WSP’s Director of Mining for Northwestern Ontario, David Butler is excited about what future will bring for the Thunder Bay office.
“With WSP, we have global reach now that we didn't have before as a Thunder Bay company on our own, so we have contacts around the globe now.”
The know-how developed in Thunder Bay is already being exported further afield.
“Some of our biggest projects now are out west in Saskatchewan. We have another project in Nevada that’s active, just completed one in New Brunswick and some study work for Finland and we’re working on another study for a mine in Greece.”
Butler is particularly proud about the “leading edge” work WSP has been doing at PotashCorp’s Rocanville mine in Saskatchewan. The firm has worked with PotashCorp to design and installation one of the largest hoisting plants in the world.
“It’s a 350-foot structure, 35 stories high, over the top of an existing mining structure. There was an existing headframe (on site) and we came in and built another one over the top while (it) was still operating.”
“Those accolades, we’re proud of for a group based in Thunder Bay.”
While Butler says he still has plenty to keep him and his team busy, he acknowledges the softness in the mining sector has slowed business down a bit, especially noticeable in Northern Ontario when it comes to gold mining.
“The price (of gold) is kind of depressed right now and that’s hurting a lot of projects. The viability of these ore bodies is dependant on economic conditions. When gold prices decline, projects are put on hold and that’s a worldwide situation.”
He pointed out similar trends for other commodities such as, copper, nickel, zinc, and base metals.
Butler has seen a lot of ups and downs in the mining sector over the course of his career. WSP has been in Thunder Bay since 1962, when the firm started as V.B. Cook Company Ltd. (Cook Engineering), and he sees some reason for optimism when it comes to mining.
“Now we've kind of levelled off to more or less the long term average, and there are signs that market is starting to turn around because prices are starting to creep upward on some of the base metals across the globe."
“Our work comes from sources other
than mining, so it doesn't mean the office is threatened if we don't
get all the mining work. However, if we capture significant volume
when the next wave of prosperity hits, we’ll be hiring more people,
and we look forward to filling this place to
the rafters.”
In the meantime, Butler is working with his global colleagues to find more opportunities to export the Thunder Bay office’s home grown expertise. While Northern Ontario presents some unique challenges when it comes to climate and working remotely, Butler said mines have a lot in common with each other, no matter where they are.
“A mine is a mine is a mine, no matter what part of the country it’s in. I talk to people now on the other side of the planet that I would have never thought of talking to a couple years ago.” Experience in the North is an asset when assisting other offices on assignments involving mine operating in remote locations and cold climates.
However, even with the ease of communication Butler says there’s some work to be done.
“If you tell
people you’re WSP, they don't know who you are. Tell them
you’re Cook Engineering, they know right away,
especially in
mining.”
