Voisey’s Bay Nickel Company

Inco’s Voisey’s Bay project represents a new level of commitment for our company – and guides us as we build and strengthen our relationships with our indigenous partners around the world.

Since arriving in Newfoundland and Labrador in the mid 1990s, Inco, through our subsidiary Voisey's Bay Nickel Company (VBNC), has worked hard to develop a knowledge and understanding of the needs and expectations of local aboriginal peoples and communities. “At the heart of our approach is the recognition that we are operating on land traditionally claimed by aboriginal peoples and that the only way to develop the project is to do it with the cooperation and support of aboriginal people,” says Tom Paddon, VBNC's Manager of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs.

• Signed Impact and Benefits Agreements with Labrador Inuit Association and Innu Nation.
• Worked in partnership with local aboriginal groups and the federal government to establish the Joint Voisey’s Bay Employment and Training Authority Inc. (JETA), an innovative new training organization.
• Recruited a workforce composed of over 30 per cent aboriginal employees.
• Awarded contracts valued at approximately Cdn. $290 million to aboriginal companies.
• Brought VBNC, contractor and aboriginal monitors together to participate in our first Environmental Performance Review Workshop.
• Contributed $850,000 (Cdn. $1.2 million) to the Innu Healing Foundation's Building Hope Campaign to help build, equip and endow two community recreational facilities in Sheshatshiu and Natuashish.
• Provided sponsorship support for the Nunatsiavut Drum Dancers, a group of 12 Inuit performers ages 12 to 16 from Nain in northern Labrador, to participate in the 2003 Toronto First Night Festival including the DareArts International Children for Peace Concert in Toronto, Ontario.