Earlier this week, Mayor Michelle Boileau and Councillor Cory Robin had the opportunity to tour the Côté Gold mining project, located 125 km’s southwest of Timmins near Gogama.

During Mining Week in June, Mayor Boileau had commented that, while Timmins’ 110-year history of mining is well-documented, we can still confidently say that Timmins’ future is mining … and the future is now at Côté Gold.

The latest in autonomous mining technology is being incorporated into one of the most advanced open-pit gold mines, which will be the first in Canada with a fully-automated fleet. Not to mention, the second largest open-pit mine in the country.

Here’s what we discovered:

• There are currently 6 autonomous CAT 793 haul trucks moving mining ore and waste to support commissioning later this year.
• Autonomous mining is technology driven to improve mine safety, improve efficiency, improve productivity and operations.
• The projected mine life is 18+ years with gold production anticipated to start in early 2024.
• The mine will require a direct workforce of 500+ by the end of the year, supported by the opening of the Côté Gold Timmins bus terminal to shuttle employees back and forth to the mine site.

Côté Gold provides economic benefit to the Timmins’ area through direct and indirect labour development (there are currently 1800+ contractors and 261 full-time employees); is committed to supporting the community and engaging with our Indigenous partners; is environmentally responsible; and, works to maintain a high-level of health and safety standards.

There is unmined potential and opportunity in our city and region. We are ready.

Learn more about how your City Council is working to diversify and strengthen Timmins’ economy, and work with partner organizations to bolster and grow the current labour force: City Council Priorities 2023-26.