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Canada's “Rock to Road”
Magazine
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International flavour to APAO 2002 annual meeting The 45 th Annual General Meeting of the Aggregate Producers’ Association of Ontario (APAO) was held at the Toronto Hilton hotel February 20-22, 2002 on the theme, "The Future is Now". This year’s meeting had a decidedly international flavour, with presentations on aggregate operations in Africa and Australia, as well as the "Taste of the World" welcoming reception. Patricia Arsenault, senior vice president of Clayton Research Associates Ltd., opened the business program with "Outlook for Aggregates in Ontario: Update 2002".
Industry Advancement Award presentations being made at the 45th Annual General Meeting of the Aggregate Producer's Association of Ontario. The meeting was held last month in Toronto. Arsenault estimates that the upward trend in provincial aggregate production came to a halt last year, falling from projected a 171 million tonnes in 2000 to an estimated 166 million tonnes in 2001. The forecast for 2002 shows a further modest decline to 161 million tonnes. However, the outlook in-cludes a number of bright spots, such as real GDP growth accelerating to 3.5 per cent in 2003, low mortgage rates to fuel the housing market, and strong population growth. Rick VanExan, vice president of Toromont Cat presented the results of the annual "APAO Benchmark Price Survey", available only to survey participants. In "Gravel off the Gold Coast", Ian Duff of J.C. Duff Sand & Gravel Ltd., Limehouse, Ont., provided a fascinating overview of a recent visit to Ghana, West Africa. Land-based aggregates are produced there in remote locations without mechanized equipment, providing a potential opportunity to develop vast marine aggregate deposits lying off-shore. Bob Breeze, associate deputy minister for the Ontario Ministry of Environment then presented "Managing the Environment", followed by "Rehabilitation down Under! Penrith: River, Mountains, and Man-Made Lakes, by Sherry Yundt, president of S.E. Yundt Ltd., and Sarah Lowe, Property and Resource manager for Dufferin Aggregates. This presentation described how the 2000 ha Penrith Lakes pit, west of Sydney, Australia – probably the world’s largest sand and gravel producer at 7 million tonnes/y – combined comprehensive water management, extraction and rehabilitation plans to pro-vide a 2.3 km rowing course and other facili-ties for the 2000 Sydney summer Olympic Games. "Three major Australian aggregate companies came together to make this project a reality," said Lowe. "What is unique about this development is that it involves public and private partnerships. In addition to cre-ating recreational facilities which are run by the government, the overall plans include opportunity for private urban land develop-ment as well. Both partnerships ensure em-ployment opportunities that will sustain the community in the future when extraction from the operation has been completed." In "The Future of Aggregate Equipment", Richard Diestelhorst of Caterpillar Inc. gave delegates a glimpse of the future, using animated graphics to demonstrate design concepts that are radically different from today’s familiar shapes. Dave Sterrett, presi-dent of The Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation (TOARC) then presented the annual "TOARC update", followed by Chris McGuckin’s description of recent rehabili-tation projects completed under the Man-agement of Abandoned Aggregate Proper-ties (MAAP) program in "MAAPing out 2001." McGuckin is the program manager for MAAP. Guest luncheon speaker Garth Turner, a well-known financial commenta-tor and broadcaster, gave a rapid fire and upbeat economic message, drawing on his-torical lessons of the last hundred years to suggest that developments in technology, low interests rates and other factors pointed to a bright future. Day two’s business agenda began with the Awards Breakfast and results of the Student Competition. Community Relations Awards were won by Dufferin Aggregate’s Milton Quarry, Acton Quarry and Mill Creek Plant operations. At each of these sites, Dufferin has supported numerous local chari-ties and associations, partnered with local community groups to promote trucking safety, and hosted many tours as well as successful open houses. Lafarge Canada also received two Community Relations Awards for their Navan Quarry and Dundas Quarry operations. "The image of our industry starts at home, in the individual communities in which our members operate their pits and quarries. Being a good neighbour is just as much a part of an aggregate operation as processing and rehabilitation. The APAO is pleased to rec-ognize those members that make consistent and innovative contributions to their com-munities," stated Bill Galloway, chairman of the APAO Board. Progressive Rehabilitation Awards were won by Walker Brothers Quarries Ltd. (Vineland Quarries and Crushed Stone Ltd.), Lafarge Canada (Avening Pit and Blight Pit) and Dufferin Aggregates (Erin Plant, Milton Quarry and Tottenham Plant). Property Enhancement Award recipients included Dufferin Aggregate’s Carden Quarry and Mosport Plant as well as Lafarge Canada’s Stead–Day Pit. The Award of Excellence was received by Lafarge Canada’s Dundas Quarry. This is the highest honour an active site can achieve in the APAO Industry Advancement awards program. It represents the culmination of a number of initiatives that demonstrates the recipient’s commitment to the industry. Since acquiring the property in 1998, Lafarge has implemented a number of improvements that demonstrate the company’s inherent philosophy of maintaining social and environmental responsibility as well as achieving financial success. In 2001, the company took measures above the standard requirement to decrease dust and noise emissions from the site. In addition, Lafarge partnered with the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority and other foundations to develop the Lafarge 2000 trail, offering hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing. The company also sponsored many local groups, associations and events. APAO president Carol Hochu and outgoing chairman Marcel Ethier delivered the "APAO Year-in-Review" with an alphabetical theme, while guest speaker David Crombie, former mayor of Toronto and federal member of Parliament, spoke on "Waterfront Regeneration", adding personal insights on topics such as the role of government and lifestyle choices. In "No time for Safety" Ric deMeulles, general manager of Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (MASHA) underscored the need for safety to be recognized as a way of doing business rather than just another task that need to be done. Guest speaker Bronwyn Weaver, West Indies-based industry consultant, emphasised the need for effective community relations between aggregate producers and their neighbours in "How does the Community See You?" Weaver gave several examples of effective approaches in community relations, in addition to guiding delegates through a self-assessment questionnaire that indicated the current risk versus exposure situation for individual operations. Guest luncheon speaker on the second day of the annual meeting was Joy Wilson, president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA). The NSSGA was formed in February 2001 by the merger of the National Stone Association and the National Aggregates Association, and Wilson described how the Association promotes aggregate industry interests to federal and state governments in the U.S.A. This year’s charity auction dinner was once again a great success, and Bill Galloway, AGM program chairman, had the pleasant task of informing delegates that over $67,000 was raised for several charities, bringing the 10-year total raised by this event to over $415,000. By Andy Bateman, Engineering Editor
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