Impala Canada

As our fiscal year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on all of the important investments we’ve made together in our community (and not all of them monetary!) The impact has been far-reaching and with your help, together, we have made a difference in the lives of so many over the last year.

Around this time last year, we proudly supported Thunder Pride events and we sponsored Noondaagotoon, a concert in collaboration with Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra and Indigenous Artists. In the summer, we celebrated events such as Live on the Waterfront, Our Kids Count Rib Fest, and Wake the Giant Festival.

We proudly supported Cen Can and Canadian Mining Expo this past year, which celebrate the industry and encourage young people to go into mining. We also participated in career fairs at Whitesand First Nation and Fort William First Nation, and these are just a few of the ways we invest in the community to help grow our industry.

During the winter months, we made an important donation to the Shuniah Fire Department to help them purchase two sets of extrication equipment or “jaws of life,” and we held a clothing drive for the Community Clothing Assistance in Thunder Bay.

We support students of all ages all year round. For the young ones, we support the Chapter One reading program, and for those in post-secondary programs, we provide financial support through our Paving the Way scholarships, as well as initiatives such as the Red Sky Metis and Fort William First Nation student bursaries, and Women in Mining scholarships.

We are proud of all of the investments we have made in our communities and you should be too! Thank you to everyone for helping us make a bigger impact together.

What does our Mine Rescue Team do the day before a big competition? They come together to help a teammate move houses, of course!

In the midst of the provincial competition week, one of our mine rescuers was moving into a new home! So, between a U-Haul, team members' pick-up trucks, and a whole lot of teamwork, the move only took one trip! 🚛💪

Way to show that the Impala Canada family works together and cares for each other – personally and professionally.

Good luck today, Team! We’re cheering for you! 💯

Robert Ibey was the winner of our first raffle in May and he has selected Manitouwadge Animal Shelter as his registered charity of choice to receive $1,226.19. 😍

“The Manitouwadge Animal Shelter is in a small town and donations are few,” Rob explains. “The shelter cares for several animals, and they are in dire need of donations and some upgrades to the shelter.”

Rob is a self-professed animal lover and wants the animals to be well-fed and kept in a good environment while they wait to be adopted.

“This donation will go a long way in helping the shelter out and it is greatly appreciated by the caregivers at the shelter,” Rob added.

Thank you to everyone who bought a raffle ticket – the next charity to receive proceeds from these fundraisers will be announced soon. 🔜

Practicing an emergency extraction from a vehicle is so much better when you have an actual truck to pull people from! Our Impala Canada Mine Rescue team has been fortunate enough to have that advantage thanks to a local Thunder Bay business lending their support.

A truck-load of Thank You’s goes out to ThunderBay Autoparts for donating two trucks to our team to help them prepare for the District and Provincial Mine Rescue Competitions over the last few weeks! We are all safer because of your support. 🤩💯

Impala Canada’s Mine Rescue team is preparing to compete at the Provincials in Thunder Bay and it all begins next week! 🤩

The team has been training at site since May 27, running mock emergency scenarios and checking all of their equipment. This coming Tuesday, the team will write an exam and on Wednesday they will have time to prepare for the competition that begins Thursday afternoon.

We know you’re going to give it your all – sending you good luck team! 💯

We are pleased to share that Impala Canada has presented bursaries for the upcoming school year to several Fort William First Nation students pursuing education or training at a post-secondary institution. Meet three of them:

✨ From Fort William First Nation, David Chisholm is currently studying Nursing at Lakehead University. He was a competitive hockey player for 15 years and travelled to play with teams across Canada before deciding what to study, and he says the bursary will help with a seamless transition from his studies to starting his career.

✨ A new mom with a one-year-old at home in Thunder Bay, Jessica Michon is currently in the Culinary Skills program at Centennial College (online learning). She already has a business degree and is thinking of opening a restaurant or a food truck, and says the bursary will help her pay off any remaining debt she’s accumulated during her schooling.

✨ Hudson Bolduc is currently attending Queen's University to study Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering. He is a member of the Q-AISES Rocket Team at the university and helped to design the drone needed for this year’s competition. He says the bursary will help to alleviate the stress of paying for his post-secondary education.

The bursaries are part of the Community Benefits Agreement signed by Impala Canada and Fort William First Nation in 2022, which formally outlines how Fort William First Nation rights will continue to be recognized and respected by the Impala Canada, and lays the foundation for future socio-economic benefits for the community.

Impala Canada has made a new friend in Esther Maud, a woman on a mission to continue an after-school program that runs out of a local Thunder Bay elementary school. Last week, we sat down with her so she could share her inspiration and vision for the program with all of us. 👇

Esther submitted a funding request to us, for a program she founded, and still runs every day, called Wabshkaa Animikii Benesii. The after-school program has a focus on land-based, traditional, and cultural programming and is run out of Sherbrooke Elementary School in Thunder Bay. 💯

“My kids used to attend an after-school program in the school, but in early 2022, I got word that the program was ending and wouldn’t be reopening,” Esther recalls, adding that news of the closure weighed on her for a week before she took action.

After consulting with the school’s principal, she got a team in place and started to ask for donations. In April 2022, she had 11 registered children. Since then, the free program has grown to 45 children, two paid staff and two volunteers, operating for three hours every weekday and offering snacks, Indigenous-centred teachings and a hot meal.

“This is a safe place for our kids; a place where we can break the cycle of intergenerational trauma and keep our culture alive,” Esther says.

Impala Canada is supporting the student program with a $2,000 donation, which will fund all the food for the program for one month. Aligned with our commitment to caring for community, and delivering support where needed, we are proud to support Esther and the students who will continue to learn and grow through the Wabshkaa Animikii Benesii program. 🤩

Three cheers for our Thunder Bay office team doing their part to keep Thunder Bay clean through their annual participation in EcoSuperior’s community clean up!

Thank you, everyone, for living our values and showing how much you care about your community. 🤩

Meet Our New Camp Steward 🤩

A few weeks ago, Shannon Pruys joined the LDI team as Camp Steward and we are thrilled to have her! She will be overseeing Camp operations and comes to us with 15 years of experience in guest services, hospitality and marketing, with a focus on occupational health and safety. With this Employee Profile, we thought we would help everyone get to know Shannon a little better, and we know she’ll fit right in! 👇

• Welcome Shannon! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have a background in marketing, with 15 years of experience in the gaming industry, and in my last role I was very focussed on health, safety and guest experience. In my spare time, I like to cook and craft. I enjoy cycling and look forward to exploring the trails at LDI on my bike, and I also love to fish with my dad.

• You’re just finishing up your first few weeks at Camp, you must be taking in a lot of information. What has stood out to you?

I am very drawn to the sense of community at Camp and the landscape is beautiful! I see an opportunity to create positive change and I am really liking the change of pace at LDI. It’s been encouraging to see that even though everyone is living away from home while they are here, they are all so supportive of each other. I feel like I want to do everything, but I don’t know how yet – but I did join the Rec Committee!

• How do you think your experiences in hospitality and guest services will give you an advantage at Camp?

I have an understanding that customer service is everywhere. It’s in every transaction and in every relationship – with everyone from colleagues to contractors. I bring a lot of experience with people from all walks of life. I can see a big picture, and I can appreciate different points of view. I believe in making everyone feel included and building positive relationships so we all succeed together. One thing I try to focus on is brightening peoples’ days as much as possible!

The annual Fishing Tournament has begun! Starting this past weekend, and all the way until the Labour Day weekend, you have the chance to win amazing draw prizes and all you have to do is cast, catch and snap a photo of your fish to email in as an entry. 🎣

Here’s how it works:

• The tournament will have separate prizes for adults and children.

• There will be a random draw for first, second and third place prizes after Labour Day weekend.

• Your entry is a photo of you and your fish. Please indicate the species in the subject line and email to Shannon at [email protected].

• We encourage everyone to share as many photos as you like, however, only the first five photos will go into the draw.

• Sending in a photo of yourself and/or your child gives consent for use in our internal communications and on social media.

Good luck - we can’t wait to see what you catch this season! 💯

This one’s a keeper! What a colourful sunrise in Northwestern Ontario, and the mirrored reflection in the water is breathtaking! Thank you to our HR Manager Darin who snapped this gorgeous photo on his way to work this morning. 🤩

Mike McMillan is a Q2 Living our Values Award recipient – congratulations! A haul truck operator and Safety Rep for Crew 1 Upper Production, Mike’s nomination says that “every day, like clockwork, Mike is dressed and ready for work at 4:50am/pm and he is always willing to help whether it be putting lamps on charge or going to pick up someone at the truck shop.” He treats everyone with the same respect and is always looking out for his fellow workers.✨

The new ‘Why I Work Safe’ wall installation is up at Camp and ready to be adorned with all of your smiling faces and favourite places. 🤩

This is the second ‘Why I Work Safe’ wall at site, and all of the photos of your favourite people and places are great reminders of why it’s so important to keep safety top of mind.

If you want to submit a photo for this wall – even if you’ve got a photo up on the wall in the Dry – please email it to Shannon at [email protected]. She will laminate it and put it up. The more the merrier! ✨

We have our first winner! Rob Ibey is the first raffle winner and his prize is a Fishfinder with Portable Kit. 🎣

Together, we raised $1,226.19 and the proceeds will go to a registered charity of Rob’s choice. When he returns from vacation and chooses a charity, we will let everyone know where the donation is going. 🤩

There’s more good news! The second raffle is now underway. You can purchase tickets from Shannon Laatu at the Admin building or from our new Camp Steward Shannon Pruys when you see her at Camp. Tickets are $1 each. ✨

The next prize up for grabs is a Milwaukee Cordless Compact Hammer Drill/Impact Combo Kit and the draw will take place on June 3. Get your tickets today!

Only two more days to apply for the Paving the Way scholarship! The deadline to send in an application for this round is tomorrow, on May 15.

If you have a child enrolling in post-secondary education in Canada, they could be eligible for this program, which awards scholarships to dependents of our employees. The program provides tuition support for post-secondary education and the scholarships carry a $2,500 value, and are renewable as long as eligibility is maintained. 🤩💯

After all your family has done to support your contributions to Impala Canada, we want to give back to your family, and help pave the way for their bright future.

Don’t miss the deadline to apply: May 15. To learn more and to apply: https://impalacanada.com/pavingtheway/

We’re excited to announce that our team has won the 2024 Mine Rescue District Competition! 🏆

Way to go, team! We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you for your hard work and commitment. This victory highlights the spirit of safety and excellence we strive for at Impala Canada. 🤩💯

On April 29, Whitesand First Nation students gathered at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay for a career fair. Our colleagues from HR were there to meet with the young people to talk about what career opportunities exist in mining. Our team was happy to answer questions about how to pursue a career in mining, too.

As part of the career fair, Impala Canada was proud to present bursaries to Whitesand First Nation for students; these bursaries provide financial support to students from Whitesand First Nation who are pursuing a post-secondary education in a career related to mining. 🤩

Way to go Kyle Barbeau for winning a Q2 Living our Values Award! 🏆

Kyle was nominated because his colleagues believe he is “an impressive kid” who has “paid his dues in the wash bay, fuel truck, boom truck, and construction.” 💯

He excels in his current role in the Underground and he is also a member of the Mine Rescue team, recently receiving a five-year mine rescue service award. 🤩

What did you do all weekend? Get this: our Mine Rescue Team spent the weekend training for the Mine Rescue District Competition in Thunder Bay on May 8-10. 👇

This dedicated group of our teammates (full team list below) spent eight full training days working through various emergency scenarios, checking their equipment, and reviewing their procedures – all in preparation for the big competition this week!

We know you’ve got this team! Good luck and we can’t wait to hear how it went! 🤩

2024 Mine Rescue Competition Team:

Dillon Bradley, Captain

Kyle Barbeau 2

Chris Strom, 3

Connor Olimb, 4

Devin Jackson, Vice-Captain

Chris Forsyth, 6

Manuel Manero Díaz, Briefing Office

Monika Jorgenson, Technician

Joey Berthelot, Trainer

We are honoured to receive the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Award for Quality of Life. This recognition reflects our commitment to community investment, but more importantly, it highlights the remarkable organizations in Thunder Bay that work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for its residents. We are proud to support such creative, entrepreneurial, and caring initiatives that make our community thrive.

Together, we’re building a stronger Thunder Bay. 🤩

📢 Ground control this is Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce for congratulating the Quality of Life Award recipient Impala Canada sponsored by TBT Engineering
2024 Annual Business Excellence Awards are presented by Bell Canada
📷 Photos & Videos coming soon via www.tbchamber.ca/bizawards

The deadline to apply for a Paving the Way scholarship is fast approaching. There’s only two weeks left to send in your application for this round, so don’t delay! 👇

If you have a child enrolling in post-secondary education in Canada, they could be eligible for this program, which awards scholarships to dependents of our employees. The program provides tuition support for post-secondary education and the scholarships carry a $2,500 value, and are renewable as long as eligibility is maintained. 💯

After all your family has done to support your contributions to Impala Canada, we want to give back to your family, and help pave the way for their bright future.

The deadline to apply is May 15. To learn more and to apply, visit: https://impalacanada.com/pavingtheway/

It’s that time of year! As the snow disappears and the grass sprouts, any debris that was buried for months is now ready to be swept up. Over the next few weeks, community clean ups will be taking place across the province, and some already started during Earth Day events last week.

The Eco Superior Cleanup starts next week in Thunder Bay and volunteers from the Impala Canada office will be participating in a cleanup on May 24. 🍃🗑️

On May 8, volunteers will gather to help with the Annual Community Cleanup at Fort William First Nation. Hosted by Fort William First Nation and supported by the Nokiiwin Tribal Council, the Anishinabek Police Service, the Dilico Anishinabek Family Care and Thunder Bay District Health Unit, the event is always a great way to kick off spring, by tidying up parks and common spaces and coming together as a community.

Impala Canada is proud to support Fort William First Nation’s annual community cleanup with a $500 donation, and by dropping off some bags and trash pickers for the volunteers to use. Afterwards, a BBQ and refreshments will be enjoyed by the volunteers, with a draw for prizes donated by the Nokiiwin Tribal Council.

If you know of any other community clean ups happening that you want us to share, or if you have a photo from one, please send an email to [email protected]

We are proud to share what makes Impala Canada a great place to work and every time someone on Facebook or LinkedIn likes the story, or comments on it, we know it’s being amplified so that more people can see how great our team is. 💯

Over the last quarter, our LinkedIn following has grown to over 12,000 people, which is great, and we’ve added close to 200 new followers on Facebook. Some of your favourite posts included: Employee Profiles, like the interviews with Brad Kemp and Kory Bodnar, Mine Rescue stories, our donation to the Shuniah Fire Department and the photos we shared from Family Day and the Employee Appreciation Pizza Parties. ✨

Thank you for helping us share what’s happening at site with our online community and let’s continue to stay social by liking, sharing and commenting on our Facebook and LinkedIn posts. 🤩

Impala Canada observes the National Day of Mourning by remembering those who have lost their lives, and supporting families of loved ones who have been affected by a workplace tragedy.

From coast to coast, Canadians renew a commitment to focusing on health and safety in the workplace to prevent further injuries, illnesses and deaths.

Continuing our tradition, we will be donating $3,000 to Threads of Life - Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support, an association dedicated to supporting families after a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease.

On any given workday in Canada, three people will die from a job-related fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease and even one is too many. Currently, 3,600 family members are receiving support services from Threads of Life across Canada. To learn more about the programs offered by this important organization, visit: https://threadsoflife.ca/find-support/

Congratulations to James Steeves for winning a Q2 Living our Values Award! 🏅⭐️

James was nominated for being “one of the unsung heroes of the planning department who always shows up with a positive attitude.” His drive to make things better has a huge impact on his coworkers. 💯

Thank you, James, for being an important part of the Impala Canada family.

Did you hang out and watch the Leafs’ game at Social House on Saturday night? How was it? Tell us what you thought of Hockey Night at LDI and let’s see if we can get more playoff hockey on the schedule. 🥅🏒

Hockey Night at LDI is happening TONIGHT at Social House to kick-off the playoffs! Come out and watch the Toronto Maple Leafs’ game versus Boston in the first round of the NHL playoffs. See ya there! 🥅🏒

After a recent Employee Profile gave us a sneak peek into the Assay Lab, we were left wanting more so we asked Robert Merritt, an Assay Lab Supervisor, to share more details with us about the inner-workings of the lab and how many departments depend on the information his team provides. 👇

• We are so excited to learn more about the inner-workings of the Assay Lab from you, Robert. Would you take us on a tour?

The lab operates in five sections. Starting at the back of the lab is sample receiving. Samples are logged, panned and dried using our industrial drying oven. Once the samples are dried, they are brought to the prep area where they are crushed and pulverized into a fine powder. Next the samples are brought to fire assay, where they are mixed with specific reagents and melted down inside 2000-degree furnaces to extract the precious metals. In the next section, which is called the digestion room, the samples are broken down using various types of acids to extract various metals. Lastly, the final solutions get analyzed to determine the grades of each sample.

• What type of education do you need to work in the lab?

Schooling to become an Assayer is limited due to the lack of institutes that offer courses, and British Columbia Institute of Technologies is one of the only schools in Canada to offer an Assaying course. Having a chemistry background helps but isn’t necessarily needed. I have been working in this field for almost 15 years and have learned a lot through on-the-job training. Assaying may be a good place to start if people have an interest in geology and/or mineralogy.

• Is there anything you think people might be interested to know about the lab and what goes on there?

Some people may not know that the Assay Lab analyzes samples for the Mill, the Underground, and the Pit. We help these departments determine the different grades of their material to help them plan their day-to-day operations.

• What do you like to do when you’re not in the lab?

When I am not in the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, working on cars and watching my sons play hockey and basketball. I also enjoy spending time outdoors whether it be exploring new lakes to fish or new areas to hunt.

Thank you, Robert, for sharing more about the lab and about how important the work is to so many different departments!

The LDI 1 hockey team won the 2024 Northwestern Ontario Mines Hockey Tournament! The tourney took place in Thunder Bay over the weekend and the Championship Game was on Sunday, April 14. 🏆🥅

Bringing home the win once again, LDI 1 beat the New Gold team at Sunday’s championship game with a 5-2 win to become repeat Champions! Over the weekend, LDI 1 and LDI 2 went undefeated until LDI 2 lost 5-2 to the Hemlo team to end their tournament run. LDI 1 went on to shut out New Gold 3-0 and then faced them again in the finals and was victorious, winning the championship title.

Thank you to everyone who supported and cheered on our teams in the 2024 Northwestern Ontario Mines Hockey Tournament. It’s always a great event and we are proud to participate every year in some friendly competition among our colleagues in the industry. 💯🤩🥇

Got plans this weekend? Come out and cheer on the LDI hockey teams as they compete in the 2024 Northwestern Ontario Mines Hockey Tournament. This annual tournament is a friendly competition and it’s great to see all of our colleagues in the industry participating.

Impala Canada has two teams competing in the round robin all weekend. All games take place at the Port Arthur Arena in Thunder Bay. Spectators are welcome!

Good luck to both LDI teams!