My Take on Snow Lake – by Marc Jackson (Thompson Citizen – December 24, 2014)

The Thompson Citizenwhich was established in June 1960, covers the City of Thompson and Nickel Belt Region of Northern Manitoba. The city has a population of about 13,500 residents while the regional population is more than 40,000.  editor@thompsoncitizen.net

Former Snow Lakers abound at mining convention

Walking the exhibition floor at the annual Manitoba Mining and Mineral Convention is just like old home week for a Snow Laker. A wide variety of people who have either lived here, or had extended visits, were around every corner, or in some cases working a booth on the convention centre’s massive exhibition floor.

This was indeed the case for several gents clustered on one of the central avenues of the floor looking to drum up interest in their “prospective” properties.

Dan Ziehlke, representing his company Strider Resources Ltd., was welcoming, conversational, and partaking in something he called “the miner’s breakfast” (a bag of popcorn from the kettle maker set up on the convention floor) when we happened upon him. Dan firmly believes – and he can back it up with the geology, prospecting and geochemical work – that he has another Nor-Acme type deposit on the east side of Wekusko.

Jim Parres was set up immediately to the left of Ziehlke and promoting his Jiminex Properties: Misehkow River near Pickle Lake; Northern Eagle near Hemlo; and the Parres and Parres Two near Osborne Lake. He was also advancing the Nor-Acme Gold Mine and Headframes, Happiness, and Heartaches books, as well as a third “yet to be named” volume that he plans for the near future. Jimmy is always pleased to see old friends and happy to meet new ones… you just gotta watch out for that steel trap handshake of his!

To the immediate right of Strider Resources was Peter Dunlop of Peter C. Dunlop Mining Exploration/ W. Bruce Dunlop Limited. Peter, as with the previous two gents mentioned, is a tireless promoter of the Snow Lake mining camp. He had a large sample from the Moosehorn-Ballast property – originally staked in 1914 by R.A. Hazelwood and Hugh Vickers – on display at his booth, and spoke vividly of the lack of exploration work done on East Wekusko’s Rex/Laguna property. He noted that there hasn’t been any serious work done on this once prominent producer since the 1940s.

Over and across from these three was former Snow Lake resident, Ken (Pete) Klyne Jr. representing Klyne Exploration. He has an interesting property on Pemmican Island, located near the west shore at the north end of Lake Winnipegosis (said to contain up to 1.18 per cent Ni and 0.76 per cent Zn). Kenny, an old school chum, is gregarious and engaging as ever and advised that he is seriously considering taking a run at provincial politics. He is particularly concerned with what he says is the NDP’s infatuation with turning prime mineral property into parkland. He says that he will very likely run as an independent in the Flin Flon constituency under a pro-mining platform.

Also out and about and up for a chat was former Hudbay Snow Lake mines manager Mike Willett who is currently vice-president of mining and business development with Saskatoon-based March Consulting. Discussing that day’s signing of a declaration of priorities for the development of a resource revenue-sharing mechanism with aboriginal communities, Willett noted that it was a crucial step for the Manitoba mining industry.

Neill Brandson, who is a field support manager at Manitoba Geological Survey (MGS), was keen to discuss the community and amenities of Snow Lake. He has visited it on numerous occasions throughout his long history with MGS and feels that the Snow Lake Mining Museum is something that not just Snow Lakers, but all people associated with the industry in Manitoba should be proud of. “You have a real treasure there,” he said.

Another Manitoba Mineral Resources employee who is mightily impressed with Snow Lake is Dale Wride who is a claims inspector stationed in Flin Flon with the Mining Recording Section. He mentioned the community and his affinity for it several times during the convention.

Other Snow Lake-related folks who were seen on the floor or at presentations were: Bob and Janet Southern, Ernie Guiboche, Judd Smith, Bill Salahub Jr., Sarah Bernauer, Darren (Zeke) Simms, Alan Bailes, Craig Taylor, Mary Ann Mihychuk, Dave and Sara Lynn Koop, Kim Stephen, Ken LaPierre, John Roozandaal, Brenda Forsyth-Flamand, Chris Roney, Denis Hart, Mark Fedikow, Charles Boulet, Doug Lauvstad, Peter Dueck and Rob Winton.