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Five year funding agreement reached between Vale Base Metals and Laurentian University

Five year funding agreement reached between Vale Base Metals and Laurentian University

New agreement to support ongoing research at Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit

(Sudbury, Ontario) January 22, 2024 - Vale Base Metals has committed to a 5-year funding agreement with the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit (CFEU) at the Vale Living with Lakes Centre, Laurentian University, in support of their long-term monitoring of Sudbury area ecosystems. The agreement includes a total contribution of $960,000 over 5 years.  


The Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit, housed within the Vale Living with Lakes Centre, is a unique partnership between Laurentian University, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Since 1997, the scientists and students at the CFEU have been working with local mining companies (Vale, SINO Glencore) and government partners to assess the effectiveness of atmospheric emission reduction programs in recovering Sudbury area aquatic ecosystems and watersheds. 


“We’re very grateful to receive this funding from our long-term partners at Vale,” says Dr. Jackie Litzgus, Director of CFEU at the Vale Living with Lakes Centre. “This support will go a long way to foster research at Laurentian and to leverage additional support many times over.”


The work of the CFEU assists industry and government partners in measuring the success of their remedial and conservation actions, helping them set realistic targets for restoration. Vale has been a long-time staunch supporter of the CFEU, a team internationally recognized for its research in freshwater restoration. 


“Research of this caliber is critical to allow industry to make informed decisions on sustainability initiatives. Vale is proud to continue supporting this important partnership and is in keeping with our commitment to be a sustainable operator.” said Glen Watson, Senior Specialist in Sustainability at Vale. 

Gifts that Grow

Gifts that Grow

Spring convocation graduates at Laurentian helping tackle climate change.

(June 9, 2022) - Graduates at Laurentian University’s Spring convocation were thrilled to receive a pine tree seedling to mark their place in the world and create a memory of their special day. Laurentian’s Environmental Sustainability committee distributed the beautiful trees donated by Vale, as well as packages of wildflower seeds and QR code links to access selected videos produced by Laurentian describing the University’s globally-recognized research. There were smiles all around!

The trees that graduates took home to plant will serve as a lasting reminder of their momentous day, which they will be able to share with loved ones for the next 70 years (lifespan of the tree). Although the trees at convocation have a sentimental purpose, they also serve as critical tools in tackling climate change. Each tree planted will capture carbon, reduce soil erosion, and help in the reduction of stormwater runoff, resulting in cleaner and healthier water. These efforts represent the University's ongoing commitment to ecosystem restoration, led by students and faculty members. 

Laurentian University alumni are proud to be a part of a globally known regreening story and the UN Decade of Restoration's global initiatives. These efforts have resulted in significant land reclamation, better air quality, and cleaner water. Upcoming UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration initiatives include the development of a carbon-offset interpretive forest next to the Fraser Auditorium that will provide future graduates, family, and friends with an area to experience Laurentian’s environmental science stories.
 

Vale, the United Steelworkers and CROSH kick-off groundbreaking new study on mining and mental health

Vale, the United Steelworkers and CROSH kick-off groundbreaking new study on mining and mental health

Ontario Minister of Labour, Kevin Flynn, applauded the partners for taking a proactive role in addressing mental health issues through this study.

July 23, 2015 – Today Vale and the United Steelworkers, in partnership with the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) at Laurentian University, announced a groundbreaking new research project on the topic of mental health in the mining industry. 

The aim of the 3-year study, called ‘Mining Mental Health’, is to gain vital information in order to develop key strategies that promote the best possible mental health for workers at Vale’s Ontario Operations. In addition, this study will contribute substantially to the body of research to help others in the mining industry and similar sectors to develop evidence-based practices that effectively promote positive mental health. 

Ontario Minister of Labour, Kevin Flynn, applauded the partners for taking a proactive role in addressing mental health issues through this study. 

“Good employers recognize the importance of keeping their people physically safe and healthy on the job, and great employers are taking the next step to ensure their workplaces promote psychological safety and well-being,” said Minister Flynn. “Vale is becoming a leader in this area, and I want to thank them for supporting this research project and taking mental health in the workplace seriously. I hope to see many companies follow their lead.” 

Existing data suggests that the percentage of disability claims in Canada attributable to mental health problems is estimated at 78% of short-term claims and 67% of long-term claims. At Vale’s Ontario Operations, approximately one in four of all disability claims are due to mental health problems. 

“In order to build an effective mental health management system, it is vital to understand the predictors, facilitators and barriers to good mental health at our operations and in our industry,” said Jody Kuzenko, Director of Vale’s Ontario Production Services and member of the CROSH Board. “We are proud to be taking a leading role through this research, in partnership with the United Steelworkers and Laurentian University, to help contribute to the well-being of our workers.” 

“Mental health, especially as it relates to workers in an industrial setting, has long been an overlooked and underfunded area of research, which is why this study is so important,” said Leo Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers and Chair of the CROSH Advisory Board. “I’m pleased and excited that the USW, Vale and CROSH are coming together in such a concrete and meaningful way to try to tackle this issue and reduce the suffering and effects of poor mental health on workers and their families.” 

The project will use a comprehensive survey to sample workers from all occupational groups across Vale’s Ontario Operations. A multidisciplinary research team from CROSH will be led by Dr. Michel Larivière, clinical psychologist and Associate Director at CROSH. The team will work closely with the Vale/USW Joint Occupational Health Committee (JOHC) in all phases of the project from survey development to the presentation of findings. 

“To date there has been little research on the mental health and well-being of workers in the mining industry. However, there is good evidence linking these issues to productivity, absenteeism, injury, and most importantly, quality of life,” said Dr. Larivière. “Through this collaborative research, we hope to better understand the well-being of this workforce. Our findings may help to shape policies and procedures that are most conducive to worker well-being in mining and in other industries.” 

The research team also includes postdoctoral fellows, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. The cost of the study is estimated at approximately $400,000. 

Research at Vale Living With Lakes Centre Contributes to Global Database

Research at Vale Living With Lakes Centre Contributes to Global Database

SUDBURY, ON (MARCH 18, 2015) – Dr. John Bailey and Jocelyne Heneberry of the Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit (Co-op Unit) at Laurentian University’s Vale Living with Lakes Centre are co-authors of a recently published article summarizing a new lake temperature database in the journal Scientific Data, published by Nature.   Dr. Bailey, adjunct professor and research scientist with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, and Ms. Heneberry, Co-ordinator of Lakes Monitoring, are part of the Global Lake Temperature Collaboration (GLTC), an international group assembled to provide increased access to global lake temperature records.  

“The GLTC group recognized that a new global database of lake surface temperatures was needed with “on the ground” lake temperature measurements from programs like ours at the Co-op Unit adding to existing satellite data,” said Dr. Bailey. “This improves our ability, at a global scale, to identify and examine patterns of change in the temperatures of lakes over time due to climate or other factors.” 

Since its inception in 2010, the GLTC initiative has grown to a database of 291 lakes and reservoirs worldwide, providing summer-mean lake surface temperatures from 1985-2009, and roughly doubling the amount of data previously available from satellites alone. Seven Sudbury-area lakes monitored by Co-op Unit staff through a Vale/Sudbury Integrated Nickel/Ministry of Environment and Climate Change partnership are part of this database. This new dataset represents the first publicly available global compilation of in situ and satellite-based lake surface temperature data. The GLTC database also provides information on climatic drivers (air temperature, solar radiation, cloud cover), as well as geo-morphometric characteristics that may affect lake temperature (latitude, longitude, elevation, lake surface area, maximum depth, mean depth, volume). This unique, global dataset will offer an invaluable baseline perspective on lake thermal conditions for ongoing and future studies of environmental change.