People (September 01, 2003)

Jean Vavrek is the new executive director of the CIM (Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum). He took up his duties on August 18 when Yvan Jacques retires after more than a decade with the institute.

Toronto’s Desert Sun Mining has invited William Clarke to join its advisory committee to provide strategic and technical guidance. He was Canada’s ambassador to Brazil (1990-92) and served in many capacities in the foreign service. He is currently president of the Canadian Nuclear Association.

Effective July 4, 2003, Eileen Carr resigned as a director and from the CFO’s job at European Goldfields. She has been replaced by David Grannel.

J. Christopher Mitchell is the new CFO and corporate secretary of First Point Minerals.

Glencairn gold has named Derek Price to the position of VP finance and CFO, effective Oct. 1, 2003. Invensys has named Ryan Roberts to the position of VP and GM of its Avantis business group. Besides his academic qualifications, Roberts has earned certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt, having demonstrated proficiency utilizing the disciplined Six Sigma methodology to maximize customer satisfaction through measurable improvements in products and services. Alan De’ath is now president, CEO and a director of Ivernia West, an international base metals mining and exploration company headquartered in Toronto. Claire Derome, the president and CEO of McWatters Mining, which she founded in 1994, is stepping down. She will continue her duties until her successor is named. MCK Mining Corp. has appointed Wayne Beach as a director. He is also a director of FNX Mining Co. Reflecting an increased focus on global opportunities, Vancouver-based Patriot Gold has added Ronald Blomkamp to its board of directors and as its president. Blomkamp holds a Diploma in Production Engineering from Witwatersrand College for Advanced Technology in South Africa, and for 16 years he worked at Edward L. Bateman, South Africa’s leading mining services company. He has been a director of Bateman Mining Products, has worked extensively at the face of many of the world’s deepest gold mines and across several facets of the industry, and has collaborated with the South African Chamber of Mines on rock mechanics, safety and efficiency. He holds several patents relating to advanced mining technology. QGX Ltd. has retained Patrick Redmond as chief geologist. Redmond has a BA in Earth Sciences, an MSc in Geology from Dublin University, Trinity College and a PhD in Geology from Stanford University.

Obituary

Decorated WW II veteran, respected research scientist, and a beloved and loving family man, Bob Boyle PhD, FRSC, FRGS, left this world peacefully on August 5, 2003.

Bob was born in 1920 in southwestern Ontario on a farm neighbouring that of his wife’s family. A love of the outdoors and a questing curiosity about the world shaped his future as one of Canada’s most respected geologists. Bob served overseas with great distinction during WW II with the Royal Canadian Artillery, after which he started his studies at the University of Toronto, obtaining his PhD in 1953. He joined the Geological Survey of Canada in 1952, where he became a world expert in gold and silver deposits, and developed geochemical prospecting methods specifically suited to the Canadian environment and, through experience gained in the field, made them truly practical tools in mineral exploration. He was a prolific author, who published major works on precious metals, notably “Gold: History and Genesis of Deposits” in 1987. Bob was active in many professional associations at both the national and the international levels, and lectured at Carleton and numerous other universities. He received many honours and awards throughout his career, starting with his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1957 through to his induction into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 1996.

Mourning his dear presence are his adored wife of 57 years, Marguerite; daughter Heather Robinson (Winnipeg); daughter-in-law Christy Vodden; and grandson Matthew Boyle. Predeceased by his son, Dan Boyle and sister Barbara Delmotte. He will be greatly missed by his brothers-in-law Doug and Eldon Brown and their families, and by his many other relatives, friends and colleagues around the world.