4 Mining Week, February 27, 1991 EXPEDITER Jean Black - mining companies’ presence in Terrace , - LOCATION OF MINING - PROJECTS IN B.C. Windy Craggy ‘ —__ Midway . Me ae , A tuisecuan Chief “Snip @ gEskay Creek “A Sulphurets ACirque A cls Mt. Milligan Dome Min. Q.R. Mt. Polley “a. An expediter’s life by Betty Barton Jean Black is the mining com- panys’ presence in Terrace. She gathers commissary supplics, groceries, equipment and parts, prescriptions and other mining supplies for a group of mining exploration companies and operat“ | ing mines in the "Golden Triangle area". She’s even done mid-month. payroll advances for employees of Skyline Gold. Jean’s busiest season is from May to mid-November, when most mining exploration normally takes place. Suppiies and materials not available from the Terrace market are ordered by Jean ard her crew from manufacturers in caster Canada and also from the U.S. Jean Black feels that has a lot to offer as a service and supply centre, with the additional bonus of efficient air travel. Canadian (Oka- nagan) Helicopters, Vancouver Island Helicopters, Trans-Provin- cial Airlines and numerous jets fly into the Terrace/Kitimat Airport every day. "The only problem is the weather and we can’t change that, " she laughs, | Four years ago, Jean Black com- menced her mining expediting career when Skyline Gold "decided to go in". That was also the year the Ministry of Highways decided to shut down the airstrip at Bob Quinn Lake. Jean added lobbying to her many responsibilities and "got it back on track". Jean’s expediting. crew includes daughter Loma, friend Nan Dun- can and, duting the summer holi- days, one ‘or two high school stu- dents. ‘Jean herself does most of the grocery and equipment ‘shop- " ping’ and uses her staff to box the ‘goods, tie them down, label and deliver them to the airport or trucking firm who will transport the goods to.the appropriate camp of mining opera: ng. Jean communicates generally with one contact person, often the opetations fma:.ver, from each mining company. How do the ~— companies know about her? She’s never really thought about it. But she does advertise in Mining mag- azine, the Smithers mining direc- tory, the City of Terrace’s new j da lot of