Thriving Baie Verte gold mine gives back to kids

Despite low prices on the world market, agold mine on theBaieVertePeninsula is thrivingand decided to use its good fortune to help kids in the area learn a life skill.

Manager AllanCrammsaidbusiness has been good because production is up at Anaconda Mining's Pine Cove deposit,andthe slumping Canadian dollar hasbeen an added bonus.

Success story

Cramm said withemployeesin many communities on the peninsula,it's important to give back to as many people in the area as possible and create"regional flair."

"The oneregional facility inBaieVerteistheswimming pool," Cramm toldCBC'sCentral Morning Show.

"So we decided to look at providing free swimming lessons this past summer and it was an unbelievablysuccessful story."

The average enrolment at the pool was about 40 students but after promotion of their plan, Cramm saidparticipation grew to 150.

"So itblew that budget out,"said Cramm.

Despite having nearly four times the people take the company up on the offer, thecompany provided everyone with lessons.

Crammsaidsafety is promoted daily in the industry,so teaching kids a skill likeswimming seemed like a perfect fit.

Future prospects

Cramm said technology and experience has improved operations,andthe company is always looking at future expansion.

He added that right now they're working with five years of resources but arequite pleased with recent exploration. The company, he said, islooking at expanding into another gold deposit nearbycalledtheStog'erTightproject.

"As the saying goes, the best place to look for a mine is near an existing mine, so we've been really workingon that."

Exploration,said Cramm, iskey to the life of the mine.