The Big Event Canadian Mining Expo wrapped up another successful showcase at the McIntyre Arena in Schumacher on Thursday.
The annual event is organized by Canadian Trade-Ex in Timmins.
Hundreds of booths, displays and exhibits filled the arena floor and lined the surrounding streets.
Former Mayor Tom Laughren, who now works for Lakeshore Gold, sees the event as a chance for everyone to gain a better understanding of the advances in mining.
“I look at the opportunities that are out there. When you look at what different companies are doing, when you look at technology, I’ve always said at this show there should be school kids coming to see the technology as it relates to mining. How things are actually done both on surface and underground perspectives,” said Laughren.
Serge Alary, from the Hearst office of the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, said he feels the event has become one of the biggest of its kind in Ontario.
“If you think of Timmins, you might have PDAC (Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada) in Toronto which is big, and Sudbury has a big mining expo, but Timmins is right up there,” he said.
This year’s event featured many innovations relating to the field of mining.
3M’s booth showcased a new in-the-ear microphone system for use with respiratory equipment and breathing apparatuses underground.
“There’s usually a problem communicating with your radio system because your mouth is covered. With what we’ve developed, it transmits and receives communications right from your ear canal via the two way radios. So now there’s no pulling your respirator off, its full communication, there’s safety standpoint, you’re always hearing your coms and the transmitting is clear,” said Gwen MacDonald of 3M Canada.
For more information, including a full list of exhibitors, visit canadianminingexpo.com.
(PHOTO: A dummy at the 3M booth gives a double thumbs-up at the Expo on Thursday. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday)
