North of 60 Mining News - The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North

In another example of mining companies across the North stepping up to help their local communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria Gold Corp. donated C$100,000 to the Food Bank Society of Whitehorse, which provides emergency food to Yukoners.

"We're so pleased to be able to support Yukoners in need as COVID-19 continues and our food banks face the front lines of the pandemic," said Victoria Gold President and CEO John McConnell. "The health, safety and well-being of all Yukon residents and communities are the most important aspects of our business and we are honored to be able to assist the wonderful, much-needed work of the Food Bank Society of Whitehorse."

This donation, made on behalf of the employees and contractors at Victoria's newly developed Eagle Gold Mine, is helping to enable the Food Bank Society of Whitehorse, in partnership with several not-for-profit community organizations and Yukon First Nations governments, to continue to provide food deliveries to Yukon communities on a regular basis, as well as establish a regular meal program seven days a week in Whitehorse.

Victoria Gold's donation allows the Society to increase food hamper sizes and distribution to Yukon communities, which will also benefit all citizens of the Village of Mayo and Keno City. Food hampers that formerly provided three to five days' worth of food will now be able to offer five to seven days' worth per hamper.

"This generous donation from Victoria Gold means a lot to us at the Food Bank Society of Whitehorse and on behalf of our board of directors, volunteers and clients, we're so thankful to the company for stepping up to help Yukoners," said Food Bank Society of Whitehorse Executive Director Dave Blottner. "During difficult times like these, support like this allows us to plan ahead and put together larger food orders to also help our friends and neighbors in communities outside Whitehorse."

The Food Bank Society of Whitehorse has helped over 7,000 Yukoners, 30% of which are children, since it opened its doors in 2009.

The society's work is ongoing with communities to best determine what form of support will be most helpful; ready-made food hampers or bulk supplies that will allow these Yukoners to customize support as they see fit.

"Support like this from Victoria Gold also lets us assure our clients with mobility issues or in self-isolation they can still access the services they require," said Food Bank Society of Whitehorse President Dionne Savill. "As well, we can ensure quality food such as dairy, fresh produce and meat are included in our hampers so that every Yukon family in need can maintain a healthy diet."

Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine, which began producing in September of last year, is roughly 375 kilometers (235 miles) north of Whitehorse and 85 kilometers (53 miles) north of the community of Mayo.

More information on the Eagle Gold Mine can be found at Eagle Gold output ramps up at ideal time in the April 15 edition of North of 60 Mining News.

Author Bio

Shane Lasley, Publisher

Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.

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