Author: Alany Chan

We Want to Meet You!

Posted on | by Alany Chan

We at Ring of Fire Metals love talking to and getting to know you. We are committed to keeping you informed and our favourite way to do that is by visiting you in your community.

A typical community visit will involve Ryan Tuomi (Community Engagement Manager) and Scott Jacob (Community Relations Manager), who are often joined by others, like Stephen Crozier (VP, Sustainability) and Glenn Nolan (VP, Indigenous Enterprises). We will bring a presentation and lots of maps and images showing what our deposits, mine plan and Esker Site look like. We can also tailor our visit to the needs and interests of your community.

If you are interested in a community visit, please reach out – our lines are always open! You can call or email us with any questions you have. Also, you can request information and materials for your community, such as maps and information sheets.

Ryan and Scott can be reached by email at rtuomi@rofmetals.com and sjacob@rofmetals.com or phone at 807-285-4808. We can also set up a video call to have a virtual chat!

What’s Happening at Esker?

Posted on | by Alany Chan

In July and August, we’re focusing on organizing and maintaining our site, as well as restoring old drill pads.

An assessment is underway for a tree planting program on old drill pads from historic drilling of the Blackbird deposit. We are ensuring that the drill pads are regrowing local vegetation such as spruce and tamarack.

Analysis completed by a forester has shown that because the pads are small, the vegetation is regenerating naturally. On some pads where we find insufficient regrowth, our team will be planting trees.

Given Esker has been operational since around 2008 with Noront and other companies, there is some scrap equipment that needs to be removed. One of our initiatives is to organize and complete removal of the scrap equipment that has accumulated over the years. It’s important to us that Esker is safe and tidy, and that we minimize disturbance to the environment.

We hope to have the waste material ready to go by the end of August for the backhaul in the winter. We ship out waste on a Basler plane from the ice strip near Esker (a frozen lake called Koper) to Pickle Lake where it is taken to a registered waste facility to be properly disposed of.

Our Esker team also recently received training on forest fire suppression. The training provides our team with the skills required to deal with forest fire situations. We look forward to a great (and hopefully, not too hot) summer season at Esker!

Employee Spotlight

Posted on | by Alany Chan

Name: Lindberg Baxter
Community: Marten Falls/Fort Albany
Job Position: Field Assistant

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY IN YOUR ROLE LOOK LIKE?

It depends on the season or what programs we have planned. My tasks can include line cutting, geophysics survey work, moving core, packing trails, or cleaning up site.

WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING AT ESKER?

It’s a blast!  We work with fun people – we’re basically family. We’re always laughing and having a good time while working hard. Also, freezing and roasting depending on the time of year.

HOW IS WORKING 2 WEEKS ON + 2 WEEKS OFF?

It’s good! You get used to people cooking for you so when you go home you don’t want to cook. It teaches you how to manage your time when you’re at home. Sometimes it’s hard because you miss out on things back home, but the work is rewarding.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’VE LEARNED SINCE STARTING WORK AT ROF METALS?

I’ve learned that I like to work hard and see my completed work after I’m done. I find value in working hard – it’s fun and I’ve learned to enjoy working with people and by myself. It’s grounding.

This job has changed my life – I’ve learned how to be responsible, independent and how to be myself. Also, that you sweat A LOT haha.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ESKER MEAL?

It’s a tie between Cory’s ribs with mashed potatoes, gravy, fries and broccoli with cheese or his cream cheese chicken and rice.

Protecting Caribou

Posted on | by Alany Chan

Esker Site is located in the area known as the James Bay and Hudson Bay Lowlands. This area is home to many wildlife species, including caribou.

There are two subspecies in the area near Esker during the winter — the boreal caribou (or woodland caribou), and the migratory caribou. Because the boreal caribou are considered a threatened species by the Ontario and Federal governments, we undertake special measures during exploration to avoid disturbing the animals or impacting their habitat.

Ring of Fire Metals has a rigorous plan in place (required by the Provincial Endangered Species Act) to protect caribou. One part of this plan is to create caribou awareness at Esker. Our team members go through a species at risk standard operating procedure (SOP), which is a step-by-step procedure explaining what to do if they encounter caribou while out in the field. In the SOP, it details what to do to minimize the disturbance of caribou, as well as minimizing habitat changes and fragmentation.

When workers come across caribou, they are not to feed or follow the caribou. Fieldwork is to be stopped to give the animals space and let them move through. Workers are to document any caribou observations and report them to their supervisor, which is then reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. This information helps the Ministry to be aware of where caribou are moving, which adds value to their studies about the species.

Northern Road Link ToR approval

Posted on | by Alany Chan

Congratulations to Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations on the approval of their Environmental Assessment (EA) Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Northern Road Link (NRL) project. This road project is the third and final road proposed to access the Ring of Fire (RoF) and was approved by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change on March 6, 2023.

In 2020, Marten Falls and Webequie, along with the Ontario government, announced an agreement to move forward with planning and development of the NRL. The proposed new road will link the Marten Falls Community Access Road to the Webequie Supply Road, completing a new network of infrastructure from Aroland First Nation to Webequie and including the RoF mineral deposits.

The ToR is essentially Marten Falls and Webequie’s work plan for what is going to be studied during the preparation of an EA. An EA is a study which assesses the potential environmental effects (positive or negative) of the proposed road. Key components of an environmental assessment include consultation with First Nations, government agencies and the public; consideration and evaluation of alternatives; and the management of potential environmental effects.

Chief Bruce Achneepineskum said: “On behalf of Marten Falls, I am pleased to move forward with NRL ToR approval and the start of the Environmental Assessment! It is important as our young people and members are relying on us leaders to provide employment and training opportunities but also a sustainable economic base for our communities!”

For links to the three road project’s webpages, go to: www.rofmetals.com/projects/community-infrastructure-corridor

By Ryan Tuomi, Manager, Community Engagement

Welcoming Kristan Straub as CEO

Posted on | by Alany Chan

At the beginning of March, Ring of Fire Metals began a new chapter in our journey when our new CEO, Kristan Straub, joined the team

Kristan attributes much of his love for the outdoors and learning to his maternal grandparents, Arthur (Art) and Eva Solomon. Art Solomon was an internationally recognized spiritual and social teacher to both Canada’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Art was an artisan and a craftsman, having a strong passion for supporting and empowering Indigenous people. As a result of his work in Northern Ontario, a member of Kasabonika gave Art the name Kesheyanakwan (meaning Fast Moving Cloud) when he connected the community’s crafts to southern and international markets enabling them to receive full value for their work. Kristan spent most of his childhood holiday time with his grandparents learning the importance of being a steward of the land and its people.

Kristan studied geology and his appetite for learning led him on many adventures across the world. From early grass roots exploration in Mongolia and the High Arctic of Canada, to project development in Tanzania and Sudbury, to operations management in the South Pacific and Nunavik region of Northern Quebec. His interest in learning more about operations and problem solving led him to shift into operations management, where he had the opportunity to focus on leadership, people growth and mentorship and environmental stewardship. Working in remote locations with Indigenous communities around the world led Kristan to this role. Kristan’s top priority has always been deeply rooted in building trust and relationship building, which were priorities important to Ring of Fire Metals when filling the new CEO role.

“My role is to empower stakeholders and employees to tackle the unknown, create meaningful change and champion the growth of our business through the development of the Eagle’s Nest Project and the infrastructure corridor. Building capacity for new and innovative operations begins with building the capacity of people. We have a responsibility to ensure that this work is done safely with care, respect, integrity and trust. I’m looking forward to our shared work delivering results for local communities and stakeholders and I am committed to doing this in an open, honest and transparent manner.” – Kristan Straub

Eagle’s Nest Footprint

Posted on | by Alany Chan

So, how does underground mining work? The first step in our plan is to go underground and remove granodiorite rock (not Eagle’s Nest ore). This rock, which is environmentally safe for use above ground, will be used in the construction of the site, airstrip, and regional infrastructure. By removing the granodiorite rock, we also create the space where we will put our tailings back underground.

What are tailings? Tailings are the materials that are left over after we separate the nickel, copper, and platinum group elements from the ore we mine at Eagle’s Nest. Tailings will be combined with cement binder and returned back underground into the spaces created from removing the ore and the granodiorite rock. The plan is for 100% of tailings to be stored underground, eliminating the need for a tailings pond above ground.

During the past decade, we have engaged with numerous industry experts and local communities to determine the most sustainable mine plan. Eagle’s Nest has sustainability and safety at the core of its design and we continue to research ways to further improve our plan as we work towards development.

Teepee at Esker Site

Posted on | by Alany Chan

In November 2022, Ring of Fire Metals Esker Site workers, guided by elders from the nearby First Nations, erected a Teepee at Esker.

By Scott Jacob, Manager, Community Relations

We were joined by Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation Chiefs, councillors and elders to celebrate the day. Having visitors is a great way to showcase the work that is done at Esker Site. Some members of our Toronto leadership team and parent company, Wyloo Metals, travelled to Esker to take part in this important ceremony.

RoF Metals hopes that the teepee will be a good way for our Indigenous staff members to be able to have ceremonies at Esker. Also, so that non-Indigenous people at Esker can learn more about our culture. This teepee demonstrates our relationship with the local First Nation communities. We raised the flags of Webequie and Marten Falls outside of the teepee to signify their leadership and the relationship that we share with these communities.

RoF Metals Manager, Community Engagement, Ryan Tuomi said “We hope that this teepee is just the beginning of bringing Indigenous culture and traditions into the development of the Eagle’s Nest Mine. Not just to support our workers but to build a diverse and inclusive working environment that everyone can be proud of.”

A special thank you to the community members who joined us to mark the occasion.

Employee Profile – Safety First!

Posted on | by Alany Chan

WHAT DO YOU DO AT RING OF FIRE METALS?

I am the Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Coordinator at Esker Site. A role that I gladly accepted with Ring of Fire Metals while I was finishing my Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Learning at Lakehead University this past April.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

I start my day at Esker Site by going for breakfast and greeting everybody with a good morning while enjoying a cup of coffee. During our morning toolbox meeting I am actively listening and engaging in the conversation, at times I will also give the toolbox safety talk.

After the meeting I usually head to the Esker Site office to input data into spreadsheets we use to organize our site operations. Other duties I would do throughout a rotation include conducting mock emergency scenarios, health and safety inspections, conducting orientations for new workers coming to Esker and organizing inventory.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT WORKING AT RING OF FIRE METALS?

I really enjoy the atmosphere and people that I work with. When you get a group of like-minded workers it makes the days go by quick and rotations enjoyable. The food is also great, and with the recent site renovations the Rec. Room is a great place to hang out after work hours and enjoy each others company.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR FUTURE AS RING OF FIRE METALS TRANSITIONS INTO AN OPERATING MINE?

I would like to one day be in a Supervisor/Managerial role with the company, everybody has to start somewhere, so I am glad I am able to get my start with Ring of Fire Metals as the HSE Coordinator. As time progresses, we all learn new skills and traits and we put that back into the work we do.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP SAFETY TIP?

Always wear personal protective equipment. Whether it’s footwear, high-visibility clothing, safety glasses, gloves, or safety equipment. Personal protective equipment can help minimize exposure to hazards and protect you from workplace injuries and illnesses.

Interested in working for Ring of Fire Metals?

Email careers@rofmetals.com or register an expression of interest on the careers page here.

Winter Exploration Program

Posted on | by Alany Chan

We are excited that exploration work will be ramping up at Esker Site this winter and spring.

The program includes a number of geophysical surveys, which are non-invasive ways of imaging what is underground and a drilling program to test targets. The work we are doing includes ground MT (Magnetotellurics), ground gravity, and ground EM (electromagnetics) surveys.

So, what do these surveys do? Ground MT surveys measure electric and magnetic fields under the ground which may indicate potential nickel targets. They rely on naturally occurring sources of energy, like lightning storms and solar flares, as the source of energy. Ground EM surveys measure the conductivity of rock under the ground using a generator to create an electromagnetic field which penetrates the ground.  Ground gravity surveys measure differences in density in rock to help identify areas which may indicate nickel targets, without disturbing the ground.

If the MT, EM or gravity surveys pick up something significant, further testing can be done using a diamond drill, which drills into the ground to collect a tube of rock (about as wide as a pop can) which is then analysed by RoF Metals geologists looking for minerals which may lead to a nickel discovery.

Our MT surveys will cover the Eagle’s Nest nickel deposit and the Blue Jay nickel occurrence with the hope of identifying new areas to drill near these targets. Drilling will take place at Blue Jay in February. Drilling around Esker to install water wells in January will allow us to test for the presence and quality of water for future development at Eagle’s Nest. In addition to our exploration programs, we’re planning on installing fuel bladders at Esker and bringing in mobile equipment (snowmobiles and ATVs) to facilitate our work at site and in the field. The fuel bladder system will allow us to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the amount of flights needed to transport fuel to site, as well as reduce the health and safety risk of manually handling heavy fuel drums.