Michele Beacom - 15 December 2023
As we remember those in the mining community who have passed away, we would like to extend our condolences to their families and friends. Though they are no longer with us, their work and accomplishments live on.
Ladislaus “Largo” Albert passed away peacefully on Oct. 5, 2023, at the age of 94. He proudly worked in the mining industry for more than six decades. An industry leader in hoisting and mine safety, he was a CIM Life Member, CIM Fellow, executive member of the Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability Society of CIM and the 1989 recipient of the McParland Memorial Award.
CIM Member William John Beck passed away in Vancouver, B.C. A professional engineer, he worked in many roles at operations across the country and the United States during his 40-year career in mining. He formed his own consulting company, Beck & Associates GeoConsultants Inc., in 1999.
Avalon Advanced Materials founder and president Donald Bubar died on July 30, 2023, at the age of 68. He was considered a visionary for recognizing early on the importance of critical minerals for the energy transition. Along with championing the acceleration of critical minerals for zero-emission technologies, he was also an early advocate for mining companies to engage with Indigenous communities earlier, and more often, to gain social licence to operate. Bubar was involved with the Prospectors and Development Association of Canada for decades and was awarded its Distinguished Service Award in 2019 for his work as a leader in Indigenous relations.
Mauro Chiesa died on Feb. 8, 2023, at the age of 70. He spent 36 years in financing and advisory services as they applied to the fields of extractive and infrastructure projects. He was a proud CIM member who was named a Distinguished Lecturer in 2015 and awarded the Robert Elver Mineral Economics Award in 2023. He was a frequent contributor to CIM Magazine.
George H. Espley died peacefully on Aug. 16, 2023, at the age of 87. He led the Bank of Montreal’s Mining Services group for many years. A CIM Life Member, he held the positions of chair of the CIM Finance Committee and chair of the CIM Toronto Branch. He was named a CIM Distinguished Lecturer in 1995 and awarded the CIM Robert Elver Mineral Economics Award in 1998, among many other awards and accolades. He is survived by his wife and children, including CIM past president Samantha Espley.
Fathi Habashi, a dedicated figure in the mining, metallurgy and materials engineering field, and professor at Laval University, passed away on Sept. 26, 2023, just shy of his 95th birthday. Born in Cairo, Egypt, he was a renowned metallurgist who dedicated his life to teaching. He also held several patents, including a process capable of reducing the toxicity of asbestos. His legacy as a long-time member of MetSoc of CIM is commemorated through the Fathi Habashi Lecture and Scholarship. Habashi was awarded a CIM Fellowship in 1998.
Gerald Heffernan, known for pioneering less-polluting mini-mills for steel production, died on July 28, 2023, at the age of 104. Made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1987, the citation read: “He is renowned worldwide as a founder and developer of major steelmaking organizations and as a highly skilled engineer and scientist.”
Kenneth J. Hill, a CIM 50 Year Club member, died on Sept. 5, 2023, at the age of 84. He worked primarily as a geologist in underground mines. In the 1980s, he transitioned to senior management positions with several mining companies, including Dome Mines Group and Inmet Mining Corporation, before forming his own consulting company, Minpro. He was years ahead of his time when it came to environmental, social and governance practices. Hill initiated employment targets, and later benefit agreements, with Ojibway and Dene First Nations at the Detour Lake, Dona Lake, Musselwhite and Colomac mines.
Geologist John Hodgkinson passed away on Aug. 29, 2023. He came to Canada in 1957 to work at Madsen Red Lake Gold Mines in Ontario, before working some years in Western Australia. He eventually returned to Ontario to work with the federal Department of Northern Affairs. Laurentian University’s Goodman School of Mines founding executive director Bruce Jago passed away on Aug. 5, 2023, at the age of 66. A seasoned industry veteran, prior to his mining school appointment, his career included serving in senior roles at Miocene Metals, Wallbridge Mining and Inco Ltd.
CIM Life Member Hubert Wylam King died on Feb. 12, 2023, in Victoria, B.C. He 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, before finally retiring at the age of 85. King was awarded a CIM Fellowship in 2010.
William Irving (Bill) Mundle passed away on March 2, 2023, at the age of 84. After working as managing director at Boart Longyear Company, in 1978 he purchased Logan Brothers Diamond Drilling, which became Logan Drilling Group. He developed it into an international company, where he continued as CEO and chairman of the board until his death. He was very involved with CIM and the Mining Society of Nova Scotia. He was awarded a CIM Fellowship in 2000. Co-founder and chair of the board of Vancouver-based First Quantum Minerals.
Philip Pascall passed away peacefully on Sept. 19, 2023. A great source of pride for him was bringing improved standards of health and education to the local communities in which First Quantum Minerals operates.
The geophysical community lost a giant on Dec. 22, 2022, when Norman R. Paterson passed away, a month short of his 97th birthday. His legacy includes contributions to the full exploration cycle, from instrument development to interpretation. He was a mentor to, and collaborator with, multiple generations of geophysicists. His published technical contributions approached 80, including seminal papers in CIM Bulletin, and CIM published his book Mining Geophysics: A Canadian Story.
Peter C. Salmon died unexpectedly at home on July 29, 2023, at the age of 76. After becoming a pilot at a young age, he worked flying into mine camps all over the country. Salmon was active in the CIM GTA West Branch and was a past chair.
Tyler Thompson passed away on Feb. 28, 2023, at the young age of 46. He began his mining career at Teck’s Highland Valley Copper operations in 1997, where he spent 15 years, before moving to New Gold. Thompson was very active in the CIM South Central B.C. Branch and held the position of chairman for eight years.
We do our best to publish the names of recently deceased CIM Members and apologize if there are any we missed. Please send notices to membership@cim.org.
