Skip to content

Canadian Mining Hall of Fame to induct five new members in 2021

Fort Frances geoscientist, who explored the seafloors, recognized among industry greats
Canadian Mining Hall of Fame trophy
(Canadian Mining Hall of Fame photo)

The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame plans to welcome five new members who have made lasting contributions to the industry.

They'll be recognized at a July 2021 gala dinner and induction ceremony. The event will be by invitation only with no public sale of tickets.

The late Steven Scott was one of Canada's most influential geoscientists in championing the concept of open and accessible science.

The oceans of the world and volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits were the Fort Frances native's Scott's sources of inspiration.

He first recognized that seafloor deposits could be an economic resource and worked with several mining companies to pursue this goal.

Scott participated in 31 oceanographic expeditions, published hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific papers, and educated students from around the world—since labelled the “Scott Diaspora.”

Scott has received dozens of national and international honours over the years, notably the Society of Economic Geologists’ Penrose Medal in 2016, and the Geological Survey of Canada’s Duncan R. Derry Award in 1997.

Want to read more stories about business in the North? Subscribe to our newsletter.

The career achievements of Patricia (“Pat”) Dillon are unique in Canadian mining history as they encompassed leadership roles in industry associations and outreach initiatives to help navigate the mining sector through social change.

A graduate of the University of Toronto in the 1970s, geology was not a common career choice for women at the time, but her entry position with Teck Resources evolved into a 32-year career and ultimately made her one of the best known industry leaders of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Her most enduring legacy is considered to be PDAC Mining Matters, a charitable organization she runs that celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019.

The organization has provided educational resources promoting mineral literacy to more than 800,000 students and teachers in Canada, in English, French and several Indigenous languages.

She's played a leadership role in the Mining Association of Canada'a innovative Towards Sustainable Mining®initiative, which has driven improved social and environmental performance across the sector and led to improved relations between the mining industry and its communities-of-interest.

As one of Canada's preeminent financiers, Kingston-born David Elliott was a stalwart champion of junior mining in funding more than 400 exploration and development companies.

As a founding partner of Haywood Securities, he grew the small Vancouver firm into one of Canada's premier merchants banks. He is said to demonstrate a rare ability to combine industry talent with quality projects and investment capital.

The list of companies and people that Elliott supported over four decades is long, but includes the Bema Group, Alamos Gold, CGA Mining, Globetrotter Resources, Midas Gold, Ventana Gold, Reservoir Minerals, Fiore Gold, EMX Royalties, and Transition Metals, among others.

He received the AME BC’s Murray Pezim Award in 2014 for “perseverance and success in financing mineral exploration.”

William ('Bill') Jewitt holds the rare distinction of being an inductee into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame and the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 1978.

His "eyes in the skies" view of aerial prospecting and "boots on the ground" engineering expertise led to the discovery and development of many mines.

Jewitt was a pilot and flight instructor during the First World War, a mining engineer by profession, and a senior executive of Cominco - beginning in 1927- which continues as Teck Resources.

He trained company engineers and geologists to fly as part of their exploration responsibilities and also made lasting contributions to mapping and mineral exploration in Canada’s North, notably in the Northwest Territories.

Jewitt pioneered new methods of aerial prospecting and carried out emergency flights under difficult conditions. He received the Order of Polaris from the Yukon government in 1965 in recognition of “an outstanding role as a pioneering aviator in the Canadian North,” and “for courage in navigating the uncharted wilderness.”

One hundred years ago, Mary Edith Tyrrell encouraged mining to become more inclusive.

In 1921, she and 19 like-minded wives launched the Women’s Association of the Mining Industry of Canada (WAMIC), supporting worthy causes that mirrored the times; war veterans in the 1920s, schools and disaster relief in the 1930s, and the war effort in the 1940s.

WAMIC members have overseen the distribution of more than $1.8 million in charitable donations and support for students and educational institutions. Its objectives remain to promote friendship among mining women, render service to the mining industry, and contribute to the well-being of the community.

She joins her husband - Joseph Burr Tyrrell, a renowned explorer and map-maker with the Geological Survey of Canada - who was inducted in 1997 for his career accomplishments.

This group of inductees join a group of 190 exemplary men and women, recognized for the past 33 years, who helped build Canada's mining industry.

“Canadian mining leaders set the standard for the global industry and these five inductees reflect the very best of mining excellence, determination and contribution to community,” said Pierre Gratton, chair of the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame and president-CEO of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC).

“As exceptional leaders and champions of our industry, each of the inductees were instrumental in growing our sector. They have endowed us with a positive legacy that continues to thrive today.”