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Winners
2024
Roy Slack
Past President of CIM (2019-2020)
Roy Slack is a professional engineer with over 40 years experience in mine construction, design, and development, on projects throughout North America and around the world. He is a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, with a degree in Mining Engineering.
In 1998 he started Cementation’s operations in North America. Cementation is a mine contracting and engineering firm that provides design-build and construction management services to the mining sector. He retired from the company in 2019 but remains on the board. He is also on the Board of Torex Gold Resources and chairs the technical committee.
In 2008 he was awarded the Engineer’s Medal for Entrepreneurship by the Professional Engineers of Ontario. In 2013 he was appointed to the Province of Ontario’s first Prevention Council to advise the government on workplace safety, where he served for 3 years. In 2017 Nipissing University bestowed upon him an Honorary Doctorate. He is a lifetime member of the Ontario Mine Contractor’s Safety Association and in 2017 was inducted into the MineConnect Hall of Fame. In 2023 Workplace Safety North honoured him at their annual conference for his work to promote health and safety in the mining industry.
He served as President of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum (CIM) 2019-2020 and remains active on the executive of the CIM Health & Safety Society and as an Associate Editor for the CIM Journal on health and safety related topics.
Distinguished Lecturer 2023-24
Lecture Abstracts
40 Years of Safety Shares (Safety)
Based on 40 years of experience in the mining industry, a number of safety stories will be presented with lessons learned, ideas and things to think about.
Industry Challenges: Observations & Opinions (General)
This lecture offers some non-technical opinions and observations on environmental and social responsibility, diversity and inclusion, and the public’s perception of mining.
Starting Off Your Career in the Mining Industry (Schools/Student Nights)
An overview of current trends in the mining industry and some practical tips for students and newcomers to the industry will be presented.
Shaft Sinking 101 (Schools & Mine Development)
An overview of traditional, current and future shaft sinking methods in North America from the author of the chapter on shaft sinking in the latest edition of the SME UG Mining Handbook.
Beer Tasting (Social)
In which a “Cranky Old Man” teams up with a local pub or brewery to host a social with some questionable advice on beer tasting.
2023
Don MacLean
Don MacLean grew up in mining towns in the Abitibi region of northern Quebec. He graduated from Acadia University and McGill University in 1959 with a degree in Mining Engineering. After graduation, he worked underground for International Nickel (INCO) when underground mining was transitioning from rail-based equipment to mobile equipment. After witnessing the issues workers faced, he recognized the need for a safer working environment. MacLean subsequently worked for Ingersol Rand in Montreal before moving to Thornbury and JMG Engineering. In 1973, he founded MacLean Engineering to develop innovative mobile equipment solutions to address a range of mining issues and improve worker safety. He revolutionized safety in the mining industry with the development of the Blockholer, Scissor Bolter and, more recently, battery operated bolters and equipment. MacLean Engineering celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023 and is now the world’s largest Canadian-based manufacturer of underground equipment with over 1,100 employees on four continents.
