SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The northern mining industry has lost one of its greatest geologists.

Douglas Bryan, formerly of Yellowknife, died away on June 15 in Coldstream B.C. after a two-year fight with ALS, or Lou Gherig's disease. He was 63.

Doug Bryan conducts some field work at a geology camp in Gillman B.C. in 2007. Bryan lost his battle with Lou Gherig's Disease last Wednesday and after practising in the NWT for 35 years. He also won awards for his contributions to the geology profession in the North, and helped found Diavik Diamond Mines. - photo Courtesy of Gary Vivian

Bryan was an extensive contributor to the art and science of mineral exploration in the NWT for almost 35 years and received the J.C. Sproule Memorial Award from the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) in May, as well as the National Association of Professional Engineers and Geologists (NAPEG) Award of Merit in June for his contribution to the field of mineral exploration.

"Doug loved the North most of all. It was his home and that's why he wanted to be buried here," said his wife, Barb.

"Geology, our boys and me - those were his passions."

Bryan began his professional career as a geology student at the University of Alberta in the 1970s, when he worked summers as a mapper with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, formerly the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), in the High Lake and Hackett River greenstone belts in Nunavut. Bryan was known for the accuracy and detail of his maps, which were praised as exceptional by his peers.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science in geology, Bryan joined Noranda Exploration in Yellowknife as an assistant geologist in 1975 . He soon graduated to the company's project geologist position, and excelled at his job. He married his wife Barb later that year.

"Doug never told DIAND that he was getting married, he just left the North. We got married in Nova Scotia, he showed up back at camp and had me with him," his wife said.

His son Matthew was born in 1978, and a second son, Jordan, was born in 1984.

"Matt is the outgoing, social butterfly, boat-wrecker in the family, and Jordan is the quiet, stoic young man that a lot of us saw in Doug," said Gary Vivian, president of Aurora Geosciences Limited in Yellowknife.

Both of Bryan's sons have followed in their father's footsteps and have inherited his passion for geology. Matthew, who lives in Fernie B.C., is a mining engineer and Jordan is pursuing a degree in environmental mining technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

"I always used to say Doug finds the rocks, Matthew blows them up and Jordan covers them up," Barb said.

Bryan was involved in all phases of geological exploration in the North, and was well-respected for his management skills in the many projects he spearheaded. Among them was the discovery of the Courageous Lake deposit in early 1980, which is one of Canada's largest undeveloped gold resources. In 1982, still with Noranda Exploration, Bryan moved to Kamloops, B.C., as an exploration manager and was then transferred to Bathurst, N. B. He returned to Yellowknife in 1986 and joined Lou Covello Consulting. One year later, Bryan was a full partner at Covello. He stayed with the company for 10 years and was instrumental in helping to stake the claims that currently host the Diavik diamond mine. In 1997, he joined Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. as chief exploration geologist, and served with the company until 2003.

Bryan continued his work as a manager of exploration when he worked for Allyn Resources Limited from early 2004 until late 2006.

"Doug also served as a director of the Chamber of Mines for many years, and contributed his quiet strength to our association's efforts to grow a healthy mining industry in the North," said Tom Hoefer, Executive director on the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines.

"He will be sorely missed."

Bryan also loved to mentor other geologists, and students especially benefited from his advice.

"He was a tremendous mentor. He brought to our profession a logical, meticulous and reasoned approach," Vivian said.

Bryan also served for 15 years as a Yellowknife minor hockey coach, treasurer and league governor.

"Doug loved hockey almost as much as he loved geology," his wife said.

Bryan was working as an independent consultant until his ALS diagnosis in 2009, providing consulting services to Aurora Geosciences Ltd. in Saskatchewan and Nunavut, North Arrow Minerals in Nunavut and the U.S., Manson Creek Resources in B.C. and Forsys Minerals in South Africa.

Shortly before his death, Bryan wrote a series of 39 short stories for his grandchildren, three-year-old Avary and 18-month-old Malea.

"Doug wrote the stories as a way for his grandchildren to know him and remember him," Barb said.

"We are working on getting them published."

Approximately 200 people attended the memorial for Bryan on June 20, which was held at Great Slave Helicopters hangar, Vivian said.

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