Conventions

77th AGM and Convention

This year’s AGM and Convention is taking place in Niagara Falls, Ontario September 11, 2022- September 13, 2022. Niagara Falls, Ontario is a Canadian city with a world-famous name. The Niagara River, which forms the border between Canada and the USA, features one of the most impressive series of waterfalls on planet Earth. Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the 3 waterfalls that make Niagara Falls, and it’s on the Canadian’s side of the border.

Besides the waterfalls, Niagara Falls, ON is a lively town which has developed a great range of attractions and activities to entertain the many visitors pulled there by the powerful falls. Clifton Hill amusement park, the Botanical Gardens and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are just a few of the exciting things to do in Niagara Falls.

The convention will have technical talks from various exploration and industry and community leaders discussing a variety of topics regarding safety, drilling standards, and innovation.

We are pleased to welcome on Mr. Doug Smith as our Keynote speaker for 2022. Doug was drafted 2nd overall into the NHL to play for the Los Angeles Kings as their youngest player ever. In professional game # 607, at age 29 Doug went full speed into the end boards shattering his spine into hundreds of pieces, ending his professional sports career instantly.

“The impact has taught me that success is not about being the best in the world … success for me is about being the best for the world.” We look forward to welcoming Doug.

This year’s event will promote safety, sustainability, strength and leadership, and environmental stewardship in the industry. Our goal is to ensure you walk away with tools that will continue to drive your success in the industry. The Canadian Diamond Drilling Association would like to take this time to thank all of our sponsors for continuing to support this event each year. We would also like to thank all the members who registered for the event. This event would not be possible without your continued support.

Convention Opening- September 12, 2022

Convention Opening by Technical Chair Bernie Robertson

Bernie Robertson’s is involved in the Mining Sector by providing Risk Management which involves not only the procurement of Insurance Products, but a suite of other programs to assist his customers to reduce/mitigate other risks that Insurance Products cannot or are cost prohibitive to cover through traditional insurance placements. His team’s job is to provide the right program, at the right price, and bring risk identification, mitigation and transfer options to our current and existing relationships.

Keynote Speaker- Doug Smith

The CDDA is proud to announce this years Keynote Speaker, Doug Smith, presenting “The Building Blocks of Mental Performance – Experiencing System438”

Doug Smith, author of “The Trauma Code” & “Thriving in Transition”, is a thought leader on the impact of workplace induced emotional trauma. An accomplished keynote speaker & communicator, Doug presents a trauma management model he developed (System438) to address trauma and maximize human performance.

Doug provides his clients with both understanding of and messaging on, the impact of workplace culture on mental health and performance. Doug’s clients are able to use this understanding and messaging to the benefit of their employees and the performance of their organization.

An elite athlete at 18, Doug was the 1st Round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings and played 607 professional games before a broken neck and spinal cord injury ended his career. Doug understands the impacts of workplace culture, the process of trauma recovery and the rebuilding of personal and business performance because he has been there.

September 12, 2022- Delegate Gala

Honouring Lifetime Members Kelly Johnson and John Pike

Mr. Johnson brings over 40 years experience in the drilling industry. He began his career in 1978 with Midwest Drilling where he was employed until its acquisition by Major Drilling in 1998. He has held numerous positions within the Major Drilling group including Global Inventory Manager, General Manager of Canadian Operations, Vice President Latin American and West African Operations and his current position as Senior VP Operations – North America and Africa.

John Pike graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelors Degree in Geology in 1984. After graduation, John worked as an exploration geologist/project manager on projects in the western USA ( California, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho), Ontario, Quebec and Labrador. In 1990, he joined Boart Longyear Canada as a sales rep in Moncton NB. In 1992, he transferred to the branch in Montreal and then to the North Bay Head Office in 1994. In 2008, John relocated to the Canadian Head office in Mississauga and was promoted to the position of Canadian Director of Sales for Boart Longyear. He held this position until April 2022 when he retired. John joined the CDDA in 1992 and has been a huge supporter of the CDDA.

We would like to take this time to honour and recognize their commitment to the Diamond Drilling Industry and their support of the CDDA by honouring them with a lifetime member award at this year’s Delegate Gala on September 12, 2022.

Live Band: Roadhouse

Roadhouse is an energetic North Bay vocal band who love playing live variety music. Dan the manager of Roadhouse takes great pride in providing professional services and strives to inspire the members to raise the bar and deliver excellence! He is especially thankful to the people who supported his passion and vision over the last 48 years. “This is by far the best band I’ve ever been part of during my music career! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to grace the stage with these exceptional musicians and I respect them all. We are truly family.” The band members include Dan Sigouin, Danielle Roy, Cindi Griffin, Jaques Grylls, Zach Clement and Scott Aultman.

September 12-13 2022- Mini Tradeshow Booths

Axis Mining Technology is a global supplier of instrumentation, data & drilling solutions for the mining, minerals exploration & drilling industries.

iRing Inc. is a global leader in underground mining solutions, delivering software packages, consulting and research since 2005. With an inter-disciplinary team of blasting experts, mining engineers, software developers and mathematicians, iRing’s main focus is to develop leading edge underground mining technologies and solutions. iRing Inc. is based in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, and has distributors throughout the world.

September 12, 13 2022- Technical Sessions

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

Companion Presentation: LEFT BEHIND: THE FAMILIES OF CDDA MEMBERS and our mental health

Join Angele Poitras a CMHA certified Psychological health and safety advisor for a conversation about the mental health of ourselves and our partners. As someone who has been married to a rotational-distance worker she understands the challenges.

In this 60 minute session, we will explore:

Why we are having the mental health conversation: the numbers, the people

Explore how CDDA can assist us

Learn about the mental health continuum tool

The session is meant to be engaging, conversational and an hour for you to know you are not alone. The session for CDDA conference delegates will have similar content, so you can continue the dialogue at home, because we know, mental health is about home and work.

THE TABOO TOPIC: MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE

Join Angele Poitras a CMHA certified Psychological health and safety advisor for a conversation about why CDDA is talking mental health. Our facilitator has spoken to hundreds of workers in the mining, forestry and pulp and paper industries. She will share with you:

The why: the numbers, the people, the business and legal case

There is no competition when it comes to people and mental health

Small group discussions to explore what is happening now and how CDDA can assist in the future

Learn about the mental health continuum tool

The session is meant to be interactive, non- threatening and conversational in nature. If you have introduced mental health in your workplace or are contemplating bringing forth the topic in your workplace, join us and find out why Neck Up Safety is the taboo topic that needs to be discussed.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Angele Poitras is a CMHA Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor who recently retired from Workplace Safety North and a 20 year career in the Health and Safety system of Ontario. Her work leading and designing the mental health project for mines, forestry and pulp and paper earned her a spot as one of Canada’s top 40 women in safety in 2021.

A firm believer that “Neck Up” safety is just as important as physical safety, she has engaged hundreds of people with her warm, compassionate and conversational dialogue that ensures that people know it is okay not to be okay….you just can’t stay there!

On a personal note, Poitras has been the wife of a husband who worked away from home and she understands the challenges that rotational/distance workers and their families face.

Innovation in Core Orientation by Benjamin St-Onge

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

Design and deployment of new core orientation technology, with focus on integration, cost savings and with safety in mind. This new design focuses on improving safety within the core orientation procedures by drilling staff while on a drill rig. The new integrated design eliminates and decreases exposure to typical hazards associated with core orientation.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Ben is a registered professional geoscience in the province of Ontario as well as a health and safety practitioner. He has over 15 yrs of experience in mineral exploration and diamond drilling, which pertain to operation and consulting on of a variety deviation and geophysical downhole instruments and application within Canada and the Americas. This includes developing safe and effective deployment procedures of new downhole instruments and survey applications.

P Discovore Underground Head Assembly by Brent Kubish

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

This presentation will explore the features and benefits of Epiroc’s newly developed and released P DiscovOre Underground Head assembly.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Brent has been working with the Epiroc group of companies for over 17 years in various roles ranging from Customer Service, Technical field Support to Account Management. His primary goal is to bring new and innovative products and solutions to clients to help them achieve success in the competitive diamond drilling market.
Responsibilities include Inventory management, trade show representation, building and maintaining trusted relationships amongst clients.

Wireline Overshots & Safety by Chris Drenth

Brief Abstract of Presentations:

This presentation will provide a quick review of industry safety issues and related changes in wireline overshots and mating spearheads, as well as a review of the new Roller Latch™ overshot offering.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Chris has spent most of his career with Boart Longyear in a variety of progressive positions. With a record of accomplishments in innovative product development and engineering leadership, he has successfully developed and led a global engineering team across offices in Canada, USA, Australia, and China, focused on Boart Longyear’s ‘Performance Tooling’ offering for production drilling and exploration drilling. Inventor of the RQ and XQ rod joints, and the Roller Latch head assembly, he has held the role of Engineering Director for Performance Tooling since 2008. Chris has been interviewed regarding performance tooling on the Boart Longyear YouTube channel. Chris received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Honours from Queen’s University, and a Utah ‘Genius Award’ as a top-ten patent nominee in 2011.

Injury Prevention and Return to Work Programs by Coby de Vries and Jim Butler

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

This presentation will overview strategies for injury prevention and return to work planning. The industry continues to be busy and it’s important that all companies work together to bring down the frequency of injury, and if an injury does happen, minimize the impact of it through organized return to work programs and injury management. This will result in increased retention of employees, overall satisfaction with their jobs as well as decreased workers compensation premiums for everyone.

Brief Biography of Presenters:

Jim Butler is the Environment Health & Safety Manager at Hy-Tech Drilling and has been with the company since 2017. Prior to Hy-Tech, Jim had 12 years in the field of Health and Safety. During his time at Hy-Tech, Jim has worked to expand and establish multiple safety programs, in addition to growing the EHS team from 4 to 12 members to include several Field Safety Coordinators, Field Trainers, EHS Admin Assistants and RTW Coordinator. In his time away from work, Jim enjoys spending time with his granddaughter Freya, being outdoors, and contributing to his community through the Smithers Rotary Club.

Coby de Vries is the Human Resources Manager at Hy-Tech Drilling and has been with the company since 2012. Coby is involved in all facets of Human Resources for both domestic and international operations. She was involved in the setup and continual development of Hy-Techs Injury Management/Return to Work Programs over the last 10 years. Outside of work Coby enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, and staying active.

Keep Calm…. Understand Cannabis by Dan Demers

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

Paper: Albertalawreview.com

With the recent legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, employers, particularly those with safety sensitive operations, are forced to evaluate the impact that cannabis will have on their workplaces. This article argues that the law has not yet fully evolved with the advances in scientific understanding of the effects of cannabis or the advances in the technology for testing methodologies. The article explores the current legal framework for workplace drug testing and provides best practices regarding drug testing programs and related workplace policies. It cautions that unless carefully designed, these policies may be found to be contrary to human rights or privacy legislation, or, in the case of unionized employers, unreasonable and outside the scope of the collective agreement.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Dan Demers is a recognized international speaker and authority on the Canadian and international landscape of occupational testing. Mr. Demers serves on the executive team of CannAmm as the director responsible for educating Canadian employers on fit-for-duty best practices within occupational safety programs. Mr. Demers is a Certified Substance Abuse Program Administrator (C-SAPA), published, and an accomplished international speaker on fitness for duty in safety-sensitive workplaces. Mr. Demers’ domestic presence and commitment to best practices are demonstrated by serving on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Canadian Standards Association’s CSA Z1008, Management of Impairment in the Workplace, and CSA Z1008, and Implementation Guideline for CSA Z1008.1. Mr. Demers’ international presence and commitment to best practices are demonstrated by serving on the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association (SAPAA) International and Government Relations Committees and as a member of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Mr. Demers’ is a past president of SAPAA. By providing trustworthy information, tools, and best practices for occupational testing, Mr. Demers seeks to achieve his mission of sustainably ensuring more workers and the public make it home to their families.

National Mining Skills Development Strategy by Dana Imbeault, Sr. Director, Operations & National Occupational Standards

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

MiHR recently received confirmation of funding through Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP) for its Mining Sector Skills and Solutions Strategy (M4S) for the Clean Economy project.

SWSP was established to help key economic sectors develop and implement solutions to address current and emerging workforce needs, and M4S will focus on five sub-projects to help address mining labour market challenges while advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation in the sector.

This presentation will focus on Sub-Project 3: National Mining Skills Development Strategy. The strategy will help build a competent, appropriately skilled, mobile and diverse Canadian mining workforce by establishing current and relevant National Occupational Standards (NOS) as the foundation for recognition of worker training; ensuring and recognizing training programs align with industry validated National Occupational Training Standards (NOTS) that meet the industry skills needs and demands; encouraging employers to provide critically important internships and work experience following completion of training; and incorporating micro-learning into workplaces to foster continuous learning as occupational skills needs evolve with technology and innovation.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Dana Imbeault is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient operation of MiHR’s programs and activities. She also oversees and guides a team in the implementation, management and administration of projects and activities related to MiHR’s suite of National Occupational Standards (NOS).

Employee Assistance Programs by Melanie Leblanc

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

Melanie Leblanc joins from LifeWorks to speak more on Employee Assistance Programs and how they can support the wellbeing of your employees.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Based out of Toronto, Melanie has been with LifeWorks for the past 11 years. She started as an Account Manager working with clients to launch and promote their EAPs and transitioned two years ago into her current Sales role. With over a decade of experience, Melanie has a great understanding not only of EAP and the wellbeing industry but how to get the most out of the program and increase awareness for mental health supports.

LifeWorks Overview Flyer

Autonomous Drilling by David Byers

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

This paper will outline the innovations made in terms of Autonomous drilling. Discussing the features developed which have allowed companies to maximize safety and resources.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

David Byers is the Product Line Manager for Exploration Drills with MBI Global. 12 years in the diamond drilling industry, David has worked in various capacities within the supplier landscape in sales and marketing, R&D and production.

An Innovative Approach to Sustainable Drilling and Performance Optimization by Patrice Dufour and Marco Rebuli

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

Environmental standards are continuously becoming more stringent, as are the ambitions of our partners for delivering responsible and sustainable mining projects in the communities in which they operate. The ECOMUD^TM is an innovative approach for core diamond drilling which addresses environmental issues at the front end of the mining project’s development cycle.

The ECOMUD^TM was developed thanks to extensive collaboration and field-testing with leading drilling and mining companies which took place over several years, including campaigns with core drilling depths ranging from a few hundred metres to up to 2 km. This demonstrated the ECOMUD^TM’s ability to reduce water consumption in drilling campaigns by more than 90% and operate efficiently in very arid conditions as encountered in the 2021 campaigns for example. The ECOMUD^TM increases overall productivity, simplifies site and waste management and reduces the carbon footprint associated with drilling activities. This is achieved thanks to its integrated ability to recirculate water, treat TSS in accordance with stringent environmental regulations, and generate sludge with a remarkably elevated level of dryness.

Current focus is being placed on addressing leading challenges faced by drilling companies, including the automation of consistent mud batching, and managing alkalinity and salinity, to name but a few, which are crucial to operations. This in addition to alternate versions of the ECOMUD^TM optimally designed for barge, remote / heliportable, and underground applications.

Brief Biography of Presenters:

Patrice Dufour has over 15 years of experience in dewatering, and water displacement as a Company Manager and Product Leader, helping clients to make their operations simpler and more profitable. As the ECOMUD Product Manager, he works closely with ASDR’s Water Treatment team of process / water treatment engineers, chemists, technicians and operators to develop and support the commercialization of the ECOMUDTM technology. The ECOMUDTM leverages ASDR’s 15 years of experience in delivering modular and permanent water treatment units and plants of all sizes to the mining industry.

Marco Rebuli is a Senior Business Development Manager with over 25 years of experience in the engineering sector across a variety of industrial sectors including mining and metallurgy and oil and gas. He has held several senior positions within a leading global engineering and construction firm, covering engineering, proposal management, strategy, marketing and business development functions. He has brought this experience to ASDR Canada Inc. and helped accelerate growth of its services and product commercialization. ASDR is currently involved in the EPC implementation of a major water treatment plant for Newmont in Ontario.

Smarter Drill Rigs: The Answer to Drill Site Safety & Efficiency? by Robert Neil

Brief Abstract of Presentation

Technology innovations are transforming industries and diamond drilling is no exception. This paper focuses on the next generation of drill rigs with features that include smart controls. Smart control systems provide valuable insights for better operational decision making. They include “Measure While Drilling (MWD)” data about the actual performance of drill rigs, information about the best-performing drill rig in a fleet, and intelligent features that extend the life of consumables. Learn how smart controls allow drillers to optimize performance according to actual ground conditions and make compliance with safety and emission standards easier.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Sebastian Goodfellow fills his time as an Assistant Professor at UofT, Senior Research Associate with the Dept of Critical Care Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children, and a Senior Technical Advisor with KORE Geosystems. He is a research scientist with extensive experience in data analytics, machine learning, computer programming, physics, engineering, experimentation, instrumentation and measurement, mathematical modelling, and design. Specifically for KORE he is an engineer with extensive experience translating AI models into production workflows. Sebastian guides the AI team in building robust AI models that solve real problems for our Mining clients. He has an impeccable eye for detail, a thirst for understanding, and a passion for discovery. Check out his projects on Github (github.com/Seb-Good).

Streamlining the core logging process by Sebastian Goodfellow

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

At KORE, we empower geologists and mining professionals to extract more value from data and use it to support the decision-making process across the mining industry. The same mining organizations you are drilling core for are the same organizations that would realize value from this streamlined logging workflow.

SPECTOR is an AI based imaging platform, a visual core logging system that streamlines the core logging workflow, making it faster, and more consistent, while enabling remote working. Our technology incorporates all your data, avoiding the risk of misclassifying your material and delaying crucial decision-making.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Battery-Electric Solutions for Drilling Applications by Taylor Davies

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

MEDATech Engineering’s Taylor Davies will explore what you should look for in a partner when pivoting your organization to a new and emerging technology. She will introduce MEDATech’s electric-vehicle (EV) capabilities, its ALTDRIVE powertrain, and explain the process involved in designing a powertrain for a given machine and duty cycle. Most crucially, she will outline how to evaluate the feasibility of equipment electrification for your operation and determine the return on investment in dollars, CO2 reduction and other metrics on electrification.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Davies first began working at Collingwood, Ontario-based MEDATech Engineering in 2018. She had three successive internships at the company before graduating from McGill University with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation she joined Deloitte Canada’s Capital Projects Advisory division as an analyst. Her desire to focus on advanced engineering and emerging technology led her to return to MEDATech. Davies focuses on the conceptual design and feasibility of battery electric vehicle conversions, along with many other responsibilities, in her role as Sales Engineer at MEDATech. In her short time in this current role, Taylor has performed countless electrification studies, facilitating a significant number of North America’s mines and OEMs to move towards real world electrification.

Quality Blasting Starts with Quality Drilling by Troy Williams P. Eng

Brief Abstract of Presentation:

Designing a production stope blast requires special training and experience. The best designs can fail if the implementation is not accurate and to plan. iRing technology will be highlighted, from a 30,000 foot view, and the importance of drilling to the blasting cycle will be brought into context.

Brief Biography of Presenter:

Troy Williams is president of iRing inc. He is a licensed professional mining engineer with over 20 years of experience with a passion for writing software and mathematical modelling focused on underground drilling and blasting.

Golf Day – September 11, 2022

At this year’s convention, the CDDA is offering an optional Golf Day at Thundering Waters Golf Club – September 11th, 2022.
Thundering Waters was designed by golf legend and fan favourite, John Daly. One of the most recognized and popular players in golf, this 2-time major winner is known primarily for his long driving distance and power on the course. JD has always been a challenger for the Driving Distance crown and has won that title a record-setting 11 times.

Date: Sunday, September 11th, 2022
Cost: $130.00/per player
Location: 6000 Marineland Pkwy #0E3, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 0E3
Contact: office@cdda.ca for more information.

Registration available on Convention Registration Form. Email office@cdda.ca for more information!

Companion Wine Tour – September 13, 2022

The Canadian Diamond Drilling Association is pleased to invite you on a Niagara Vintage Wine Tour with the original industry expert-owned wine tour company in Niagara. With 30 plus experience in the Food and Wine Industry, you will have a Top Rated in Canada wine tour experience with award-winning guides who have studied Wine as a career.

10:30am pick-up from Marriott on the Falls

11:00am – Château des Charmes – Tasting and Snack Food Pairing

12:00pm – Between the Lines – Tasting

1:00 – lunch

2:30pm – Caroline Cellars – Tasting

3:00pm – Reif – Tasting and Tour

Included:
• 4 wineries are visited with 12-16 tastings.
• 1 small-sized charcuterie pairing (cheese, meat & gourmet snack foods) included at one of the stops
• A wine-making facility tour, receive a behind-the-scenes look into the wine-making process!
• Bottled water provided in the vehicle
• Full control over Bluetooth music
• Personal door-to-door pick-up and drop-off
• Executive shuttle vehicle transport
• Premium VIP service
• Professional Wine Tour Guide and Driver
• Boutique Shopping

Contact: office@cdda.ca for more information. Registration is available on the convention registration form.

Email office@cdda.ca to register today!

2019 AGM and Convention

“I was very impressed with this years AGM. Everything was well organized, the timing of the events, mealtimes, and the venue was perfect. You really outdid your self this year! I really hope to make it to next years event in Niagara, I’m sure it will be awesome as well!”

Brent KubishFordia Group powered by Epiroc

Last year’s AGM and Convention took place in St.John’s Newfoundland June 2nd – June 4th. St.John’s is known for its warm, welcoming and storytelling culture. This years convention not only took place in St.Johns’ but also included events and activities that shared in the spirit of Newfoundlands’ fun and unique atmosphere.

Women in Mining Presentation by Bonnie Matthews

Last year’s convention, Bonnie Matthews HR Manager for Rambler Metals and Mining on the Baie Verte Peninsula Newfoundland gave an insightful talk on the benefits of hiring women in the mining experience. Bonnie presented to our members’ video testimonies of women working in her site, highlighting the positive impact women have in the mining industry.

Bonnie has 20 years of experience in Business/Business Management. She is an advocate for women in the workplace, especially in Mining.

Critical Risk Management by Jimmy Barrieau

Jimmy Barrieau, EHS & Training Regional Manager at Boart Longyear, spoke to our members about the importance of having a reliable management system. He highlighted that Boart Longyear currently has zero lost-time due to their implementation of an EHS system.

Jimmy has 17 years of experience working as an EHST and Managerial professional, managing teams, KPIs, and directing organizations on continuous improvement initiatives. With over 13 years of hands-on experience in drilling, mining, and all aspects of remote exploration. Jimmy is a proven professional with experience in coordinating events, acting as liaison to clients, managing large numbers of staff, training new and experienced employees

New DiscovOre Head Assembly by Brent Kubish

Brent Kubish, Account Manager Midwest Epiroc Customer Center, introduced to our members Epiroc’s New DiscovOre Head Assembly.

Brent has worked for Atlas Copco/Epiroc for 14 years and is now part of the Fordia powered by Epiroc group. He has held a number of positions within the group ranging from Customer Service rep, inside sales, to technical representative.

His primary goal is to bring new and innovative products and solutions to clients to help them achieve success in the diamond drilling market.
Responsibilities include Inventory management, trade show representation, building and maintaining trusted relationships amongst clients.

Training Standards by Dana Imbeault and Louise Lowe

Dana is the Senior Director, Operations & Canadian Mining Certification Program at MIHR. Dana is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient operation of MiHR’s programs and activities. Dana also leads a team in the development of a suite of National Occupational Standards to be used by industry to help develop the required skills and competencies of its workforce, and leads the implementation of MiHR’s Canadian Mining Certification Program – a national program that recognizes the expertise of the industry workforce.

Louise is the Executive Director for the CDDA. She has worked for the CDDA for over 19 years and is responsible for the leadership and management of the association in accordance with the yearly strategic plan set in partnership with the CDDA Board of Directors. Louise has an influential voice within the diamond drilling industry and sits on various committees including the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME), Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) and Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MIHR).

Download Presentation: CDDA and Mihr AGM presentation

Drill Rods and Deviated Holes by Chris Drenth

Mining in Newfoundland by Ed Moriarity

Over the past 25 years Ed has served in the private and not-for-profit sectors, and the public service of both the Government of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. Since 2013, Ed has served in a leadership role as Executive Director of Mining Industry NL, a business association dedicated to advancing exploration, mining and supply and service opportunities for member firms operating throughout the province. Ed holds a BA in Political Science and History from Memorial University, has completed graduate work in International Relations, and is finishing an MBA this year from Roehampton University, London. He is happily married to Christine and a proud father to Haley and Gavin.

Drilling from Ice Covers during Spring Melt by Volker Neth

Volker Neth, Ph.D., P. Eng. is by training a structural engineer and has worked increasingly in the field of ice engineering for the past 25+ years. Volker worked for Tetra Tech from 2007 to 2018 as a Structural/Ice Specialist. In 2018, Volker formed VWN Ice Engineering, providing specialized ice engineering services for the planning and construction supervision of ice drill pads, ice bridges and ice runways in Canada, Alaska and NE Russia. Volker has given seminars related to on-ice safety to industry, Department of National Defense and Government agencies.

Traditional Marketing is Dead- Getting to the Core of Digital Advertising by Mike Dupelle

Mike Dupelle is the Digital Marketer at Clark Communications. In his short 7 years of marketing experience, Mike has shifted through the times of traditional and digital marketing. Since his time working in Toronto for brands such as Molson, Rogers and Pepsi, Mike has begun working at Clark Communications out of North Bay to help build out their digital marketing services and how they can be applied to their customers.

The new fit for work by Kory Hnidan

Kory has worked for Team Drilling since 2012, in safety. He assisted Team Drilling in getting DEC certified with the CDDA and has assisted with the annual DEC certification reviews. Kory is currently the Chair of the CDDA Western Safety Group, he has been in the position since 2014. From 2004 to 2012, Kory worked for Boart Longyear Rotary/ Sonic in both safety, HR, and Training. Kory received his CRSP designation in 2015, A CRSP® is an individual who has met the requirements for registration established by the Governing Board. A CRSP® applies broad-based safety knowledge to analyze and develop systems that will achieve optimum control over hazards and exposures detrimental to people, equipment, material and the environment. A CRSP® is dedicated to the principles of loss control, incident prevention and environmental protection as demonstrated by their daily activities.

The Changing Face of Incentives in Canada by Craig Mulcahy

Craig Mulcahy is BDO’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Leader for Eastern Canada. Craig has over fifteen years of experience in IT consulting, aerospace, operations management, and financial consulting. He has acquired international project and operations management experience in Canada and the United States. Craig has extensive knowledge of the Canadian SR&ED environment. Craig is a frequent speaker and writer on the SR&ED program.

Cost Saving: Using Driller Gyro System for Directional Control by Don Dupuis and Glen Sigstad

Don Dupuis is the owner operator of SurveyTECH Instruments & Services. He has 22+ years of industry experience as a gyro surveyor/directional drilling consultant. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 daughters at their lake house west of Timmins, ON.

Glen Sigstad is the Assistant Operations manager at Team Drilling. He has worked in the drilling industry for over 20 years, Glen’s career started with Boart Longyear where he drilled on projects all over the world, including Africa, Peru, Switzerland, and Kyrgyzstan. Experienced in both underground and surface drilling, Glen has acquired valuable drilling knowledge utilizing BOP systems, directional drilling methods, Devico, Mud Motoring and wedging, as well as experience with helicopter and barge supported projects.

Directional Drilling by Andrew Raftis

Andrew Raftis has worked for IDS Canada in various roles over the last 10 years. He has successfully contributed his expertise to many directional drilling programs all over North America, and has an extensive background in borehole logging and downhole directional tooling.