De Beers’ Victor mine closing doors in 2019 De Beers Victor Diamond Mine celebrated a bittersweet moment this week as the operation near Attawapiskat marked ten years and the imminent closure of the facility.
The mine opened in 2008 and has produced 7.2-million carats of diamonds.
Executives and dignitaries were invited to the site Wednesday to mark the occasion and tour the open pit.
While most mining companies quietly wind down existing operations, De Beers Canada wanted to celebrate Victor Mine and its safety record and what the company calls revolutionary thinking that changed the industry.
Kim Trutor is the Chief Executive Officer of Debeers Canada.
"When you can create a successful mine, it is important to acknowledge everything that happened and to celebrate that for the employees. And also for the community, and for the regulators, and the government, it's really, really important to acknowledge. It's a huge, huge testament to people's ingenuity." said Trutor.
Update:
Lake after lake, surrounded by bottomless muskeg and an infinite horizon, the James Bay lowlands provide a unique vista to the untrained eye, but it is diamond country and the home to De Beers Canada's Victor Mine.
Tom Ormsby is the head of external and corporate affairs for De Beers Canada.
"This mine has done an awful lot in its ten years and the accomplishments are many." said Ormsby.
The open pit mine has produced over 7-million carats of diamonds pulled from 21-million tonnes of ore over the past decade, but eight months from now, trucks will stop hauling.
Victor Diamond MineStill, the company is proud of what's been accomplished.
"The mine also beat its feasibility, you know, so we're actually producing more than we forecasted when they designed the mine. So, you know, we said, sure, closure is coming, but it's worth taking the time." said Ormsby.
Despite the end being on the horizon, the mine celebrated ten years in style with tours, speeches, and a visit from the company's national Chief Executive Officer, Kim Trutor.
