James (Jim) M. Franklin passed away on June 19, 2024, at the age of 81. Franklin was a distinguished geoscientist who helped to build and advance the knowledge base of Canada’s minerals industry. He served the minerals sector as a geological consultant, educator, author and lecturer, and industry ambassador. He received numerous awards for his achievements—including CIM’s Julian Boldy Geological Society Service Award (2004) and Selwyn Blaylock Canadian Mining Excellence Award (2006)—and was a CIM Distinguished Lecturer (2010). He was also awarded the Penrose Gold Medal from the Society of Economic Geologists and the Logan Gold Medal from the Geological Association of Canada. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 2019.

Benjamin D. Leboe, director of uranium exploration company URZ3 Energy, passed away on Sept. 20, 2024, at the age of 79.

Don MacLean, a CIM Life Member and an avid supporter of education and safety in mining, passed away on Jan. 11, 2024. In 1973, he founded MacLean Engineering, an Ontario-based company committed to developing innovative mobile equipment solutions to address mining challenges and enhance worker safety. Over the years, MacLean Engineering became a global leader in the manufacturing of underground equipment. MacLean consistently demonstrated his commitment to advancing the understanding and appreciation of mining, most recently as a sponsor of the innovative Mine Evolution digital game, a partnership between CIM and Science North that was launched in 2023. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to mining safety leadership, MacLean was awarded the CIM Mining Safety Leadership Medal in 2023. MacLean was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 2024.

Brian Mulroney, former prime minister of Canada, passed away on Feb. 29, 2024, at the age of 84. Mulroney was president of the Iron Ore Company of Canada from 1977 to 1983, where he emphasized labour relations.

Kenneth Nelson passed away on May 12, 2024, at the age of 59. He was president of Siemag-Tecberg, North American division, which was a platinum sponsor of CIM Hoist and Haul in 2023.

Dale Schultz, co-founder of Osprey Advanced Materials Corp., passed away on April 3, 2024, at the age of 58. Schultz led a number of initiatives, including the exploration of the company’s Launay gold project in Quebec and its 2023 acquisition of the Titan project in Ontario.

Timothy G. Smith, chief operating officer of Galleon Gold Corp., passed away on June 7, 2024. Smith worked in the mining industry for over 30 years.

Leonard Surges, a CIM Life Member, passed away on Sept. 1, 2024, at the age of 68. Surges, who was a member of several CIM societies, including the Canadian Mineral Processors Society (CMP), the Metallurgy and Materials Society (MetSoc), the Environmental and Social Responsibility Society (ESRS) and the Management & Economics Society (MES), was awarded a CIM Fellowship in 2003.

Robert (Bob) Termuende, founder of Eagle Plains Resources, passed away on Sept. 3, 2024, at the age of 94. Shortly before his death, Termuende was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to his community, province and country.

Chris Twigge-Molecey passed away on Jan. 8, 2024, at the age of 73. He was a professional engineer who worked at Hatch for his entire career and was both a leader and technical innovator in the minerals and metallurgical field. Twigge-Molecey also served as CIM President (2010-2011) and President of the CIM Metallurgy and Materials Society (MetSoc) (1996-1997). His contributions to CIM were recognized with many awards, including the 2020 Vale Medal for Meritorious Contributions to Mining, the 2016 CIM Distinguished Service Medal, a 2013 CIM Distinguished Lecturer and the 2001 CIM Fellowship. In 2017, Twigge-Molecey, along with three colleagues and 17 authors, published the CIM book Metallurgical Plant Design. This collaborative effort addressed a significant gap in the industry related to the design of properly functioning metallurgical facilities. CIM remembers Twigge-Molecey as a visionary leader, a respected professional and a mentor whose influence will be felt for generations to come.

CIM Life Member Vedula Sastri passed away on March 10, 2024, at the age of 88. Over the course of his career as a research scientist, first at Carleton University, then at Natural Resources Canada, he published eight books and nearly 200 scientific papers relating to corrosion and corrosion inhibitors. His research and publications benefited a broad spectrum of industries including oil and gas, coal transport, minerals and metals processing, aerospace and water treatment.

Manfred Weg, a CIM Life Member, passed away. He was a longtime donor to the Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Foundation.