His life was cut short by a car accident 25 years ago, but Robert Salsberg has continued to make an impact on the mining industry through the bursary that carries his name.
Since its inception, the Robert Evan Salsberg Memorial Bursary has raised more than $10,000 for students studying mining at Cambrian College in Sudbury.
In May, the college recognized Salsberg and his family for their contributions by unveiling a memorial at the college.
The display comprises a plaque and mementoes from Salsberg’s life.
In her address, Pamela Koczerginski, Salsberg’s sister, described him as a “special soul…a solid, warm, and caring individual,” whose absence the family continues to feel.
“But his goodness lives on in each of you sitting here—his friends, his teachers, his peers, his family,” Koczerginski said. “You are his future.”
A 1985 graduate of Cambrian’s geology program, Salsberg was passionate about his chosen profession and served as president of the geology club during the 1984-1985 school year. After graduation, Salsberg worked as project engineer for Golden Terrace Resources Corp. inspecting split core samples fromdrilling underway at Richardson Lake Camp, located 100 km east of Red Lake.
Following his death, Salsberg’s parents set up the bursary to assist other mining students in their educational pursuits.
Denominations averaging $200 to $300 are given out annually to students enrolled in the graduating year of the mining engineering technician program who plan to continue their post-secondary education by entering a bachelor of science program in geology at the university level.
The 2013 bursary recipient, Yvette Sivyer, is working in Red Lake this summer, and plans to continue on to the mining engineering technology program.
Donations to the bursary are gratefully accepted.
