CIM

CIM Distinguished Service Medal

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CIM Distinguished Service Medal

For meritorious service to the Institute or the mineral industry

Origins & Conditions

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History

This award was inaugurated by the 1956-1957 CIM Council for distinguished or meritorious service to the Institute or the mineral industry, of a nature not necessarily technical or scientific.

Purpose

For meritorious service to the Institute and the mining industry

Judging based on

The contribution or achievement made by a CIM member through innovation, research, project management, education, and any form of exceptional service to the Institute and to the mining industry.

Other criteria

This award is for CIM National members only.  

Those who have already received a CIM Career Excellence award for this nominated exceptional achievement are not eligible.

Recipients

There is only one recipient of this award every year. This award is solely for individual nominations (no teams). 

Winners

2026

George Darling

George Darling is a senior consultant and and managerial leader involved with mine feasibility studies, design of new construction, mine planning, mine process improvement, and project engineering and management. He  integrates an in-depth base of knowledge and extensive background experiences in underground mining operations / developments, and project management to support the requirements of mineral resource extraction clients. His areas of specialty include planning, designing, and managing the implementation of cost effective underground mine development projects that enhance production for hard-rock underground mining clients. 

He is a registered professional engineer in Ontario as well as in Quebec. He has a B.Sc. in mining engineering from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario as well as a B.Sc. in Geology and Physics from the University of Sydney, Australia. 

George Darling is a Member and Executive Member for the CIM Sudbury Branch. 

2025

Richard A. McIvor

R. A. (Dick) McIvor is a chartered engineer and an internationally recognized expert in the field of mining facilities. He is president of McIvor Engineering and Maintenance Services Inc. and a CIM Life Member who has worked in the mining industry for nearly 60 years in a variety of operations, maintenance and engineering roles.

Dick was born and raised in Miramichi, New Brunswick. He graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1971 with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, then joined the International Nickel Company in Sudbury for the third time after graduating from UNB. He retired from INCO, now VALE, in 2000 as senior specialist engineer for the company's mining facilities, and established McIvor Engineering, where he has provided specialized mining facility services to the mining industry for the past 25 years.

Dick was selected as a CIM Distinguished Lecturer in 1992, received the McParland Memorial Medal in 1994 and was awarded CIM Fellowship in 1998. He was president of CIM's MERS in 1995-1996 and is currently treasurer of the society. He was a member of the Ontario Mining Association Hoist Plant Committee from 1992 to 2000 and served as chairman for several years.

Dick has authored and presented numerous technical papers at CIM and other conferences over the years, and was chairman of the international Hoist and Haul 2023 conference organized by CIM in Montreal.