J. C. Sproule Memorial Plaque - Winner 2004
Stephen F.PrestAyers Cliff, Québec
"In recognition of completing a major Arctic project early, and for his dedication to the principles of sustainable development that have shaped the future of mining in Canada."
Stephen Prest graduated from Bishop's University Lennoxville, Québec, in 1965 (B.Sc chemistry) and then Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York, in 1969 (Ph.D. chemistry).
Following university, Steve entered the mining industry first as a research chemist with American Smelting and Refining Co., South Plainfield, New Jersey, and then joined QIT Fer-et-Titane in Tracy, Quebec, in 1971. Over the ensuing thirty-two years until his retirement in January 2003, Steve remained with QIT and associated companies within the international mining firm, Rio Tinto plc, headquartered in London, holding a variety of senior operating, management and executive posts in mining projects in South Africa, Madagascar, Australia, India and elsewhere.
Steve began his association with Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. with his appointment to the DDMI Board of Directors at the time of its incorporation in 1996 and became president of DDMI in April 1999 based in Yellowknife, in Canada's Northwest Territories. Diamond mining is a new industry sector in Canada and while Diavik is the second Canadian diamond project to come into production in the past five years, it is the largest diamond mining project currently in operation in Canada.
In recent times, Steve has spoken on corporate social responsibility and sustainable development issues to a wide cross-section of audiences including the Government of Canada's "Knowledge Matters - Skills and Learning" conference series, the Global Mining Initiative, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation "Taking Pulse" initiative, and has served as a Board member of the Northwest Territories Economic Development Advisory Forum and as a director of the Mining Association of Canada.