President of Laurentian University, Dominic Giroux, Nickel Belt MP, Marc Serre and Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre unveil part of a 104 million dollar investment into Metal Earth
President of Laurentian University, Dominic Giroux, Nickel Belt MP, Marc Serre and Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre unveil part of a 104 million dollar investment into Metal Earth

 

By: Nick Liard

It was quite the start to the new school year for Laurentian University as the post secondary school received its biggest investment in its 56 year history.

104 million dollars will go to a seven-year initiative called Metal Earth, lead by the Mineral Exploration Research Centre at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences.

Laurentian University President, Dominic Giroux says this will hopefully make the School of Earth Sciences the undisputed global leader in mineral exploration research.

Director of the Mineral Exploration Research Centre and lead of Metal Earth, Harold Gibson says this investment will change mineral exploration nationally and locally.

Metal Earth will increase mineral exploration expenditures and investments in Canada, increase discovery rates and development of new mines.

The federal government provided 900 million dollars to 13 university’s today through their Canada First Research Excellence Fund and of that, over 49 million dollars went to Laurentian.

55 million came from 22 different partners in academia industry and government.

Metal Earth 2
David Harquail speaks about the 10 million dollar investment made to Laurentian University’s Department of Earth Sciences

 

David Harquail and his family have made a 10 million dollar investment to support Laurentian University’s Department of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre.

8.4 million will go to provide new research chairs, lab equipment and supplies, technical support and scholarships for international PhD students, while 1.6 million will recruit a Research Chair in Exploration Targeting and other support.

Harquail says they have been donating to various sectors for some time, but this is the family’s biggest investment.

He says his father worked at Falconbridge MIner and his company has royalties in the north and they made a connection with Laurentian five years ago.

Harquail hopes this sets a good example for the future as students become successful they in turn can make a donation to the school.

Laurentian University renamed it’s Earth Sciences Department the Harquail School of Earth Sciences.

 

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