J. C. Sproule Memorial Plaque - Winner 2001
Anthony J. KeenRichmond, BC
“In recognition of his contributions to mining in the High Arctic and his commitment and continued participation in developing the North.”
Born and educated in England, Anthony Keen is a graduate of the Camborne School of Mines in mining engineering. He immigrated to Canada in 1964 to work for Noranda in Timmins. After three years, he moved to Sudbury to work for INCO. In 1970, he joined Cominco Ltd. in Kimberley, B.C., and spent 28 years with the company until retirement in 1998.
During the time with Cominco, he worked for over 16 years “North of 60,” as mine superintendent during the development and construction of the Black Angel Mine in Greenland; manager of Con Gold Mine, manager of Pine Point Mine during closure and reclamation; manager of Polaris Mine and general manager, Yukon operations. During this period, he worked extensively with Inuit and First Nations communities developing business opportunities and training programs as part of socio-economic agreements. Since 1998, he has operated a mining consulting business working mostly in northern Canada with mining companies, governments and aboriginal groups. Currently, he is providing project management for the Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project, an exciting infrastructure development for the Inuit in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Mr. Keen is a registered professional engineer in British Columbia and NWT/Nunavut, member of the International Arctic Mining Advisory Council and was co-chair of the Arctic Mining Symposium in Yellowknife in 1998.