Masters or PhD level student who is undertaking reclamation-related research involving a mine site in Ontario. The award will be financed by Vale Inco and will be administered through the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Land Reclamation Association.
