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

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. 

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

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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.