Dominion
Community Newsletter
In Memory of Robert Gannicott
Table of Contents
This has been a challenging summer
for the company, particularly as
a result of the fire in the process
plant on June 23, but I am pleased
to announce that the repairs have
proceeded well, and we anticipate
that processing in the plant can
resume by the end of September.
Volume 2 - Issue 2
Fall 2016
Welcome1
Jay Project Update
1
Caribou Report 2
Caribou Road Crossings
2
Breakfast for Learning
3
Water Licence Application
3
Dominion Diamond is initiating a
progressive rehiring of employees
and contractors that were impacted
by the shutdown of the process plant
after the fire.
Employment Opportunities 3
The Summer in Pictures
4
Activities and Events
5
Saturday Request Show
5
SEA Report 2015
5
Ekati Plus Scholarships
6
On August 3, 2016 Bob Gannicott
passed away at the age of 69 after an
extended illness. Bob was a visionary
and a pillar of the Canadian diamond
industry.
Bob will be deeply missed by all who
had the good fortune to know him.
He was an exceptional leader as well
as a good friend and mentor.
Award Deadline:
September 30, 2016
The deadline for nominations for the Arctic
Inspiration Prize is September 30. The
Arctic Inspiration Prize recognizes and
promotes the extraordinary contribution
made by teams in the gathering of Arctic
knowledge. Visit arcticinspirationprize and
please spread the word!
Scholarship Deadline:
October 31, 2016
Did you know that Dominion Diamond Ekati
Corporation offers scholarships to northern
students? The deadline is October 31!
Please see the ad on the back page of this
newsletter, or email Dominion at
[email protected].
Dominion also offers scholarships to IBA
students, in partnership with our IBA
groups. For information, please contact
your IBA representative.
A Celebration of Life will be held on
the afternoon of Saturday, October
1, 2016 at Rotary Centennial Park in
Yellowknife.
We appreciate the sympathy
and understanding that has been
extended to us as a company by
the leadership and members of the
communities after the fire, as well as
after Bob’s passing.
We have been touched and honoured
by the kind words and well-wishes
from all of you.
Sincerely,
Brendan Bell, CEO
Photo by Angela Gzowski Photography
Jay Project Update
Board Approval for Jay Project
Next Steps
At the beginning of July 2016,
Dominion Diamond’s Board of
Directors approved the development
of the Jay Project based on the
positive results of the feasibility
study and the revised project
schedule and life-of-mine plan.
There is still work to be done to
complete the permitting for the
project. Dominion has filed updated
water licence and land use permit
applications, which is the next step
in the environmental approval of the
project.
The feasibility study confirmed the
economic and technical viability
of the Jay Project. Dominion is
confident in the outlook for the
diamond market and believes the
mine life extension provided by Jay
positions us well for the future.
Please refer to the
list of activities on
page 5 for meetings
and workshops
related to the
permitting process
for the Jay Project.
DOMINION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - Fall 2016
1
Environmental Update
Community Caribou Engagement Program Report
Dominion Diamond is pleased to
announce that the most recent Ekati
Community Caribou Engagement
Report for 2014-2015 is complete,
and is available in the following
languages:
• Dënesųłıne
• Tłı̨chǫ / Wiiliideh
• Inuinnaqtun
• English
The report will be available at this
link (ddcorp.ca/responsibility), and
printed copies will be sent to the
communities shortly. Keep an eye out
for the reports!
In the meantime, here is a sneak peak
into what you will find in the report:
Caribou at the Ekati mine, August 2016.
Dominion is committed to ensuring
that Traditional Knowledge (TK) is
given full consideration along with
scientific knowledge pertaining to
environmental monitoring programs
and management plans.
To acknowledge and address local
community questions about caribou
while they are on or migrating
through the Ekati mine site, the
company invites local TK holders
to engage with the Environment
Department on site-based caribou
monitoring programs.
This has provided a valuable
opportunity for participants to
share their local knowledge, hold
discussions around caribou, and
recommend how TK can be aligned
with scientific monitoring of caribou.
Kugluktuk community tour at the
Ekati mine, June 2016.
Caribou Crossings at the Ekati Mine
Dominion Diamond takes a number
of measures to make sure caribou
can pass safely and freely through
the Ekati mine.
Dominion has gathered the
recommendations of community
members and has installed caribou
crossings on the Ekati haul roads.
During the Community Caribou
Engagement Program, community
participants viewed the existing
caribou crossings on the Misery and
Lynx roads, and discussed what
improvements could be made to the
proposed Sable and Jay haul roads.
Based on the comments from the
communities, Dominion has taken
action by:
• Using smaller rocks in the
caribou crossings, as larger rocks
are more difficult for caribou to
walk on safely.
• Putting in crossings while the
road is being built instead of
waiting until after it is in place.
• Ensuring the road is smooth
and as close to the level of the
tundra as possible.
• Installing caribou crossings along
the road at locations identified
by Elders and other community
members.
• Installing crossings where a lake
ends at a road, as caribou follow
the lakes.
Caribou by the water along the
Sable Road, August 2016.
DOMINION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - Fall 2016
2
Community Engagement
Breakfast for Learning Program
Dominion Diamond is pleased to
support the Breakfast for Learning
program in schools.
The program provides resources
to school nutrition programs that
improve the ability of students to
focus and perform in the classroom.
Dominion’s support is having a
lasting impact on the lives of children
and youth in forty-eight schools in
the Northwest Territories and two
schools in Kugluktuk, Nunavut.
The children use the nutrition
programs each day during the school
year, providing them with a head
start for years to come.
The program not only provides
breakfast, but also provides food at
lunch, as you can see in these photos
taken at K’álemì Dene School in
N’dilo.
Employment Opportunities
Dominion Diamond is looking for
qualified people to join our team.
That could be you!
Please visit www.ddcorp.ca/
careers regularly to find out what
job opportunities are available. The
postings at the time of publication are:
• Production Engineering Co-op
Student (closing Sep 20)
• Finance Team Co-op Student
(closing Sep 20)
• Team Leader Sample Plant (closing
Sep 22)
Staff from Dominion Diamond visiting the students during lunch.
A student enjoying her lunch at K’álemì
Dene School in N’dilo.
Jay Project Water Licence Application
In June 2016 Dominion Diamond
submitted an updated Water Licence
and Land Use Permit Application
to the Wek’èezhìi Land and Water
Board (WLWB) for the Jay Project.
These documents were 2,700 pages
long, and filled two large binders, as
you can see in the photo!
Dominion appreciates the hard work
of the WLWB and looks forward to
the technical sessions, which will
be held in Behchokǫ̀ from Tuesday,
October 4 to Thursday, October 6.
The permitting team at Dominion Diamond
Corporation presenting the updated Water
Licence and Land Use Permit application
binders to staff at the WLWB.
DOMINION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - Fall 2016
3
The Summer in Pictures
Participants in the Gamètì Sewing Club display the quilts they
learned to make in sewing class. Dominion Diamond is pleased
to support the sewing program, which not only teaches sewing
skills but also helps to build a sense of community.
On June 3, 2016 Dominion Diamond hosted a Women in Mining
Strategy Session in Yellowknife, with representatives from
the GNWT, the Mine Training Society, the Native Women’s
Association of the NWT, the Status of Women Council,
Pauktuutit, and community representatives. The group was
convened in response to a measure in the Report on the
Environmental Assessment for the Jay Project related to
supporting increased opportunities for women.
On June 15. 2016 Dominion Diamond was pleased to welcome
board members and staff from the Independent Environmental
Monitoring Agency (IEMA) for a tour of the Ekati mine site. IEMA
is an impartial, independent and knowledgeable third party that
monitors the environmental management of the Ekati mine.
On June 17, 2016 Dominion Diamond hosted a Traditional
Knowledge Elders Group (TKEG) meeting in Dettah. The
TKEG was formed in response to a measure in the Report on
the Environmental Assessment for the Jay Project related to
Traditional Knowledge-based caribou monitoring and mitigation.
Dominion Diamond was pleased to provide support for the
North Slave Métis Alliance (NSMA) fish fry as part of the National
Aboriginal Day celebrations in Yellowknife on June 21, 2016.
Dominion Diamond invited the Kugluktuk drummers and dancers
to perform at the National Aboriginal Day celebrations at the
Ekati mine on June 21, 2016.
DOMINION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - Fall 2016
4
Activities and Events
Activity / Event
Date
Fort Resolution (DKFN and FRMC) Jay update meeting
Sep 9, 2016
Wildlife Effects Monitoring Program (WEMP) / Caribou and Roads Mitigation Plan (CRMP) Workshop
Sep 13, 2016
Air Quality and Emissions Monitoring and Management Plan (AQEMMP) Workshop
Sep 14, 2016
Public sessions for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in Yellowknife
Sep 21-22, 2016
Celebration of Life for Bob Gannicott
Oct 1, 2016
WLWB Technical Sessions for Jay Project Water Licence in Behchokǫ̀
Oct 4-6, 2016
Traditional Knowledge Elders Group meeting at the Ekati mine
Mid-Oct 2016 (tbc)
Caribou Engagement Program at the Ekati mine
Late-Oct 2016 (tbc)
Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association (CAMA) in Ottawa
Nov 6-8, 2016
Geoscience Forum in Yellowknife
Nov 15-17, 2016
Note: All forward-looking dates are subject to change.
Dominion Diamond Saturday Request Show
Dominion Diamond is pleased to
announce that it has entered into an
agreement with CKLB Radio 101.9
FM to sponsor the newly-named
“Dominion Diamond Saturday
Request Show”.
Dominion Diamond is
on Facebook!
Please visit and “like” our
Facebook page. You can find
us at www.facebook.com/
DominionDiamondCorporation.
We are happy to support CKLB in
providing information, news, and
entertainment to communities in the
Northwest Territories and Nunavut,
particularly through the request
show.
We are excited to provide
information about the company,
our operations at the Ekati mine,
and our contributions to the
community.
Tune in each Saturday from 1-5 pm,
and call 1-855-966-2552 with your
song requests, dedications, and
greetings.
We hope you enjoy it!
Socio-Economic Agreement (SEA) Report
Dominion Diamond is pleased to
release its 2015 Socio-Economic
Agreement (SEA) Report on the
Ekati Diamond Mine.
The report is available at ddcorp.
ca/responsibility and copies have
been mailed to the communities. We
welcome feedback on the report.
Please email communications@
ddcorp.ca with any questions and
comments.
Here are some highlights of the
report:
• The Ekati mine employs over
1,090 full-time equivalent
staff with approximately 730
additional contractors providing
support services.
• 65% of Dominion Diamond
employees are Northern.
• 38% of Dominion Diamond
employees are Northern
Aboriginal.
• Of the 270 full-time equivalent
positions filled by women at
the Ekati mine (employees and
contractors), 49% are Northern
Aboriginal.
• Over $97 million was spent with
Northern Aboriginal businesses
in 2015, representing 22% of
total expenditures.
DOMINION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - Fall 2016
5
Discovering
Bright Minds
Ekati Plus Scholarship Program
The brightest things in the North are the
minds of its people. Dominion Diamond
Ekati Corporation’s Scholarship Program
is a testament to our deep belief in the
value of education and the role it plays in
improving the lives and the future of the
people of the North.
The 2016 Ekati Plus Scholarship Program
is open to Northerners living in the
Northwest Territories.*
For more information or for an
application please contact
[email protected]
or call (867)669-6100.
The deadline is October 31, 2016.
*Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation also
offers Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) student
scholarships in partnership with our IBA Groups
– Tłı̨chǫ Government, Yellowknives Dene First
Nation, Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, North Slave
Métis Alliance, and Hamlet of Kugluktuk. For
information on the IBA student scholarships,
please contact your IBA representative or email
[email protected].
For Environment, Traditional Knowledge:
For Community Engagement:
For General Information:
Charles Klengenberg
Advisor, Traditional Knowledge
Tel: 867.766.6527
[email protected]
Ora-naja Wah-Shee
Team Leader, Community Development
Tel: 867.669.6147
[email protected]
Laura Worsley-Brown
Senior Advisor, External Relations
Tel: 867.669.6105 [email protected]
Dominion Diamond is on Facebook - please visit www.facebook.com/DominionDiamondCorporation.
Dominion Diamond Corporation | #1102-4920 52nd Street | Yellowknife, NT X1A 3T1 | www.ddcorp.ca
™ Dominion Diamond Corporation logo is a trademark owned by Dominion Diamond Corporation.
DOMINION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER - Fall 2016
This newsletter has been printed on
100% recycled paper
6