President & CEO’s Message
Edie Thome, President & CEO, AME
It has been two years since I penned my first message to you via this magazine. It’s with mixed emotions that I share that this will be the last from me as president and CEO of AME.
As some of you know, my partner has accepted the role of president and CEO for Hydro One and started his new role in early May 2019. I will be joining him at the end of June as we look forward to a new adventure in the East. Of course, our roots are here in British Columbia and I am planning to continue to support AME and this great industry, just from a new perspective.
As I reflect on these two years, I can’t believe how fast the time has gone but also how much I have learned through the generosity of this community. The first person in my office in June of 2017 was Don Bragg and there hasn’t been a week since that his kindness and experience didn’t help and inspire me. I am grateful to Don and the multitude of others that have shared information, history and perspectives with me as gifts that I will treasure.
Team effort
AME’s work has always been and continues to be relevant, meaningful and effective because of the incredible work of a true team. Together we have seen a new NDP government become established and recognize the importance of mineral exploration and mining through actions such as converting to permanency the flow-through tax credit and the mineral exploration tax credit as well as committing $20 million over three years to increase resources to improve permitting timelines and enhance compliance. In addition, and in partnership with Nisga’a Lisims Government, Tahltan Central Government and the Province of British Columbia, AME forged new ground with the pilot program of the BC Regional Mining Alliance (BCRMA). Along with members Dolly Varden Silver, GT Gold, IDM Mining and Skeena Resources, the BCRMA took the pilot year to test and learn how to improve our reputation within the investment community, with great success. The program will now be formalized for three years with funding of $1 million from the Province and I look forward to the great work and positive results that this Alliance will achieve.
Working together
Relationships have always been the heart of my priorities and I believe the successes of the Association in the last two years have been as a result of strong relationships between a multitude of parties, including our members at large, government leaders, bureaucrats, volunteers from our board to our committees to our Roundup crews, partners like MABC, GBC, Minerals Ed and the Britannia Mine Museum and, of course, our incredible staff. I am very proud of this team and what they accomplish with the support of our volunteer force. I leave you in very good hands with them and a diverse, balanced and progressive board of directors who will no doubt accomplish more together than any one of us can alone.
Thank you for the incredible opportunity to work with and for you, volunteers and staff. It has been my honour and pleasure and I will continue to champion AME and this industry in my work going forward.