Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet ( Jun 14/00) - Glen Dickson is no stranger to mineral exploration in the Kivalliq Region.

Dickson has been the president of Vancouver-based Cumberland Resources since 1993. Prior to Cumberland, he worked with Asamera Minerals Inc., which started working in the Kivalliq Region in 1985.

When Asamera began exploring for gold near Baker Lake, Dickson was working with Complex Minerals Corp., and had established properties in and around Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet.

"We optioned those properties to Asamera and they asked me to join them and run the projects in that area," informs Dickson.

"I joined Asamera as a senior geologist and, in 1988, Asamera was bought by Gulf Canada Resources."

It wasn't long before Gulf shut down Asamera and, three years later, Dickson's position was terminated.

Undaunted, Dickson received permission to look for a company willing to purchase the properties he had put together.

"I had known the principals of Cumberland for a number of years and approached them to help me obtain the properties in the Asamera portfolio.

"I said the one additional item was that I came along with the properties and they said, 'OK, that's fine.'"

Dickson first landed in the Kivalliq in April 1978, and has worked off and on in the region ever since.

He describes his management style as being fairly laid back.

"I give people a fair bit of reign and tend to leave them alone unless they run into problems."

Cumberland's main project is the Meadowbank gold project North of Baker Lake. Dickson says there are two major challenges to overcome there.

He says the most difficult problem is the lack of infrastructure at the site.

"We have to deal with the 'Arctic Premium' of working and trying to build a mine in the North. We look at ways of mitigating that premium by staying close to the ocean and using barges to keep the cost down.

"The second hurdle to be overcome is training Kivalliq residents to be employed in these operations.

"It's very important we do whatever we can to support their needs for an economic base out there."