CIM

Mining Safety Leadership Medal

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Mining Safety Leadership Medal

For exceptional contribution towards improving mining health and safety results within the mining industry in Canada

Origins & Conditions

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Sponsored by the CIM Council and awarded for the first time in 2018, the Mining Safety Leadership Medal recognizes the exceptional contribution by an individual or organization towards improving mining health and safety results within the mining industry in Canada through innovative means. To encourage new entrants to this arena, and thereby expand the number of contributors to mining safety and health, preference shall be given to those candidates who have not previously been recognized or received awards related to this area, especially within CIM.

For clarity, within the concept of this award, the following definition of mining safety and health is used:

Safety is measured in results such as injuries and fatalities.

Health is measured in recognized chronic or traumatic illness resulting from workplace conditions. It includes mental illness and leading and lagging indicators.

The Mining Safety Leadership Medal criteria and other information:

  1. The Mining Safety Leadership Award is bestowed for exceptional contribution towards improving health and safety within the mining industry, recognizing either an innovative initiative and/or achievement, or consistent achievements, over an extended period (at least three years).
  2. The award shall be presented annually and preference shall be given to an individual or organization who/that has not previously been recognized or received awards related to this area, especially within CIM.
  3. Each nomination is to be accompanied by a statement (no more than 250 words) clearly outlining the achievements and qualifications of the nominee.
  4. Adjudication of the award shall be undertaken by the Awards Committee of the CIM Safety Committee. This committee will consist of up to seven (7) members including:
    (a) Award champion: the CIM Safety Committee chair and/or designated committee member representative. This person will manage the receipt and review of nominations, help identify judges, etc.
    (b) Past recipient of the award
    (c) Members from at least three (3) societies (chair or designate)
  5. The Committee shall designate a recipient from among the nominees for presentation to CIM Council, no later than the last Council meeting held prior to the annual CIM Convention.
  6. The award shall be presented at the CIM Convention.
  7. All nominations properly presented shall remain in good standing for a period of three (3) years unless formally withdrawn as indicated by the signatures of a majority of members responsible for the nomination.

Recipients

There is only one recipient of this award each year. This award may be given to an individual or an organization.

Winners

2026

Kelly Strong

Kelly Strong, P.Eng., brings over 30 years of extensive experience in both underground and surface mining, spanning a diverse portfolio of commodities including gold, nickel, copper, zinc, phosphates, and potash. Throughout his international career, he has established a reputation for operational excellence and transformative leadership.

Over the past seven years, Kelly has held multiple vice president roles at The Mosaic Company, leading potash and phosphate operations across North America. He previously served as vice president of mining operations for Nyrstar, Inc., a global multi-metals group. Before these roles, he dedicated 14 years to Vale’s nickel mining and metals division, where he rose through various senior leadership tiers, including vice president of Ontario and United Kingdom operations.

A steadfast advocate for safety, Kelly has dedicated his career to fostering secure working environments through the direct involvement of front-line teams. He prides himself on being a "felt" leader—one who is visible, approachable, and deeply understands that genuine employee engagement is the foundation of a world-class safety culture.

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He is a registered professional engineer in the Province of Ontario and remains an active contributor to the industry through numerous board appointments and technical committees.

2025

Janice Martell

Janice Martell founded the McIntyre Powder Project to support miners like her father, Jim Hobbs, who were exposed to aluminum inhalation “treatments” in the mines from 1943 to 1979. Her advocacy and documentation of miners’ health issues through a voluntary registry stimulated increased research into occupational diseases and compensation for affected miners and their survivors. Parkinson’s from McIntyre Powder exposure is now recognized as an occupational disease in Ontario, including for Janice’s father. Lung and cardiovascular diseases related to aluminum dust inhalation, along with health conditions related to other mining exposures have also come to light. Janice remains a leading voice for systemic change in the recognition and prevention of occupational diseases, and she continues to provide outreach, assistance and education, ultimately aimed at eradicating work-related illness and death.  Janice strongly supports all efforts made by the mining industry to provide a clean, safe environment for their workers.