100 years of AME BC

The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia turns 100 this year. Known for most of its life as an association as the BC, or BC & Yukon, Chamber of Mines, it celebrates a century of advocacy for prospectors, explorers and mineral developers.

The origins of the Chamber are documented in the 1919 Year Book of the British Columbia Chamber of Mines.

“On April 23, 1912,” it reads, “the Vancouver Chamber of Mines came into existence, following a meeting held in the Council Chamber of the Vancouver City Hall. The real purpose of that gathering was to form what was called a Mining Men’s Club.” As the scope of the young association’s efforts evolved, the name changed accordingly – in November 1912 to the Vancouver Chamber of Mines, in 1921 to the British Columbia Chamber of Mines, in 1945 to the BC & Yukon Chamber of Mines, and finally in 2005 to the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia.

As Chuck Davis notes in the forthcoming commemorative book Into the Mountains, the Chamber was formed in an upswing in the mining industry in B.C. “One can see the reason for the Chamber’s formation in 1912. For the preceding 10 years the annual value of minerals mined in the province had ranged from $17 million to $26 million. In 1912 it jumped to $32 million, with indications that this level of production would continue. These were 1912 dollars. A typical wage in those days was $2.50 for a 10-hour day. Gold was particularly strong: $6 million’s worth was mined in B.C. in 1912. Copper was even stronger, with a value of more than $8.4 million.” These were prosperous times for Vancouver; the first professional hockey game was played in Vancouver’s Denman Arena that year. It was the first artificial ice rink in Canada and was reportedly the largest ice rink in the world. The Vancouver Millionaires defeated the New Westminster Royals 8 to 3. By year-end, however, Vancouver was in a deep recession; the Chamber, however, continued to march on in its efforts to promote mineral exploration and mine development in the province.

The 1919 Year Book told its readers that the Chamber was a non-profit-earning institution, organized to foster mining in British Columbia.”The necessity of a reliable centre in Vancouver,” it said, “where mining men can meet, exchange views, and discuss matters relating to mining, was recognized long ago. A big city is the natural mecca of the miner and prospector, the logical place for him to gravitate to in the hope of attracting capital either to buy or develop his prospect.”

As Vancouver has evolved to become a global centre of excellence for mineral exploration – housing over 800 countries active throughout the world – the Association has certainly acted as a “reliable centre”. AME BC continues to maintain a downtown office that features the Charles S. Ney Library, an industry reading room that dates back almost to the association’s history. It continues its tradition of advocating on behalf of its members to government on land access, permitting, geoscience and other issues. AME BC partners with other organizations to deliver initiatives of value to the industry, whether focused on human resources, or Aboriginal engagement. AME BC is best known, however, for its flagship event, Mineral Exploration Roundup. Roundup dates back to 1984 as a joint venture between the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; Geological Survey of Canada; Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (Yukon branch); and the Association. The first “Cordilleran Geology and Exploration Roundup” was a success attracting 700 people to its technical sessions and the Core Shack (the first of its kind at any mineral exploration conference). Over the years, although it continues to have a strong toehold on the Canadian Cordillera in BC and Yukon, it has evolved to become an internationally focused conference attracting 7,000 people from over 30 countries to Vancouver. In 2012, the theme is “Celebrating Our First Century of Global Discovery,” and Roundup will take a look at where the mineral exploration sector has been for the past century, and where it will evolve over the next century.

AME BC’s history is discussed in further detail in Chuck Davis’s book Into the Mountains: Celebrating 100 Years of Mineral Exploration Advocacy, which will be released in spring 2012 and in a magazine distributed by The Northern Miner at Roundup 2012.

* Jonathan Buchanan is Director of Communications, AME BC.