New Raglan Mine VP says relationship with Inuit is priority
‘It is the base of everything,’ says Jean-François Verret
Newly appointed vice-president of Raglan Mine Jean-François Verret speaks to the crowd at the Anuri Mine opening in February. (Photo by Cedric Gallant)
Jean-François Verret says he believes he has big shoes to fill at Nunavik’s Raglan Mine.
He started with the Glencore Canada-owned mine as an engineer and now he’s the company’s vice-president in charge of the whole operation.
Verret is taking over as vice-president, Raglan Mine, for Pierre Barrette, who is retiring after six years in the role.
“I am coming into a situation where [Barrette] left me a very clean house,” Verret said in an interview over the phone.
Over his time at the mine, Verret rapidly climbed the ranks to eventually become director of projects, strategy and exploration.
He took part in every step of the Anuri Mine’s creation, and Raglan’s Sivumut project, which aims to continue the mining of nickel for the next 20 years.
“A big part of my 14 years at Raglan was to build phase two [Sivumut], from paper to the mine that is in operation now,” Verret said.
“I built the future with my hands, now I will be operating it as vice-president.”
He said Raglan Mine is situated on “very fertile property” in a geological sense. The mine site is nearly double the size of the city of Montreal.
Verret’s primary objective is to maintain the ongoing relationship between Raglan and Nunavik Inuit. He deems this the foundation of the company.
“It is the base of everything, the Raglan act, respecting the territory, the environment, the Inuit,” Verret said.
Tuesday was his first day as vice-president. He spent it on the land with Inuit elders, doing cultural activities.
His other priorities are his employees’ health and safety, keeping up production and managing its cost, and increasing growth.
“I am a big defender of the territory, the northern communities and Indigenous rights,” Verret said. “It is part of my values.”
His position comprises two roles. He explains that on one end, he acts as the general director of Raglan Mine and everything that surrounds it is under his responsibility.
At the same time, he is now a vice-president for Glencore and part of the decision-making process when it comes to international business with Glencore Nickel.
“I will bring my own flavour, my own energy that is different,” Verret said.
Nunavik construction has racist group of French.
Keiwitt too has racism.
I left my job,cause of that.
Agnico Eagle is the same.👿
Same scripted PR stuff they all say.
What is the plan should the now frozen tailings heap thaws?
Thaw VS thaws, that and temperatures are rising fast in Nunavik and all across the arctic. Have a remedial plan SVP.
The big cheese JF should know that if you don’t parlay on a higher level than the GG then you become the queen/king of dishes and janitors. Not too mention that the habitual addictions policy should be improved pass zero tolerance to maybe 50% tolerance to relax on time off, with the stress of being far from family and friends. Too many suspended employees treated like criminals that were striving towards a civilized society. Fine body cavity search the whole work force asides from just Inuit🙄
What?
I believe that the workers from the south are the ones who needs to be subjected to full cavity search because there are no drug manufacturers in Nunavik. The southern workers should also be investigated for sexually abusing inuit workers. I hope the new guy will clean up the work area and do a good job.