Fog keeps workers from Ekati
Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 24/00) - Yellowknifers rallied to the rescue Wednesday evening to help about 50 stranded Ekati mine workers who had no place to sleep.
The workers were en route to Ekati mine when heavy fog made it impossible for the plane to land, forcing them back to Yellowknife.
"It's like an adventure, every trip," admitted contractor Randy Trotter, of Transwest Mining in Calgary.
Workers were quick to find that Yellowknife hotels were booked solid because of the 28th Annual Geoscience Forum now going on in the city. The Department of National Defence and Yellowknife Education District No. 1 came to the workers' rescue by donating cots and the use of Sir John Franklin high school. Denise Burlingame, BHP's senior public affairs officer, said arrangements were also made for the stranded workers to dine at a local restaurant.
"It was a little bit of an adventure for people who couldn't go home. They had fun with it," said Burlingame, adding the weather conditions were being monitored and the workers would be flown to the mine as soon as the fog lifted.
