Premier Ranj Pillai, Premier and Minister of Economic Development

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all delegates and attendees of the 2024 Yukon Geoscience Forum and Trade Show. This annual event continues to be one of the industry’s best networking opportunities in the North. Thank you to the Yukon Chamber of Mines for your leadership in putting this event together.

I look forward to connecting with the entrepreneurs, investors, First Nations representatives, geologists, and industry experts who come together every year to make
this event memorable and meaningful. Together, we will delve into the latest innovations in the Yukon’s earth sciences and exploration industries.

With vast, largely unexplored areas, the Yukon offers immense promise for precious metals and critical minerals. With occurrences of copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, platinum group metals and tungsten, we are well-positioned to support Canada – and the world – in the
transition toward a green economy.

Mining and exploration have deep-roots in the Yukon’s history, identity, and economic landscape. When it comes to economic growth, resource development can – and must – be done sustainably and responsibly. This is central to building a strong, healthy Yukon for generations to come. That’s why our government seeks to attract responsible, sustainable investors who will engage with First Nations governments and work alongside our local communities. We believe that projects here can develop into profitable businesses, while
maintaining the highest levels of environmental stewardship.

As a responsible regulator, the Yukon has stringent safety and environmental regulations, and our government believes that by bringing everyone to the table, we can do even more to protect public health and the environment within the context of mining and exploration activities. We are working with Yukon First Nations to co-develop new minerals legislation, which will help ensure that mining in the Yukon benefits everyone, while preserving our territory’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and the traditional ways of life of Yukon First Nations citizens.

I invite you to join me at this year’s forum and participate in a myriad of invaluable discussions and learning opportunities. I look forward to making new connections (and rekindling old ones) as we explore the future of this industry together.

Hon. John Streicker, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources

I hope you will join us November 17-20, 2024, at the 52nd annual Yukon Geoscience Forum & Trade Show in Whitehorse.

This is a critical moment for mining in the territory. As a regulator, our government recognizes the seriousness of the heap leach failure that occurred at the Eagle Gold mine, and we have committed to an independent review, conducted by a panel of world-class experts, that will get to the heart of what happened. We must ensure that something like this never happens again in the Yukon.

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge the accomplishments of the exploration and mining industries in the territory. This year’s Geoscience event will provide a great opportunity to showcase the latest work by key players in these industries, as well as the latest geoscience updates from our experts at the Yukon Geological Survey.

The Government of Yukon supports a strong, sustainable and responsible mining industry. Gold mining continues to be an important part of the Yukon’s economy, and the transition to a clean energy economy is creating new opportunities for the territory to supply critical minerals. Responsible mining of these minerals is a way for the territory to make a positive contribution to Canada’s green shift, while also creating well-paying jobs.

We’re working with the Municipality of Skagway, Alaska on their port redevelopment project, to ensure that Yukon mining companies have access to tidewater ore export infrastructure into the future. We’re also continuing work on connecting the Yukon’s and British Columbia’s energy grids. This will help the territory meet its growing demands for clean electricity and assist mining companies in meeting their emissions-reduction goals.

We’re collaborating with First Nations to develop new minerals legislation that better reflects First Nations’ relationships with the land and supports a modern and sustainable mining industry here in the Yukon.

We are also continuing work to stimulate new discoveries through the Yukon Mineral Exploration Program. This year, we’re spending $1.4 million to support 43 projects. It is expected that these projects will spend more than $4.1 million on exploration this season.

This year’s conference will provide many opportunities to learn more about the territory’s latest mineral exploration success stories and our focus on a responsible mining future.
We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

John Streicker
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources

Scott Donaldson, CEO, BMC Minerals

BMC is a proud member of the Yukon Chamber of Mines, and we are very pleased to once again be the Patron Sponsor for the annual Yukon Geoscience Forum. The work the Chamber does to represent our industry is invaluable and as we navigate an increasingly uncertain world, the Chamber’s efforts will continue to be critical to our overall success.

In the year since we last gathered for Geoscience there have been significant challenges for our industry and the communities we work in, and we all need to acknowledge and fully understand them so we can embrace the lessons that need to be learned from them. However, we also need to acknowledge the many successes that have come about through industry-wide efforts in the Yukon and this past year has seen some incredible successes in prospecting, exploration, mining, investment, and yes reclamation. These are successes we should celebrate together over the coming days as we gather with old friends (and new) and these are the successes we need to tell the world about.

These are challenging times; internationally, domestically, environmentally, and economically. Trying to forge a path forward under this level of uncertainty is not for the faint of heart. But Yukoners, and the rest of the world, need Yukon minerals and our expertise in finding, developing, and extracting those minerals, if we are going to, collectively, successfully transition to a green economy. Industry has a duty to do that in a responsible, respectful, and sustainable manner for the benefit of everyone, locally and globally.

As we celebrate the 52nd annual Yukon Geoscience Forum it’s safe to say the industry of today is not the same as the industry of 50 years ago and we will not be the same 50 years hence. Now more than ever, Industry needs to continue to evolve and innovate to solve the immediate challenges before us and the ones to come, working closely with First Nations, communities, stakeholders, and governments to do so.

BMC looks forward to being a positive part of the Yukon’s future over the next 50 years and beyond. We wish all delegates a very successful Geoscience and we look forward to seeing everyone over the course of the next few days.

Jonas Smith, Executive Director, Yukon Chamber of Mines

As the new Executive Director of the Yukon Chamber of Mines, it is my honour to welcome you all to the 52nd Annual Yukon Geoscience Forum and Trade Show.

It has been a very eventful few months for the territory’s mining and exploration industry since I joined the Yukon Chamber of Mines this summer, and I appreciate this opportunity to connect with you in person after the field season.

We know that encouraging confidence and investment in a responsible industry here in the Yukon requires communication, collaboration and partnerships. This year’s event theme, Partnerships for Progress: Advancing Sustainable Mineral Extraction underlies the ongoing commitment required on behalf of our industry and our organization.

Now more than ever, building relationships and strengthening our connections is needed to lead our industry into the future.

Over these next days, we are proud to highlight and reflect on some of the incredible work assembled during the last year, as we energize our forward-thinking approach to the industry and the social and economic benefits it offers all Yukoners.

I encourage you to take in as many presentations as your schedule allows, as you connect with fellow delegates and exhibitors on the Trade Show floor and during the many social events. I have been amazed by the incredible amount of work and information being featured here and am excited to help share these successes with you in my new role.

On behalf of both the Yukon Chamber of Mines board of directors and staff, I extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who has come together to help make this event possible, with a special thank you to our members for your warm welcomes and continued support.

We wish you all a very successful 52nd Annual Yukon Geoscience Forum and Trade Show. Thank you for all you contribute to the territory’s modern, responsible mining industry.

Sincerely,

Jonas Smith
Executive Director
Yukon Chamber of Mines