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Five year funding agreement reached between Vale Base Metals and Laurentian University

New agreement to support ongoing research at Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit

(Sudbury, Ontario) January 22, 2024 - Vale Base Metals has committed to a 5-year funding agreement with the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit (CFEU) at the Vale Living with Lakes Centre, Laurentian University, in support of their long-term monitoring of Sudbury area ecosystems. The agreement includes a total contribution of $960,000 over 5 years.  


The Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit, housed within the Vale Living with Lakes Centre, is a unique partnership between Laurentian University, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Since 1997, the scientists and students at the CFEU have been working with local mining companies (Vale, SINO Glencore) and government partners to assess the effectiveness of atmospheric emission reduction programs in recovering Sudbury area aquatic ecosystems and watersheds. 


“We’re very grateful to receive this funding from our long-term partners at Vale,” says Dr. Jackie Litzgus, Director of CFEU at the Vale Living with Lakes Centre. “This support will go a long way to foster research at Laurentian and to leverage additional support many times over.”


The work of the CFEU assists industry and government partners in measuring the success of their remedial and conservation actions, helping them set realistic targets for restoration. Vale has been a long-time staunch supporter of the CFEU, a team internationally recognized for its research in freshwater restoration. 


“Research of this caliber is critical to allow industry to make informed decisions on sustainability initiatives. Vale is proud to continue supporting this important partnership and is in keeping with our commitment to be a sustainable operator.” said Glen Watson, Senior Specialist in Sustainability at Vale.