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Giant Mine remediation project manager Bill Mitchell will step down in the new year.

Walt Humphries, left, and Mike Vaydik, right, of the NWT Mining Heritage Society, present Bill Mitchell, centre, with a parting gift. The George Hunter print depicts a gold pour at Giant Mine. Mitchell has been an advocate and supporter of the society in its attempts to build a museum at the mine. - photo courtesy of Ryan Silke

"I've been six years on the project (and) working nothing but Giant, so it's time for a change and a bit more variety in my life," Mitchell said.

"It's been an interesting and challenging project and I've certainly enjoyed it."

Not that Mitchell is going far. Set to officially step down mid- to late- January, Mitchell will stay on hand for as long as needed to advise the new project manager, Martin Gavin, who is already in Yellowknife learning the ropes.

"He started effectively a couple of weeks ago now. He'll be carrying the torch and taking the project forward," said Mitchell.

His departure will cause no bumps in the project, Mitchell said.

"It really doesn't affect the project at all."

Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem, who sits on the Giant Mine Community Coalition, agreed the cleanup remains in good hands.

Even so, "The fact that he's gone (but) not gone completely – because he'll be coming back from time to time to oversee various parts of this -- is of comfort," said Van Tighem. "Bill will be available to provide the continuity that you frequently need in this kind of transition.

"He's made some huge and significant contributions to the program."

Those contributions include taking the project through various stages, from the recommendations for abandonment and restoration, through to the planning and peer review process and up to its present environmental assessment stage.

Mitchell has also contributed to ongoing care and maintenance plans.

The environmental assessment stage is ongoing and Mitchell is waiting to hear back on the terms of reference for the developer's assessment report.

"I'm hoping that given all the extensive research and peer reviews that the project has already undergone that we would be able to prepare that report quite quickly," he said.

In the meantime, he said he will enjoy one last Christmas in Yellowknife.

"It's really been fun, even in this cold weather," he said.