INDUSTRIAL HERITAGe
Coal mining in the Elk Valley
formed Kaiser Resources Ltd. which
led to a new era of prosperity in the
Elk Valley. Several neighbourhoods in
Fernie were developed at this time,
Sparwood was founded in 1966 to
replace the recently closed community
of Michel, and Elkford was founded
in 1971.
Throughout the 1970’s and ‘80’s, a
variety of operators became involved
in the industry including Fording
Coal Ltd., Esso Resources and Shell
Canada. The 1990’s were a challenging
time beginning with the infamous
1991 bankruptcy of Westar Mining,
formerly known as Kaiser Resources.
Teck Cominco reopened Westar as
Elkview Mine in 1991 and Fording Coal
reopened Westar’s Greenhills Mine
in 1992. In 2004, the Elk Valley Coal
Partnership brought all 5 operational
mines together into an efficient and
streamlined industrial force with Teck
acquiring full control of all interests
in 2008.
As the second largest seaborne
exporter of steelmaking coal in the
world and Canada’s largest diversified
resource company, Teck is a significant
international organisation representing
the Elk Valley across the globe.
Steel produced with Elk Valley coal
is used in healthcare, transportation
and manufacturing, and is essential in
everyday items like computers, phones
and household appliances. With over
40 years of available resources at
current sites, several new potential
sites undergoing Environmental
Assessments, and new companies
including North Coal emerging, the
future prosperity of the industry —
and the Elk Valley — looks very bright.
Teck.com
Northcoal.ca
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