Community Presentations

The Giant Mine Remediation Project Team presented an update on the Remediation Plan to Aboriginal community members from the Tlicho Government, the North Slave Metis Alliance, and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.

Giant Mine Community Alliance

The Giant Mine Community Alliance (GMCA) visited Giant Mine for a surface tour, including the new Baker Creek bridge and creek diversion. The GMCA also resumed monthly meetings at the Giant Mine Remediation Project Office.

Mine Tours

The Assistant Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and the Regional Director General of Public Works and Government Services Canada, each received a guided tour of the mine site.

Media

A film crew from Pan Productions filmed at Giant Mine and conducted interviews for a potential CBC documentary. Various national and local newspaper, radio and television interviews were held with the Giant Mine Remediation Project Manager.

Technical Briefings

The Giant Mine Remediation Project Manager provided a technical briefing about the Remediation Plan to the staff of the Mackenzie Valley Environment Impact Review Board.

Website and Mall Display

The Giant Mine Remediation Project website was refreshed and re-launched. The Giant Mine Remediation Project mall display was removed.

Technical Briefings

Members of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board received technical briefings on the Remediation Plan. Briefings were also provided to City of Yellowknife Directors, participants and public at the annual Geoscience Forum, and members of the National Orphaned/Abandoned Mines Initiative.

Mine Tours

Staff from the Auditor General of Canada's office participated in a guided tour. Members of the Mining Association of Canada's Environmental Committee also received a tour.

Media

A reporter and photographer from the Christian Science Monitor received a tour, and Canadian Geographic for Kids filmed a show underground.

Giant Mine Community Alliance

The Giant Mine Community Alliance held a meeting to receive an update on the Remediation Plan.

Announcements

Federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Andy Scott, and GNWT Minister Brendan Bell, signed a Cooperation Agreement between the two levels of government.

Federal Minister of the Environment, Stephane Dion, announced Federal Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan funding for contaminated sites in Canada.

Media

A CBC reporter and cameraman toured the new access ramp between the second and third levels of the mine. A Yellowknifer reporter received a guided surface tour, as did a Toronto Star reporter and photographer.

Mine Tours

Federal Minister of the Environment, Stephane Dion, and his staff toured underground to view the bulkheads on the arsenic chambers. INAC HQ Contaminated Sites Program staff and Giant Mine Community Alliance members received an underground and surface tour. Federal Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan experts from Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and Health Canada also participated in a special surface tour with emphasis on planned remediation activities.

Technical Briefings

Media were invited to a technical briefing about the new Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Giant Mine Remediation Project Team

The Giant Mine Remediation Project Team informed stakeholders and the media of INAC's decision to proceed with the Frozen Block method as the preferred long-term management alternative for the arsenic trioxide dust stored underground at Giant Mine.

Mine Tours

Underground and surface mine tours were provided to members of the Canadian Arctic Resources Canada executive, representatives of the Federal Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan, Aboriginal elders from Dettah and N'dilo, members of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Board of Directors for Mining Watch Canada.

Giant Mine Community Alliance

The Giant Mine Community Alliance hosted a well-attended public information event and Open House in Yellowknife.

Community Presentations

The Giant Mine Remediation Project Team made a presentation to participants at the Geoscience Forum, and also to staff and students at St. Patrick's High School.

Public Meetings

Three information sessions were hosted for community members in Dettah.

Between January and May 2003, the Giant Mine Remediation Project team hosted 20 public information sessions and presentations. Highlights are indicated below:

Community Presentations

The Giant Mine Remediation Project Team presented an information session to residents of Dettah and N'dilo. The Team was accompanied by members of the Independent Peer Review Panel, the Technical Advisor, the INAC Regional Director, and representatives of Environment Canada.

Mall Display

A large, multi-panel display unit was erected in Yellowknife's Centre Square Mall to present information on the Giant Mine Remediation Project. The display included a map of the mine site, a historical timeline, and the latest reports and information kits. A scale model of Giant Mine in a plexiglass case was also mounted on display.

Print Campaign

A print campaign (“You Asked, We Answered”) was launched in local English and French-language newspapers. It focussed on answering commonly asked questions raised at public sessions.

Public Workshop

The Giant Mine Remediation Project team hosted a workshop to respond to public concerns and questions about the proposed long-term management alternatives. The workshop included members of the Technical Advisor group and of the Independent Peer Review Panel. The Giant Mine Community Alliance also hosted an evening session to solicit public feedback.

Community Presentations

The Giant Mine Remediation Project Team made presentations to, and received input from, community members of the Rotary Club International, the Catholic Women's League, and students and staff from St. Patrick's High School, Sir John Franklin High School and Aurora College.

Technical Briefings

Technical briefings were provided to members of the Legislative Assembly of the N.W.T., Yellowknife city councillors, Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board staff, as well as members of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. Two briefing sessions were also held for INAC staff.

Giant Mine Community Alliance

The Giant Mine Community Alliance held its first public meeting.

Public Scoping

The Giant Mine Remediation Project Team met with residents and chiefs of N'dilo and Dettah to discuss their concerns about the mine and its future, as well as to table the results of the Technical Advisor's report and the Independent Peer Review Panel's comments.

Three scoping sessions were held with members of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, the Giant Mine Community Alliance and representatives from local health and youth groups.

Public Workshop

INAC's Technical Advisor tabled its final report “Arsenic Trioxide Management Alternatives – Giant Mine” at a public technical workshop. The Independent Peer Review Panel also presented its assessment of the report.

Website Launched

INAC launched the Giant Mine Remediation Project website: www.giant.gc.ca

Giant Mine Community Alliance

INAC established a community liaison committee: the Giant Mine Community Alliance. Its membership is composed of stakeholders from various community groups.

Technical Briefings

Technical briefings were provided to members of the Legislative Assembly of the N.W.T. and Yellowknife city councillors.

Open House

A three-day Open House was hosted for the general public.

Community Meetings

Six information sessions were held in N'dilo, Dettah and Yellowknife to exchange information and to respond directly to residents' questions and concerns.

Mine Tours

Surface and underground mine tours were provided to Yellowknife city councillors, local media, and members of the Legislative Assembly of the N.W.T. Mine tours were also conducted for the media, the Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development, and members of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

Open House

A two-day Open House was held to update the public about the development of a management plan for Giant Mine's arsenic trioxide dust.

Public Workshop

A public workshop was held in Yellowknife. Participants included technical experts, INAC representatives, federal and territorial regulators, and local stakeholders. This workshop was a key element in advancing the engineering, scientific, human health, and ecological risk considerations associated with the various management alternatives.

Public Scoping

Five scoping sessions were conducted in the communities of N'dilo, Dettah and Yellowknife, to assess their level of awareness and knowledge of the Giant Mine situation.

Public Registry

A Public Registry was set up in the Giant Mine Remediation Project Office, on the 5^th Floor of the Precambrian Building in Yellowknife.

Mine Tours

The Government of Canada's Federal Central Agencies toured Giant Mine.

Technical Workshop

INAC hosted a technical workshop to build on the information determined from the 1998 workshop and subsequent research.

Public Information Event

A four-day Open House was conducted in Yellowknife by members of the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team to inform the public about plans for cleaning-up the mine site.

Public Information Event

INAC hosted its first Open House for the general public.

Technical Workshop

INAC – in conjunction with Royal Oak Mines, Environment Canada, GNWT, and the City of Yellowknife – held technical meetings to review and discuss potential arsenic trioxide management options.

Public Information Session/Technical Workshop

Environment Canada and Health Canada hosted a two-day public information session in Yellowknife to discuss the report on managing airborne arsenic from the Giant Mine roaster.

Giant Mine Remediation Joint Project Office

2^nd Floor, Waldron Building, 5103 - 48th St.,
Yellowknife, NT X1A 1N5
Tel.: (867) 669-2426
Fax: (867) 669-2439
Email: giantmine@ainc-inac.gc.ca
www.giant.gc.ca
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