Rod Gardiner
Senior Site Administrator

Rod Gardiner, a Métis from Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan, has been employed in mining for almost three decades. Currently a Senior Site Administrator at Areva Resource's Cluff Lake uranium mine, he has held many positions. Rod began as a labourer, which lasted only a week, and over the years he gained experience as an operator, lead hand, general foreman and service supervisor where he looked after the site maintenance crew and contractors including Clearwater Catering, and Sakitawak Development Corporation (SDC) Janitorial Services.

When asked how he started, Rod said, "The company was advertising and, through word of mouth, people were saying that the company paid good wages. I first went for an interview and started full time in July, 1980." Rod said it was a different lifestyle, "where you come out of the bush and then find yourself working among mine captains, engineers, electricians and journeymen."

Although not self-described, Rod is a role model and an advocate for "giving northerners a chance." Sometimes communicating in Cree with his colleagues on the job, which he says they are comfortable doing, Rod clearly has been a support to local employees. He speaks highly of the company's commitment to and investments in northerners. "Mining is a very good life for northerners," he says. "The seven days in, seven days out is good for family life."

Over the years, many workers have been transported to and from work in a 45 seat airplane from Buffalo Narrows. As a pick-up point, some workers would arrive in Buffalo Narrows by small plane from surrounding communities including Île-à-la-Crosse, Beauval, La Loche, Cold Bay, and Canoe Lake. A lot of employees have received training and developed skills that have enabled employment mobility to other mines in the region including Diavik, McClean Lake, McArthur River, Cigar Lake, Key Lake and Rabbit Lake.

Son of a commercial fisherman, Rod is a grandfather who still enjoys hunting, fishing and trapping. He is deservedly proud of the achievements of his children and speaks to the value of education. When asked about advice for young people Rod recommends finishing school. He says, "While there are all kinds of work opportunities, if you were to become a 'rock doctor' (geologist) or an engineer or a mechanic or a mine manager you will be in very high demand...you will never have to worry about having work."

While the Cluff Lake mine reached the end of its production in 2002 after a life of 22 years, most of the decommissioning and rehabilitation was done in 2006. This included the planting of 750,000 trees, filling the Claude pit, demolishing the mill, and re-sloping and covering waste rock piles. Rod is one of the remaining eight people on site in the closure phase and is optimistic about the resource development and continued work in the area. He looks forward to another 15 years in his career and believes "mining in northern Saskatchewan is really promising."

Daniel Iqaqrialu
Heavy Equipment Operator

Daniel Iqaqrialu, of Arctic Bay, has been working at the Nanisivik Mine on the Northern tip of Baffin Island, Nunavut, for approximately 12 years as a heavy equipment operator. Originally from Clyde River, Daniel moved to Arctic Bay with his family 20 years ago. Arctic Bay is a traditional Inuit community of approximately 700 people, 30 kilometers from the Nanisivik mine. Nanisivik Mine operated in the Arctic for 27 years until 2002 when the resource was exhausted. Since then, the company has been actively engaged in a reclamation project of the site.

At the mine, Daniel has worked as an underground miner, heavy equipment operator, and, after years of hard work and experience, a shift boss, supervising about 20 people during site reclamation. Now that the company is moving into post-closure monitoring activities, he will begin working elsewhere, operating heavy equipment at Mary River in Baffin Island, a nearby open-pit mine.

When he began work at the large, underground mine he was astounded to see what an underground mine, or "the underworld", looks like. Daniel also really enjoys the surroundings. The colours of the land, the scenery, and the night landscape sometimes even keep him from sleeping because they are so beautiful.

Daniel believes that one of the most important things to remember about working in the mining industry is the importance of safety. He has had safety training at the mine and lives and works with this learning on a daily basis. At work, Daniel talks to people about safety and shows other employees the safest ways of operating machinery. Daniel has also received on-the-job training for heavy equipment operation and underground mining methods.

The Nanisivik mine has a history of Inuit employment from Arctic Bay, the local community, and from other settlements in Nunavut. Daniel hopes that other companies follow this lead and hire more Inuit employees. He also suggests that it is important to provide Inuit communities and individuals with training so they can benefit from the employment opportunities that the mining industry presents.