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ROSSLAND OPEN PIT MINE
Submitted by Nicola on Wed, 26/03/2025 - 6:57am
We Are Asking For More Information. Please Add Your Voice We really need your help. A proposed Open Pit Mine in Rossland threatens to upend our way of life, obliterate part of the world famous Seven Summits Trail and both airborne and waterborne contamination problems could directly affect our health here in town due to the mine’s proximity. This community deserves and demands a full health and environmental assessment before permitting continues. Whether you are a visitor or citizen of this special place, for or against a mine in general PLEASE read, sign and share our petition asking for more information. Town: Rossland, BC ![]() |
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Who was in town last weekend collecting signatures? They asked I how I felt about the mine and I said I have a save record ridge hoodie and I love Mell. They had no idea what I was talking about.
Not everyone in town knows Mel And I agree, she and all the amazing folks in SRRAC are working hard behind the scenes for us. As the province gets close to a permitting decision, now is the time to remind folks that this issue has not gone away. Someone in the group did have a visiting family member helping to collect sigs. Pretty sure she doesn't know Mel but will be affected by the mine just like all of us. We are grateful that she volunteered to help!
Why is there a group seperate from srrac doing petitions etc
This just seems confusing and distracting from srracs work?
Thank you, Nicola! Signed. The more names we get on any and all petitions, the greater the chance of being heard. We have an excellent SRRAC group working hard to address a lot of the concerning technical and scientific aspects of the mine application. Please correct me if I am wrong, Nicola or SRRAC, but I think this petition augments their work and gives citizens another opportunity to add their voice to try to compel the government to help ensure they are considering all of the impacts and properly consulting the community members in a fully transparent way (as opppsed to organizing Zoom meetings during inconvenient times, etc.).
As background for those not aware of the history, there was a consultation process last year that resulted in the project being deemed reviewable and subject to environmental assessment. However WhY resources then changed their application to lower their production numbers on paper to avoid assessment....which really does not change the fact that opening up the side of a mountain will still have a significant impact. So things keep changing and as citizens we need to have our voices heard in every way possible and keep the pressure on.
Signed.
No jurisdiction
Haha! Gas-lighting, BSBB, and fear-mongering Mike is back. Hey Mikey - there is a guy south of the border you should go work for.,......
"No jurisdiction" to voice opposition to something we don't agree with, says the person voicing opposition to something they don't agree with. Classic Mike.
Thanks for asking for clarification DorothyWD. SRRAC is working tirelessly to ensure due process is followed with this proposal but we citizens need to be heard too. The impacts to the health of our community and the alignment of this project with our core community values is difficult to express within much of the formal approval process, especially when we can't get something as simple as an in-person town meeting with the ministry. I was dismayed by the number of people who thought the whole "mine thing" had gone away when I was talking to people downtown last weekend. It hasn't gone away and we need all hands on deck to make our voices heard. More information about the health, socioeconomic, and environmental impacts is an absolute must. Support SRRAC, sign the petition, put up a sign, write to the premier, tell your friends. SAVE Rossland.
Thanks for being part of the solution, Nicola and team. There is power in numbers, let's sign the petition and make our voices heard.
Here's an article that shares some insight on the growth potential of mines, as well as their skirting of environmental assessment:
https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-no-environmental-assessment-gibraltar-mine-expa...
Damn the man, save Rossland.
That article summarizes what will happen if the Record Ridge permit is approved. Gov't and citizens are being gaslighted by an Alberta company and investors into believing this "little" operation will have no impact on Rossland. But they plan to grow, and plan to continue to bypass environmental assessment due to loopholes in legislation that allow incremental increases in production. Frog in slow boil pot. We will never see the Record Ridge grasslands ever look the same again. Get out and hike it as soon as you can this year. It couid be the last.
Mayor Andy was on CBC Daybreak this morning. Write in to daybreakkelowna@cbc.ca to give your say!
Thank you Mayor Morel for the rejection recommendation of the mine and speaking up on CBC!
April 02, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE
MINING RESPONSIBLY: ADDRESSING CITY OF ROSSLAND’S MISLEADING
INFORMATION ON RECORD RIDGE
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. (TSXV:WHY) is committed to responsible
mining, environmental stewardship, and open engagement with local communities and
Indigenous partners.
For over six years, the Record Ridge Industrial Minerals Mine (RRIMM) has been
subject to a rigorous permitting process under the BC Mines Act, overseen by the Mine
Development Review Committee (MDRC) and independent qualified professionals
(QPs). This ensures compliance with the highest environmental, technical, and
regulatory standards.
Despite this, Rossland City Council has publicly opposed the project based on
misleading claims and misinformation. By doing so, they undermine the integrity of BC’s
permitting process and disregard the expertise of both government regulators and
independent environmental specialists who have validated this project.
It’s time to separate fact from fiction.
THE FACTS:
• RRIMM is Fully Regulated Under BC’s Mines Act
The project has passed extensive environmental and technical reviews.
Independent qualified professionals (QPs) and the Mine Development Review
Committee (MDRC) have confirmed its compliance with BC’s strict mining
regulations.
• Strong Indigenous Support & Economic Reconciliation
The Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) and the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) formally
support RRIMM. Agreements ensure Indigenous participation in oversight and
economic benefits for their communities.
Rossland City Council and local NGO’s failed to consult with the First Nations who
rightfully hold the land title before taking a public stance against the project.
• Environmental Responsibility & Transparency
RRIMM meets and exceeds all environmental regulatory standards. Concerns about
water usage, air quality, and safety have been fully addressed by independent experts
and validated by the MDRC.
• No Impact on Tourism & Trails
RRIMM is over 10 km from Rossland and more than 15 km from Red Mountain Ski
Resort—it poses no threat to local tourism. The company has worked with the
Kootenay Columbia Trails Society (KCTS) to adjust a short section of the Seven
Summits Trail, ensuring uninterrupted public access.
• Truck Route Will Not Affect Rossland
Claims that the project will bring heavy traffic into Rossland’s downtown are false and
misleading. All materials will be hauled directly to the U.S. via Highway 22, bypassing
Rossland completely.
• Rossland City Council Refused to Engage
W.H.Y. Resources reached out multiple times to meet with Rossland’s leadership. The
City of Rossland refused to engage in constructive dialogue.
MOVING FORWARD: LET’S HAVE A FACT-BASED DISCUSSION
West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. remains committed to responsible
development, sustainability, and open communication.
We invite Rossland residents, regulators, and all stakeholders to rely on facts, expert
analysis, and regulatory approvals rather than fear-based opposition tactics.
For more information:
Visit: www.whyresources.com
Contact: info@whyresources.com
Bhubble accounts are open to anyone from anywhere. I'm not convinced Mike above isn't somehow connected to WHY resources and has a financial interest. There is no penalty for WHY to put out this kind of press release with false and/or misleading claims. It is rather alarming they present such a confrontational approach, rather than making more effort to gain our trust with measures that include agreeing to undergo the full environmental assessment warranted by such an impactful project. Instead they continually move the goalposts claiming it is now below threshold. When they continue to refuse to subject themselves to objective assessment by parties not hand-picked by them, it raises all kinds of red flags.
If this is the lucrative project with economic benefit they claim, then what's the cost of environmental assessment? If this were a financially viable project to them then wouldn't the cost would be worth it?
Instead we are left with the risk of contamination and clean up when they go bust, leaving us a mountain ripped apart and a bond that doesn't come remotely close to covering it, especially after inflation in future years.
Mike, the information listed for the mine distances are not as a "crow flies" or in this case "as asbestos dust flies" , rather driving distances. Definitely not the same thing. Great idea having a fact based discussion, we've been asking for one for 2 years.
The "needs" of the few should never outweigh the needs of the many and this mine will never serve more than a handful of investors. It will be a disaster for this town and cause economic distress to the very real industry of Rossland, tourism!
To me this mine represents a choice for Rossland - we're either a mining town or a recreational town.
Because, given the facts, the two are NOT compatible.
Debunking WHYs April 2, 2025 Press Release “facts”:
1. The MDRC has not confirmed the project's compliance with BC mine regulations.
2. Contrary to WHY Resources' claim, aboriginal title (or land title) to the Rossland / Record Ridge area has not been established through negotiation or litigation. To suggest that Osoyoos Indian Band or the Okanagan Nation Alliance "rightfully hold the land title" is not accurate and disregards interests asserted by the Sinixt Confederacy, the Autonomous Sinixt and Ktunaxa and Secwépemc Peoples.
3. The mine site is not 10 kilometres away from Rossland and 15 kilometres away from Red Mountain.
4. The project does not meet all environmental standards.
5. The project poses a threat to local tourism.
6. WHY has not presented a transportation plan indicating that all materials will be transported via Highway 22 (rather, its submitted transportation plan proposes the shipment of all materials through Rossland, Warfield and Trail).
See WHY's Press Release attached for your reference.
Debunking WHYs April 2, 2025 Press Release “facts”:
1. The MDRC has not confirmed the project's compliance with BC mine regulations.
2. Contrary to WHY Resources' claim, aboriginal title (or land title) to the Rossland / Record Ridge area has not been established through negotiation or litigation. To suggest that Osoyoos Indian Band or the Okanagan Nation Alliance "rightfully hold the land title" is not accurate and disregards interests asserted by the Sinixt Confederacy, the Autonomous Sinixt and Ktunaxa and Secwépemc Peoples.
3. The mine site is not 10 kilometres away from Rossland and 15 kilometres away from Red Mountain.
4. The project does not meet all environmental standards.
5. The project poses a threat to local tourism.
6. WHY has not presented a transportation plan indicating that all materials will be transported via Highway 22 (rather, its submitted transportation plan proposes the shipment of all materials through Rossland, Warfield and Trail).
See WHY's Press Release attached for your reference.
Debunking WHYs April 2, 2025 Press Release “facts”:
1. The MDRC has not confirmed the project's compliance with BC mine regulations.
2. Contrary to WHY Resources' claim, aboriginal title (or land title) to the Rossland / Record Ridge area has not been established through negotiation or litigation. To suggest that Osoyoos Indian Band or the Okanagan Nation Alliance "rightfully hold the land title" is not accurate and disregards interests asserted by the Sinixt Confederacy, the Autonomous Sinixt and Ktunaxa and Secwépemc Peoples.
3. The mine site is not 10 kilometres away from Rossland and 15 kilometres away from Red Mountain.
4. The project does not meet all environmental standards.
5. The project poses a threat to local tourism.
6. WHY has not presented a transportation plan indicating that all materials will be transported via Highway 22 (rather, its submitted transportation plan proposes the shipment of all materials through Rossland, Warfield and Trail).
See WHY's Press Release attached for your reference.
I'm not sure why the latest message for Debunking WHY's Press Release appears 3 times. FYI it wasn't my intention nor on purpose.