Upcoming symposium to spotlight emerging dimension stone industry

Industry personnel, government officials, prospectors and other interested parties from across the province will descend on the Mount Peyton Hotel in Grand Falls-Windsor this week for the Newfoundland and Labrador Stone Symposium 2002. The symposium, which is being held from March 20-22, will spotlight the province�s emerging dimension stone industry. The Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, in conjunction with the Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation is hosting the event, in cooperation with the Department of Mines and Energy, ACOA and the Chamber of Mineral Resources.

"The Newfoundland and Labrador dimension stone industry has considerable potential but needs the continued cooperation of industry, community and government to grow and develop further," said Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Beaton Tulk, who will be guest speaker at the symposium dinner on Thursday evening. "We are committed to growing the dimension stone industry and other strategic growth opportunities. One way we are doing that is through the Newfoundland and Labrador Stone Symposium 2002."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Stone Symposium 2002 will be an opportunity for industry personnel, government officials, prospectors and other interested individuals to learn more about the industry and to interact and network.

"Initiatives focusing on new economic developments within the stone industry and their promotions have become a priority for the Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation," said Gerald Thompson, chairperson of the Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation. "A few years ago, we identified the need for a venue for key industry players to network and discuss development opportunities and challenges. This symposium is designed to achieve that goal."

The three day symposium begins on March 20 with a tour and overview of the successful International Granite Corporation quarrying operation and monument plant near Jumper�s Brook. Day two includes a plenary session which focuses on: the roles of government, the Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Mineral Resources; examples of building and restoration projects which have incorporated Newfoundland and Labrador dimension stone; and presentations on quarrying and fabrication operations and stone exploration. The final day of the symposium is a prospector training session. This session will provide quality information on what constitutes a marketable stone, marketing and an introduction to quarry assessment.

For more information, please see the attached agenda.

Media contact:

Josephine Cheeseman, Industry, Trade and Rural Development, (709) 729-4570
Gerald Thompson, Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation, (709) 489-8700

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR STONE SYMPOSIUM 2002

12:30 p.m        Depart Mount Peyton Hotel parking lot 12:30 p.m. sharp for tour of the International
                      Granite Corporation/Cabot Granite Fabricators Incorporated Monument Plant.  Tour will
                      return to the Mount Peyton by approximately 5:00 p.m.

                      � Evening Activities �

7:00 p.m.        Opening Reception and Registration (A cash bar will be available). Welcoming remarks
                      by Phil McCarthy, Assistant Deputy Minister, Department of Industry, Trade and Rural
                      Development

Morning Session
Session Chair: Dr. Lawson Dickson, Department of Mines and Energy

8:00 a.m.        Registration (Registration desk will remain open throughout the sessions)

8:30 a.m.        Welcoming remarks by Jerome Moore, Vice-Chair, EVEDC

                      Opening Remarks by:

•    Kirk Tilley, Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development
•    Mike Regular, EVEDC
•    Ken Martin, Director of Business Programs, ACOA

9:00 a.m.        The Newfoundland and Labrador Dimension Stone Industry: An Update. David Evans,
                      Dimension Stone Development Officer, Department of Industry, Trade and Rural
                      Development

9:10 a.m.        The Role of the Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Mineral Resources, Bob Kelly,
                      Executive Director

9:30 a.m.        The Role of the Department of Mines and Energy. Allister Taylor, Assistant Deputy
                      Minister, Department of Mines and Energy

9:50 a.m.        The Rose Blanche Lighthouse (A New Light On Newfoundland Stone). Rita Anderson,
                      Southwest Coast Development Association

10:30 a.m.       � Coffee Break �

10:50 a.m.       Focus Groups: Facilitator, Bob Kelly

12:00 p.m.        Lunch: Guest Speaker: Gary Pearse, Equapolar Resource Consultant Incorporated will
                        speak on "The Dimension Stone Development Process: From Grass Roots Exploration
                        to Operating Quarry"

Afternoon Session Industry Overview Presentations
Session Chair Jerome Moore Vice-chair of the EVEDC

1:30 p.m.        The Torngait Ujaganniavingit Corporation Dimension Stone Operation, Ben Saimat, Quarry
                      Master

1:50 p.m.        An Update on International Granite Corporation/Cabot Granite Fabricators Incorporated:
                      Gerry Pritchett. Owner, International Granite Corporation and Bill Warren, Past-Chair,
                      Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Mineral Resources

2:10 p.m.        Epoch Rock Where Do We Go From Here? Jim Radford, President and CEO

2:30 p.m.        Carew Services Incorporated: A Summary of Products and Services, Dave Carew, Owner

2:50 p.m.        Pye�s Ridge North � A World Class Marble Prospect, Kevin Brewer, Managing Director,
                      Atlantic Stone

3:10 p.m.        � Coffee Break �

3:30 p.m.        The Rooms � Stone Selection and Use in a Contemporary Newfoundland Building. Charlie
                      Henley, PHB Group Incorporated

4:10 p.m.        Report from Focus Groups and Summary

7:00 p.m.        Reception (Cash bar)

7:30 p.m.        Dinner: Guest Speaker, Beaton Tulk, Minister of Industry Trade and Rural Development

Course Facilitators:

•   Chris Johnson, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales, Epoch Rock Incorporated
•   Sherry Dunsworth, Consultant Geologist

8:00 a.m.        Opening remarks: Dave Evans, Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development.

8:05 a.m.        Part 1: Market Segments and Trends
                                A) Overview
                                B) Key Marketing Elements and How They Affect Stone Selection

9:00 a.m.        Discussion

9:30 a.m.        Part 2: Colour Identification From a Marketing Viewpoint
                                A) Overall Colour Trends
                                B) Market Testing

10:30 a.m.        � Coffee Break �

10:30 a.m.        Discussion

11:00 a.m.        Part 1: Geological Factors and Features to Consider in Prospecting for Potential
                        Dimension Stone Sites
                                A) Overview
                                B) Major Geological Features and Factors to Consider in Prospecting for Potential
                                    Granite Dimension Stone Sites

12:30 a.m.        Discussion

12:30 p.m.        Working Lunch

1:30 p.m.          Part 2: Dimension Stone Assessment and Quarrying Techniques
                                A) A Logical Approach to Dimension Stone Deposit Assessment: Data Gathering
                                    and Analysis
                                B) General Quarrying Techniques and Equipment

3:00 p.m.        � Coffee Break �

3:00 p.m.        Discussion

3:30 p.m.        Concluding Remarks, Mike Regular, EVEDC

2002 03 14                            5:00 p.m.