About us

History

Founded in 1998 by Robert Wares, a geologist from Montreal, Osisko brought Sean Roosen and John Burzynski on board in 2003. Through his exploration work, Robert Wares was able to shed new light on a mining camp long considered depleted: the Malartic Camp.

Canadian Malartic is the foundation upon which Quebec’s leading mining producer was built. Even before pouring its first gold bar at Malartic, Osisko ranked among the top ten Quebec companies in terms of market capitalization. And the adventure has just begun!

Here are the main highlights of our history until the commercial production start date:

	YESTERYEAR MALARTIC’s golden PAST The Town of Malartic owes its existence to four gold deposits and as many mining companies: Canadian Malartic Gold Mines, East Malartic, Sladen Malartic (Barnat Mines) and Malartic Gold Fields. From 1935 to 1983, 8.7 million ounces of gold were mined from the bedrock under Malartic.
2004 Acquisition Using an innovative geological analysis model and applying it to publicly available data stored in the Quebec government's geomining information system (SIGEOM), Robert Wares recognizes the potential for an open pit mining operation on the Canadian Malartic site. Osisko acquires the rights to the site in 2004.
	2005 URBAN DRILLING When Osisko begins exploration in 2005, there are roughly 200 households in the area of interest. If the potential for an open pit mine is confirmed, the neighbourhood will need to be relocated. While sure to be a tricky operation, it also promises to be a great opportunity for the town and its residents: the neighbourhood's infrastructure is in serious need of attention, with some streets in danger of collapsing into the old underground mine workings. In fact, a number of houses had already been relocated in the 1980s for safety reasons.
	2006 THE GATHERING In May 2006, Osisko greets the population of Malartic in a local church. Management explains the company’s plans for the future open pit mine, the relocation of the South neighbourhood, and its drilling program.
Consultation In May 2006, Osisko creates the Community Consultation Group (CCG) formed of representatives from the community, the Town of Malartic, and Osisko. The CCG's mandate is to guide the relocation program and provide a link between the project and the residents of Malartic.
	MORE DRILLING! Drilling continues directly within the Town of Malartic and nearby. When production eventually starts up at the Canadian Malartic mine, more than 800,000 metres of drilling will have been completed on the property, making it one of the biggest drilling programs in mining history.
	2007 assembling the mining team In order to develop and operate the Canadian Malartic Mine, Osisko recruits an experienced team that will guide the transition from an exploration company to join the ranks of producers and become a leading mid-tier gold producer on the Canadian mining scene.
2008 THE CRC Osisko creates the Community Relations Centre (CRC) on Royale Street in downtown Malartic. The CRC proves to be a very valuable source of information for Malartic residents who have questions about the project and how it might affect their way of life.
FEASIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES In September 2008, Osisko tables the environmental impact study for the Canadian Malartic mining project. The study was deemed admissible in January 2009 by the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (press release of January 23, 2009). A positive feasibility study is published in November 2008, declaring 6.28 million ounces of gold in proven and probable reserves. FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR REHABILITATING EAST MALARTIC Osisko concludes a framework agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife providing for the rehabilitation of the abandoned East Malartic site. The goal is to remedy the negative impact from decades of mining by past generations.
	2008-2009 RESETTLEMENT In July 2008, Osisko launches its resettlement program, which will involve moving about 150 homes to a new neighbourhood being developed in Malartic. The project also involves the construction of an elementary school, a daycare centre, an adult education centre, and subsidized housing, which are then transferred to the relevant institutional authorities. The ceremonial keys to the new neighbourhood are handed over to the Town of Malartic in October 2009.

2009 AUTHORIZATION TO MINE Following public hearings held by the BAPE and numerous consultation sessions with the citizens of Malartic, the Québec government authorizes the construction of the Canadian Malartic mine. After raising more than $1 billion in financing to fund the construction phase of the project, work begins in earnest in late August 2009.
	2010 LAYING THE GROUNDWORK Osisko’s plans involve enormous machinery that is critical to a large-scale mining project such as Canadian Malartic. Pre-production operations prepare the material needed to build the green wall and the ROM pad (the ore stockpiling area), which is needed to start up the processing plant.
Construction From August 2009 to May 2011, Osisko built its large-scale mining complex representing more than $1 billion in capital expenditures, more than half of which were spent directly in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. Today, the Canadian Malartic Mine employs more than 700 people, most of them from Quebec, and they are the face of Osisko.
	AN IMPRESSIVE WORKFORCE To operate the Canadian Malartic mine, Osisko recruits men and women from Malartic and the surrounding Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. Mine workers from the region are renowned worldwide for their skill and know-how. Since much of this experience was gained underground, Osisko runs training programs on open pit mining that will benefit its employees throughout their careers.

2011 FIRST GOLD POUR In April 2011, after more than 800,000 metres of drilling and intense preparation, financing, and community relations work, in addition to obtaining hundreds of permits and constructing the mine, the first gold bar is poured at the "new" Canadian Malartic mine—a sight that has not been seen in Malartic for twenty-eight years!