27 November 2009
Donations for Stanton hospital
Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., operator of the Diavik Diamond Mine, is pleased to announce donations which will assist the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation and the Run for our Lives committee in its fundraising for a new digital mammography machine for the North.
Diavik has donated $50,000 and partnered with cutting and polishing company Crossworks Manufacturing to donate a 1.03 carat Diavik diamond to the Foundation. Diavik, made the donation announcement at the Foundation's annual Northwestel Festival of Trees fundraiser held Saturday at the Centre Ice Plaza in Yellowknife.
Diavik Director, Community and Corporate Affairs, Pat McCloskey, speaking at the event on behalf of Diavik's workforce, said that Diavik chose to make a cash donation in lieu of its Christmas party. This is the second year in which Diavik has made such a donation. Last year our company donated $39,500 which was used to purchase lab equipment for the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife.
The Foundation has raised approximately $220,000 of their $400,000 goal (excluding Diavik's donations). The new machine will have digital technology and will replace the hospital's current machine purchased in 1999. It will improve image quality allowing for earlier detection and less radiation. Exam times will be faster and overall, the result will be improved health care for northerners.
Through its two tier donations program, Diavik supports northern initiatives that develop sustainability and enhance the quality of life in the North with special focus on youth, healthy lifestyles, elders, Aboriginal culture, community health and wellness, partnering and capacity building. This year, our donations program, which includes a donations committee comprised of workers from across our company and a senior executive donations committee, has donated over $200,000 locally. Additionally, Diavik's donation policy allows for polished diamond donations to registered charities that commit to increase the value of the diamond through fundraising.
The Diavik Diamond Mine is located 300 km. northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and is an unincorporated joint venture between DDMI (60%) and Harry Winston Diamond Limited Partnership. (40%). Both companies are headquartered in Yellowknife, Canada. DDMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc of London, England, and Harry Winston Diamond Limited Partnership is controlled by Harry Winston Diamond Corporation of Toronto, Canada. DDMI is the operator of the project. For further information contact Doug Ashbury, Acting Principal Adviser, Communications at Tel: (867) 669-6525, or visit the DDMI website at www.diavik.ca.