The Britannia Mine Museum's recent, $14.7 million upgrade has been recognized with another award this one for sustainable development from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM).
The 2012 Syncrude Award, announced in a statement issued on Thursday (May 10), recognized the museum for its sustainable efforts in its recent 2010 revitalization project. This project built on the museum's role as an engaged stakeholder and leader in the Province's successful remediation program in Britannia Beach.
The project transformed the mine museum site into an internationally recognized tourist destination that attracts about 70,000 visitors a year.
The upgrade included an extensive stormwater capture system that reduced the amount of surface water that was being contaminated as it drained through acidic soil. The project also preserved the museum's heritage buildings by finding new adaptive public purposes, designing a focused environmental education program on acid rock drainage, officials said.
This is a significant award for us because it means that our efforts are being recognized, Kirstin Clausen, museum executive director, said in a statement. The mining, metallurgy and petroleum members of CIM are obviously proud that Britannia Mine Museum is able to engage the public on the topic of mining and environmental remediation.
The award recognizes our focus on ensuring we strive to operate a museum using principles of sustainability in economic, social and environmental areas.
In recent months the museum has been named winner of the Robert R. Hedley Award for Social and Environmental Responsibility from the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC), the Award of Merit from the British Columbia Museum Association (BCMA) and the Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Canadian Museum Association (CMA).
For more information about the museum, please visit www.britanniaminemuseum.ca
