2024 Trailblazer Award Winners

Trailblazer Award

D. Jean Hutchinson

Professor of Geological Engineering, Queen's University, and Vice President, Innovative Geomechanics Inc.

Jean Hutchinson is a Professor of Geological Engineering at Queen’s University and the Vice President of Innovative Geomechanics Inc.

Dr. Hutchinson’s engineering focus has been on integrating geological knowledge into geomechanics for underground and surface mining, mine closure planning, transportation corridor hazard assessment and risk management, and landslide monitoring and risk management using instruments and remote sensing. Having enjoyed a marvellous career and incredible opportunities to work on challenging issues all over the world, Jean has been privileged to introduce thousands of students to the possibilities of careers in these topics, and to equip them with the tools to engage with these challenges, technically and societally. Recognizing the need to integrate and value the many perspectives on earth resource projects, Dr. Hutchinson proposed and championed the Masters of Earth and Energy Resources (MEERL) professional program. She has taught field courses on the mining cycle, mine closure planning and progressive decommissioning for more than 20 years and has been delighted to see graduates from these courses developing multi-dimensional teams and approaches to challenges on many mine sites across Canada and globally. She has benefitted tremendously from the perspectives and insights of an increasingly diverse group of students.

Throughout her career, Jean has been an advocate for diversity in engineering. After graduating 40 years ago, at a time when less than 5% of the Engineering class were women, Jean has observed a gradual increase in the number of women working in mining, geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. Working with students and early career professionals in her role as a Professor, Jean has continued to observe barriers to diverse people’s careers, and highly qualified people leaving the industry due to lack of inclusivity. These experiences have led to Jean’s work to advocate and support diversity in mining and geological engineering, by creating research and career opportunities, and by raising awareness of diverse perspectives and inclusivity challenges, through public speaking, EDI advisory and promotional roles with several learned societies, developing and leading EDI training workshops for undergraduate students, and publishing papers on these topics.

Dr. Hutchinson is pleased to serve on the Technical Boards of several organizations, including Rio Tinto’s Bingham Canyon Mine and the Hong Kong Slope Stability Technical Review Board. She has been the grateful recipient of a number of awards and medals, including the Glossop Medal (2019), the John B. Stirling Medal (2024), the Canadian Pacific Railway Medal (2017), the Robert L. Schuster Medal (2016) and the inaugural Engineering Education Excellence Award at Queen’s University (2016). Jean was honoured to be elected as a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada in 2011 and the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2020.

Jean was nominated by Heather Jamieson.

Indigenous Trailblazer Award

Marge Fraser

Owner, Northern Labour Services Ltd, and Co-owner, Khotin Construction

Marge Fraser is a member of the Etzenlee Family affiliated with the Chiyone (Wolf) Clan of the Tahltan Nation, and currently resides in Smithers, B.C. Her involvement in the mining industry dates to the early 1950’s when her family relocated to Cassiar. At age 11, she commenced her first job for wages in a restaurant in Lower Post and at age 13, she moved to Fort St. John to pursue a high school education.

Over the years, Marge has acquired diverse skills in various careers paths. Notably, she served as the first office manager, bookkeeper of TNDC, where she played a pivotal role in the establishment of the company. Her extensive experiences have given her a profound understanding of mining and road construction projects. In 2013, Marge incorporated her own venture, Northern Labour Services Ltd. and continue to operate. In 2022, she became a co-owner with her Granddaughter on a 60% Tahltan majority- owned construction company, Khotin Construction.

In addition to her business endeavours, Marge holds certification as an alcohol and drug counsellor. This certification has been proven Invaluable in supporting her employees, particularly those residing in remote camp settings, which are prevalent in her chosen industry. Marge takes great pride in championing Indigenous hires and ensuring gender pay equity.

Presently, she focuses on contributing to the capacity -building efforts in remote Northern Indigenous communities.

Marge was nominated by Natalie Cook.

Indigenous Student Trailblazer Award

Environmental Science, Western University

Having been born and raised in Timmins, a small town in Northern Ontario, Amy Lefebvre has always remained curious about her environment and strived to learn more about her surroundings. Intrinsically, she read many books, immersed herself into academics, and explored various extracurricular activities. This included learning about music through piano, art through dance, and sports through swimming. Amy’s curiosity about the world followed her throughout adolescence and into university, where she chose to study environmental science. This degree introduced her to the field of geoscience, meanwhile diversifying her skillset and developing her knowledge of numerous subjects. Through these experiences, Amy gained the confidence to successfully seek out research opportunities at Western University.

Throughout her undergraduate degree, Amy has worked under different Earth Science professors throughout two summer research internships and two work-studies in geoscience, and has presented her work at PACROFI and PDAC. Her research contributions have been shared with Western University graduate students and alumni, and has been highlighted in a variety of posters, abstracts, and developing manuscripts. Furthermore, Amy is an executive member of the UWO Environmental Science Association, where she effectively collaborates with peers on the development of Earth Science related activities. Despite her various extracurricular accomplishments, Amy has remained devoted to her academics, and she is currently completing her Specialization in environmental science with an Honours in geology. After finishing her degree, Amy aims to continue to contribute to the field of Earth Science through future research and new initiatives.

Student Trailblazer Award

Chemical Engineering, Laurentian University

I am a fourth-year chemical engineering student at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. My genuine passion for the technical challenges that the mining industry presents led me to pursue a 16-month internship as a high-pressure metallurgy process engineer at Hatch Ltd., a global engineering consultancy company. I was actively engaged in projects focused on devising efficient processes for enhanced metal recovery, specifically in the context of gold. I made meaningful contributions to these projects by leveraging my academic foundation and curiosity. This practical experience enhanced my understanding and passion for the mining sector.
My immediate goal upon graduation from Laurentian is to work as a process engineer in the mining industry. I aim to apply the knowledge I have gained and make important contributions to overcome the challenges faced by the mining industry today. In the distant future, I plan to earn a doctorate in mining engineering to continuously learn and contribute to the industry through research and innovation.
Furthermore, I’m equally passionate about driving positive change for women in
engineering and mining. Currently, I serve on the board of the Laurentian Women in Engineering Club. In this role, I organize events that promote inclusivity and offer networking opportunities for female engineering students. I’m also actively involved in mentorship programs, where I guide and support aspiring women engineers by sharing insights from my academic and professional journey. I remain dedicated to promoting gender diversity within the mining industry and will continue contributing to such initiatives throughout my career.

Rick Hutson Mentorship Award

Rachel Cranford

Principal, Operations Leader - Mining, Mineral and Metals, Stantec

After moving to North Bay from Southern Ontario, Rachel found herself drawn to the mining industry, after completing her first undergrad in Fine Art. Completely new to the area and industry, she looked for opportunities to learn and connect, and was soon attending local Canadian Institute of Mining , Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) events while working as a mechanical designer. As she became more familiar and comfortable in the mining space, she continued her education completing a second undergrad in commerce, eventually supporting her transition into Project Management. In the local community she moved from a participant to a volunteer with the CIM, eventually leading the Mining Week initiative. Through this role she extended her influence, raising awareness about the industry in the local community through multi-media events, including: a mining themed art exhibition, symposiums, and a murder mystery dinner. Beyond the CIM, Rachel has been a judge at the FIRST robotics competition in North Bay since 2014, representing the mining industry and promotion of STEM opportunities.

Now as a Principal and the Business Center Operations Leader for the Canadian Mining, Minerals and Metals team at Stantec, Rachel has recently completed her MBA. Driven by her passion for growth and development, Rachel is continuously looking for opportunities to broaden her own learning and sharing that with others. She is committed to nurturing talent and elevating those around her, creating space for everyone to bring their full selves to the team, to lead with their strengths and find a fulfilling career in mining.

Rachel was nominated by Trang Tran-Valade and Kayla MacIntosh.