TORONTO – February ●, 2016 – Women in Mining Canada (“WIMC”) and its “Trailblazer Award Selection Committee” (“TSC”) are very pleased to announce Louise Grondin as the winner of the 2016 Women in Mining Canada Trailblazer Award.
The Women in Mining Canada Trailblazer Award is the first national award in Canada to recognize the achievements of women who have made a significant contribution to Canadian mining and/or the inclusion of women in the industry.
Louise Grondin is the daughter of dairy farmers and grew up in Saint-Nazaire-de-Berry, Quebec, working on the family farm. Her parent’s strong work ethic, dedication and energy formed the basis of the genetic combinations which Louise has attributed to her career successes. Louise recognized early on that she wished to pursue post-secondary education. Excelling in both math and science and fueled by her love of problem solving, she studied physics at the University of Ottawa.
Later she studied a M.Sc. in Meteorology from McGill University (1980) and she completed the Mechanical Engineering curriculum at the University of Toronto in 1984 and has been a member of OIQ in Quebec since 2001, and PEO in Ontario since 1984.
After a 12 years stint with Ontario Hydro, in 1993, at the age of 40, Louise began her career in mining, joining Billiton Metals Canada as the Environmental Superintendent of the Selbaie mine in Joutel, Quebec.
Since 2001, Louise has worked for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited and was appointed Senior Vice-President of Environmental and Sustainable Development, in 2010. Louise is a key member of the senior management team that has led the growth of Agnico Eagle from a single mine regional gold producer to a multi-mine international leader in gold mining.
Furthermore, Louise was instrumental in the creation and implementation of a complex biological treatment plant at Agnico Eagle’s flagship LaRonde mine. This innovative approach was ahead of its time and has consequently served as a case study and catalyst for several post-graduate students studies integrating many young mining professionals into the industry.
Throughout her career, Louise has been very actively involved with several professional organizations, including serving as vice-president of the Quebec Mining Association’s Environmental Committee from 2002 to 2007.
Louise’s passion for contributing and promoting the mining industry garnered her several recognitions, including: the Frederick W. Firlotte Lifetime Achievement Award (2015), the top 18 Women of Impact in the Canadian Materials, Metallurgy and Mining field (2015) and one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining (2013). Her passion lives on as both of her children work in the mining industry.
“Louise is true to her values and “walks the talk”. Her sense of humour, her ability to lead by example, to teach, to selflessly mentor and share her knowledge with new generations of mining professionals, her thoughtfulness and her kindness – make her one of the most respected women in the Canadian mining environmental and sustainability fields and truly deserving of this award.
Louise is an excellent example of what it means to live Agnico Eagle’s values.” – Sean Boyd Chief Operating Officer of Agnico Eagle.
Women in Mining Canada will celebrate the announcement of Louise Grondin as the Winner of the 2016 Women in Mining Canada Trailblazer Award at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Conference during the Women in Mining International Reception held on March 8th, 2016.
The Trailblazer Award was established by Women in Mining Canada in 2013, as a yearly award which “recognizes women who have taken personal career risks and helped to advance the careers of other women”. The award recognizes individuals working to build a world-class industry which provides attractive career opportunities and enhances the recognition and participation of women in the sector.
The entry process encourages individuals and companies to reflect on their achievements and the impact they have made to help encourage the participation of women in the Canadian resources sector.
The high caliber of the numerous nominations received by the TSC serves as a testament to the achievements of the women in our industry across a range and complements the mounting interest in the Trailblazer Awards program.
About Women In Mining Canada
Women in Mining Canada (WIMC) is a national not-for-profit organization formed in 2009 focused on advancing the interests of women in the minerals exploration and mining sector. In collaboration with Canadian WIMC branches we support grassroots initiatives in the realm of personal and professional development, while providing a national voice within the global minerals and mining community.
Our membership is composed of passionate women and men who actively support the minerals and mining industry and represent a variety of occupational trades and professions. As a national organization we encourage our peers to engage in the issues over the long term through mentorship, networking, research, educational forums, advocacy, topical debates, and industry speaking opportunities to ensure a sustainable minerals industry in Canada.
This year’s PDAC Convention will also celebrate the cultural, social and economic achievements of women in mining. From trailblazers to newcomers, from mine sites to boardrooms, women in mining globally have been changing the perception of our industry.
Please visit the Women in Mining website for more information on the Trailblazer award #WIMtrailblazer, and participate in the celebration of gender diversity on Twitter
#100celebratewomen
For more details contact: info@wimcanada.org
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