Two Sudbury business leaders were honoured Feb. 13 for their individual contributions to the mining supply sector in Northern Ontario.
Construction company founder Dick Cousineau and media company founder Michael Atkins were both named to the MineConnect Hall of Fame. This was done as part of MineConnect's annual general meeting.
MineConnect is the Sudbury-based organization that represents and advocates for mining supply companies across Ontario, the companies that provide tools, equipment, services and materials so that mining companies can actually extract minerals.
Bruno Lalonde, the organization’s president and CEO, said he was pleased "to have the opportunity to highlight some amazing people in our community and that contributed so much to our sector."
Michael Atkins
Michael Atkins was the founder and owner of Laurentian Publishing, which produced numerous publications including Northern Life and Sudbury.com, Northern Ontario Business, Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal, Sudbury Living and several other publications.
MineConnect said Atkins was being honoured as an influencer for the mining supply sector, going back to the days of writing news stories about SAMSSA, the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association, which was the precursor to MineConnect.
Atkins died in December after a lengthy illness. On hand to accept the hall of fame award on behalf of Atkins' family was close friend and Sudbury.com publisher Abbas Homayed, who said he was pleased to reflect on the remarkable impact Atkins had on the business community and the mining industry.
"Michael was more than just a businessman. A true visionary, he understood the vital role that mining plays in our economy," said Homayed. "He dedicated his career to ensuring that the Northern Ontario mining sector remained strong, innovative and competitive on a global scale.”
He added that Atkins was passionate about ensuring the mining industry had a strong voice both locally and globally and was happy to provide a platform through the mining journal to promote innovation and economic opportunities.
Atkins' dedication to business success fostered the creation of the Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA), said Homayed, who noted that there were no doubt people in the audience who had attended NOBA events through the many years.
"Today, as we remember Michael, let’s continue to push for progress, to advocate for economic development, and to support one another in the way that he so passionately believed in. While we mourn his loss, we also celebrate the impact he had on our lives and our community," said Homayed.
Dick Cousineau
Businessman Rick Cousineau was on the stage to accept the award and speak briefly on behalf of his father, Dick, who began the OCP Construction Supplies and OPC Concrete Pumping business in 1974.
Cousineau said he was so proud to see his father being honoured for 50 years of contributing to the mining supply sector.
Joining the meeting remotely online, company founder Dick Cousineau said he was pleased with the honour and thanked the mining community for the relationships with his company over the years.
"I've been lucky to work alongside some of the most dedicated, hardworking and smart people in the industry," he said.
He added that the success of his company has come from working with good people.
"This industry is built on relationships, trust, perseverance and the commitment to getting the job done right. I've always believed that if you take care of your people, your people will take care of business. That's what OCP has always been about."
Len Gillis covers the mining industry, as well as health care stories for Sudbury.com.
