Excellence in responsible mineral exploration and mining honoured as Yukon Geoscience Forum concludes

Press Release

The Government of Yukon participated in the Yukon Geoscience Forum and Trade Show, held this year from November 17 to 20. The annual event features presentations from leaders in the Yukon’s mineral exploration and mining industries, as well as the latest geoscience updates from experts at the Yukon Geological Survey.

The forum served as a valuable opportunity for Yukon government representatives, members of the mining industry, Yukon First Nations leaders and Yukoners alike to discuss the future of the industry in the territory, the need for new minerals legislation, the importance of mining to the territory’s economy, the necessity of partnerships between industry and Yukon First Nations and challenges related to the heap-leach failure at the Eagle Gold Mine.

This year’s event featured a presentation by Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker about the heap-leach failure at the Eagle Gold Mine, the territory’s role as a regulator and future opportunities and challenges for the Yukon as a mining jurisdiction. Premier Ranj Pillai also spoke at the forum during a fireside conversation with Loralee Johnstone, president of the Yukon Chamber of Mines.

The winners of the 2024 Robert E. Leckie Awards were announced at the 52nd Annual Geoscience Forum & Trade Show banquet on Tuesday. The awards are presented to recipients for excellence in environmental stewardship, outstanding social responsibility and leadership and innovation in overall operations.

Mining has brought its share of wealth and challenges to our territory. This year’s Yukon Geoscience Forum was a valuable opportunity to hear from industry, Yukon First Nations and Yukoners about the territory’s exploration and mining industries, as well as the experts at the Yukon Geological Survey. I’d like to thank organizers for all their hard work that led to this year being such a success.

Premier Ranj Pillai

I always appreciate attending the Yukon Geoscience Forum, which is a great place to learn more about the territory’s latest mineral exploration challenges and successes. It was my honour to present this year’s Leckie Awards. The winners help show that mineral exploration and mining can be conducted in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

Minister Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker

Quick facts

• The Leckie Awards acknowledge companies who have demonstrated excellence in environmental stewardship, outstanding social responsibility, leadership and innovation in mining practices.
• The awards are given in honour of Robert (Bob) E. Leckie, a Mayo mining inspector and innovator who was dedicated to the development of progressive land use practices for mining.
• Seven nominations were received for this year’s awards: four in placer mining and three in quartz mining.
• The award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship in placer mining went to Schmidt Mining. While restoring a mined area on Big Creek, they went above and beyond requirements to develop a complex fish habitat in the creek under very challenging conditions.
• The award for Environmental Excellence in Environmental Stewardship in quartz mining went to Snowline Gold. This company rallied a consortium of other Yukon-based companies to clean up decades of abandoned mining equipment and materials on the remote Plata Airstrip, 190 km east of Mayo. The airstrip is not even on a Snowline Gold claim, but the company cleaned up the site anyway.
• The award for Responsible and Innovative Exploration and Mining Practices went to Fireweed Metals. This company is using cosmic rays to find new mineral deposits in the Yukon through a surveying technique called muon tomography. The technology minimizes the environmental impact of surveying and is expected help accelerate the world’s transition to low-impact mining.

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
Laura.Seeley@yukon.ca

John Thompson
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-332-6042
john.thompson@yukon.ca

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