Ladislaus “Largo” Albert, 94 years old, passed away peacefully with family by his side, on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at the FJ Davey Home in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.

Largo proudly worked in the mining industry for over 6 decades. An industry leader in hoisting and mine safety, he was a CIM Life Member of CIM, CIM Fellow, executive member of the Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability Society of CIM and 1989 recipient of the McParland Memorial Award. He loved the great outdoors and fishing in particular.

Funeral Service in the R.J. Barnard Chapel on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 1pm followed by a reception. Interment in the St. Stanislaus Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society would be appreciated. For those who wish to view the service online, please click here.

Passing of a mine builder

Kenneth J. Hill P. Eng. Was a 50 Year Club member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He had three passions in life—family, mine building and the outdoors. Ken was born on February 6, 1939 in Sioux Lookout and lived in Ghost River, Ontario where he was originally educated in a one room schoolhouse. He started his post-secondary education in the Haileybury School of Mines, later obtaining a BS in Geological Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 1962.

Between 1962 and 1980, Ken worked primarily as a Geologist in underground mines, the first being the Wilroy Copper-Zinc Mine at Manitouwadge, 200 km northwest of Wawa, Ontario. He then moved to Chibougamau, Québec where he worked for Campbell Resources. It is here that Ken made his transition from Geologist to Planning Engineer. Ken then moved his family to Stewart, BC where he worked as a Mining Engineer at Granduc Operating Company, an 8,000 mtpd underground copper mine.

In the early 1970s, Ken joined J.S. Redpath as Chief Engineer where he contributed on several challenging deep shaft projects.

Between 1980 and 1988, Ken worked as Project Manager and eventually as Vice President of Mine Development for the Dome Mines Group. He was initially hired to build the $138 million 2,200 mtpd Detour Lake Gold Mine in Northeastern Ontario, which he did, on budget and two months ahead of schedule. Then he built the 500 mtpd Dona Lake Mine near Pickle Lake, Ontario. While building this mine, he was also responsible for advancing the Musselwhite Project from a raw prospect to an economic mining project as well as managing operations at the Detour Lake Mine.

Ken Hill was a tough but fair negotiator. He was a calm mine builder who rarely became flustered when facing challenges. He understood the importance of budget and schedule. Ken’s greatest strength was his vision and ability to work with First Nations. He was years ahead of his time when it came to Environmental, Social and Governance. Ken initiated employment targets, and later benefit agreements with Ojibway and Dene First Nations peoples at Detour Lake, Dona Lake, Musselwhite and the Colomac Mines.

From 1988 to 1992, he was Executive Vice President of Operations for Northgate Exploration Ltd. Initially, he was responsible for the 2,000 mtpd Jamestown Open Pit Gold Mine located in a populated area of California, which imposed stringent permitting and operating conditions. Later, he also managed the construction and start-up of the low-grade Colomac Mine, located 200 km northwest of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The project was developed on schedule and on budget for $167 million under severe climatic and onerous financial conditions.

From 1992 to 1999, Ken worked as Vice President of Mining for Inmet Mining Corporation. In 1996, he managed a comprehensive feasibility study and environmental review on the Izok Lake Zinc-Copper Project in Nunavut. He also negotiated the first Inuit Impact Benefits Agreement (IIBA) with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association based in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Ken also managed operations at the rich Cayeli Bakir Isletmeleri Copper Mine in Turkey and the 15,000 mtpd Troilus Open Pit Gold Mine in Québec.

Between 2000 and 2010, Ken formed his own consulting company Minpro, where he worked with his old Dome Mines Group friends, Joe Spiteri, Wayne Valliant, Gord F. Lundy (Deceased February 20, 2023), Gary Cohoon, David Henderson, Ron Stewart and Charles Presswood. In addition to many valuations and evaluations, he contributed to the construction of the Duck Pond Copper-Zinc Mine in central Newfoundland and helped his client re-open the Keno Hill Silver Mine in Yukon.

Ken and his wife Mary loved their family and spent many days with Mary’s family in Gaspé, Québec and at his parents' isolated Off-The-Grid Camp near Sioux Lookout. In his retirement, Ken was Administrative Assistant and Chief Driver for his wife Mary in their support of the Catholic Women’s League of St. Martin of Tours Parish in Mississauga, Ontario.

Ken was a quiet leader who led by example. He was a mentor to many Engineers and Mine Geologists. One of Ken’s greatest joys in his later years was to get together with his old friends and talk about mine building and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ken passed away on September 5, 2023 after a 14-year struggle with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. He was cared for and supported at home by Mary, their daughter Sally, their son Martin and his wife Lucy and daughter Island until his last week of life. Ken was predeceased by his parents Uno and Alice (Countryman) Hill and his sister Linda (Hill) Landry. He will be sadly missed by his family and all those who knew him.

William Irving (Bill) Mundle passed away on March 2, 2023 with his wife by his side, at Cumberland Regional Health Care Center, Amherst. He was born February 5, 1939 in Pugwash, to Irving and Edna (Snowdon) Mundle.

Following high school, Bill graduated from Mount Allison University with a degree in geology. Eventually he worked as Managing Director of Boart Longyear Company and in 1978 purchased Logan Brothers Diamond Drilling, which became Logan Drilling Group. He developed this into an international company with subsidiary companies in Georgia, USA and Medellin, Colombia. At the time of his passing he was CEO and Chairman of the Board, and very proud to still be involved with the company. Throughout his career Bill developed many life long friendships and had great appreciation for all of his employees.

For many years Bill was very much involved with the Mining Society of Nova Scotia, The Canadian Institute of Mining, from which he received a Fellowship Award, and The Mining Association of Nova Scotia.

We sadly mark the passing of one of CIM's most beloved life members, Hubert Wylam King, on Sunday evening, February 12th in Victoria, B.C. Hubert was an internationally renowned research scientist. He taught Metal Physics and Material Engineering at Imperial College, London, Dalhousie University, the Technical University of Nova Scotia, University of Western Ontario and University of Victoria, B.C., finally retiring at the age of 85, an active member of the Salt Spring Island community. 

A Memorial service will be held Friday February 17th at All Saints Anglican Church in Ganges, at 2pm. The service will also be live-streamed and available on the church’s YouTube channel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Anglican Parish of Salt Spring Island.

Passing of a mine builder

Mauro Chiesa passed away on February 8, 2023 at the age of 70. He was a proud CIM member and had been named a Distinguished Lecturer for the 2015-2016 season.

Mauro spent 36 years in financing and advisory services as they applied to the fields of extractive and infrastructure projects. He also spent four years working in Ottawa with Export Development Canada, 13 years in New York working with two international banks specializing in industrial finance, ten years with the World Bank Group, primarily with IFC, and ten years as an independent advisor and consultant in Vancouver. 

Mauro frequently contributed his expertise within the pages of CIM Magazine. He held an MBA and a BA from the University of British Columbia. 

Obituary and funeral details