Mining Sector Comes Down With Olympic Fever
(Kitco News)- As the Winter Games heats up, even the mining sector hascaught Olympic fever as one firm is doing what it can to promote women’shockey.
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| Image coutesy of Hockey Canada: third from the left Marie-Philip Poulin, capital of Team Canada is being sponsored by Canadian mining financing firm Red Cloud Klondike Strike. From Left to right; Meghan Agosta, Brianne Jenner and Jocelyne Larocque will serve as alternate captains during the Olympic Winter Games. |
The Canadian mining financing firm Red Cloud Klondike Strikeannounced last week that it is sponsoring Marie-Philip Poulin, captain ofCanada’s women’s Olympic hockey team. This is Poulin’s third Olympic Games; shescored the gold-winning goals in the last two Winter Games.
Chad Williams, president of Red Cloud, said that he feelshonored to be able to support Poulin and Team Canada, who are favorites tobring home Olympic gold for the third time. Team Canada clinched the top stopWednesday when it beat its arch-rival, Team USA.
“The entire team looks great and I think Marie-Phillip looksvery strong on the ice and is a natural leader,” said Williams.
While sponsoring an Olympic athlete might seem unusual for amining company, Williams said, jokingly that it is actually a perfect fit forthe sector.
“Like mining companies, Olympic athletes are going for thegold,” he said. “We are doing our little part for Canada and we hope itreflects well on our franchise and the mining sector.”
Williams added that his firm is excited to work with Poulinwho he said is a rising star in Canadian athletics and an inspiration to allathletes, in particular for women and girls, worldwide. Williams also has a personal connection to sponsoring Poulin, not only are both of them from Quebec but all three of Williams' daughters play hockey.
“She will be in the hockey hall of fame one day. She is ofthat stature” he said. “It’s a tragedy the limited amount of funding get insports in general and how much little support these athletes like Marie-Philipget. We believe that women’s hockey will get a greater share of viewership andwe are excited to be along for the ride.”
Not only is Williams achieving a personal goal of promotingwomen’s athletics, but he added that he hopes to set an example for the miningsector that companies need to take their role as community leaders seriously.
Williams explained that while companies are improving theirimage and recognizing the importance of developing a social license, there isalways room for improvement.
“The industry, in general, has a terrible image- it goes from indifference in the best case scenario to militant antagonism inthe worst case -- and every little bit we do to help out is a good thing.
By Neils ChristensenFor Kitco News
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