Journey of a dedicated Vice President

We extend our warmest thanks to our retiring Vice-President, Pierre Barrette, for his commitment over 32 years of service.  His career illustrates not only the evolution of our mine, but also the values that bring us together.

He kindly took part in an interview that sums up his legacy at Mine Raglan.

Pierre, can you give us an overview of your career? 
I've worked my entire career for Glencore and the companies that preceded Glencore's acquisition of Xstrata and Falconbridge/Noranda.  Even while I was studying chemical engineering at the University of Ottawa, I worked at the Horne smelter every summer.

It was also there, in 1992, that I began my professional career after my studies as a metallurgist. I soon made my way through the company and, in 1999, was promoted to superintendent of the Gaspé smelter in Murdochville, a Noranda subsidiary that is now closed. 

In 2002, I transferred to the Brunswick smelter in Belledune, New Brunswick, where I held the position of Production Superintendent until 2007. 

That's when my adventure at Mine Raglan began. Since then, I've served in various roles, such as Surface Operations Manager and Mining Operations Manager, before being appointed Vice President in 2018. You could say that this 32-year adventure reflects both my loyalty and my commitment to the company. 

Do you have a mentor or inspirational figure who has influenced your career path?
My father was my most inspiring guide. He gave me a strong sense of integrity and accomplishment.  As a manager and public figure himself, he wasn't afraid to say the truth, even when it wasn't what people wanted to hear. 

I thought of him a lot when I was doing the VP Café (quarterly meetings with employees to inform and give company updates). Although it was very demanding to run, I always enjoyed doing these meetings, as they allowed me to connect with employees.  

What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in the mining industry? 
The key to success lies first and foremost in the quality of your work and your interpersonal skills. By focusing on the excellence of your work, opportunities will come your way, not because you're looking to shine, but because you've proven your worth. 

Of all the projects you've been involved in, is there one that stands out for you and that you're particularly proud of? 
Two moments in particular stand out. When I was working at Horne Foundry, I was involved in the start-up of a project in China in the 90s, a real technological and cultural challenge.  

At Mine Raglan, the increase in concentrator capacity from 1.3 to 1.5 million tonnes in 2018 was a major milestone, and the first major achievement under my leadership. 

Although long envisaged, the relocation of aviation became a reality thanks to the boldness and collective effort of our team.  

Finally, the completion of Sivumut Phase II, with Mine 8 and Anuri, will secure Raglan's future for the next two decades. In fact, that was the goal I set myself before retiring: to complete this project, which will ensure a future for the mine, for our people and for the communities that welcome us for at least 20 years to come. 

How have you seen Mine Raglan evolve over the years? 
In terms of health and safety, the evolution of Raglan Mine has been impressive. Compared to the rest of the industry, we've gone from being in the middle of the pack to a leader.  That changed when management really took full responsibility for injuries and introduced a true health and safety culture that relies, among other things, on incident reporting. Today, I'm very proud that Raglan Mine is recognized as one of the safest mines in the industry.  

In production, we have gone from 1 to 1.5 million tonnes. That's no small achievement! But at every stage, the real challenge has been to navigate without knowing the full potential of what we have under our feet. The Raglan property is so vast that for a long time we had to operate with a limited, short-term vision of the projects. Now, we're exploring the entire property, in parallel with our mining operations, to take a global view and maximize investments. The key is to remain disciplined!  

When you leave Raglan Mine, what legacy do you hope to leave behind? 
I chose this moment to retire, as it coincides with the end of the Sivumut project, with the completion of construction of the Anuri mine.  I'm leaving with the satisfaction of having contributed to building the next chapter of Raglan Mine and ensuring the continuity of its operations for the next 20 years.  This will benefit employees and Inuit communities for another generation.  

The relocation of aviation to Montreal is another achievement I'm proud of, since beyond the gains in efficiency and cost reduction, this initiative brings the aviation group closer to the rest of our operations and makes it more an integral part of the Raglan family. 

Any final words for your team and colleagues? 
First of all, thank you for your support during my years as VP.  It hasn't been always easy, and I couldn't have done it without your loyalty and efforts.  Mine Raglan is a jewel among mines, and we must ensure that it continues to shine. We must continue to make every effort to preserve its competitiveness and ensure that this workplace remains a safe environment, thus reinforcing our commitment to our employees, our partners, and the Inuit communities of Nunavik.

We wish Pierre a happy retirement, one that will live up to his expectations and his invaluable contribution to our company. His presence will be sorely missed. We wish him all the best in this new phase of his life.