Officials from HudBay Minerals Inc. were in Snow Lake during the noon hour Oct. 21. Even though the new Lalor development has, and no doubt will prompt many such visits, they weren't here for Lalor. The trip was benevolent in nature and the company men were here to make a very large and special presentation.
Tom Goodman, HudBay Minerals Inc. vice-president of operations, Cal Huntley, personal development administrator, and Mike Willett, Chisel North Mine manager, first broke bread with members of Snow Lake's town council, and when lunch was over, Goodman presented a cheque for $100,000 to Mayor Garry Zamzow. The money was for the Snow Lake Fire Truck Fund and ensures that Snow Lake will now get this long awaited and much needed emergency vehicle.
When reached for comment, Zamzow was asked what the presentation meant to him as the leader of the community? "Pretty much the same as what it means for all Snow Lakers," the mayor replied. "We are all extremely pleased to have received this donation. And you know, when I think about it, in all the years I've been here, I know of no other occasion where a donation has been this significant. It's the largest one that I know of to any organization in Snow Lake. When you look at $100,000, that pretty much emphasizes the commitment that HudBay Minerals has for our community."
Zamzow is quite correct when he states that people within the community were pleased to receive the donation. It was the talk of the town following the presentation and will no doubt continue as such for the coming weeks. However, there was some doubt beforehand that any money would be forthcoming from the company.
HudBay's Tom Goodman was also contacted and asked why it took so long for the company to reply to requests for money? "I don't know that it did," he responded. "I think what did end up taking some time was that we wanted to work out how we could make a substantial enough donation, so that it would take it (the fire truck fund) over the top."
Although the public's perception contrasted this reality, Zamzow concurred, "There was never a doubt from the council that HudBay would be in with some cash for this project," said the mayor. "They were very positive when we first started to talk to them about it. They recognize how important the fire truck is to the community, and what a huge challenge it is for a small community to raise money for something like this, so they were very positive right from the onset that they were going to contribute."
When asked if there was any plan to set up a fund for Snow Lake such as the one set up for Flin Flon and Creighton, Goodman stated, "No, our community support in Snow Lake will come in other ways, including things like this fire truck donation." He also said that the background of the Flin Flon/Creighton Fund is based on the fact that the area has had the stack in their midst for 80 years, so the $1 million in that fund is to go to things that are sustainable and that are going to improve and beautify the area. As well, he noted that contributions over the working lives of employees was also part of it, but the company wanted to do something that was going to improve the physical appearance of the area as well. As for Snow Lake, he added, "We are quite supportive of the community of Snow Lake and will continue to be."
Even though it was members of the town council who were on hand to accept the cheque, certainly the credit for amassing the money needed to purchase the unit falls firmly in the laps of the dedicated folks on the Friends of the Firemen committee. Without their indomitable and incessant stewardship, the dream would never have been realized. And Zamzow said as much. "The Friends of the Firemen have done a totally amazing job. Over the past number of months, they were instrumental in organizing and creating activity around the purchase and promoting and making the community aware of it," the mayor said. "The hours that they all committed, it was just an amazing feat. They are to be congratulated and complimented."
The mayor advised that the $100,000 donation pretty much sews it up as far as funds needed to purchase a truck. He says that the town is looking at a unit that has the capacity to do some extra things. "We have the potential for some large fires and forest fires," he said. "We want to look at how we can help protect the cottage lot developments, and we have some large industrial structures here as well. So we are looking for a particular fire truck that meets all those needs."
Zamzow says that he couldn't quote an actual cost for the truck, but said it would likely be in the $300,000 - $350,000 range. "By the end of this year we will have finalized the components we want on the truck and that harmonizes with our town budget," he explained. "It will likely take a year from the point of order to the delivery. I would predict that we will have the final quotes and the order in by the beginning of the year."
