ODDS’N’SODS — Hold that plane!

Early in April 1974, while awaiting the paperwork for a trip to Africa to be processed, I had accepted a 3-month contract as a mine surveyor with Terra Mining & Exploration at the Terra mine. Departure from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territories would be the day after Nova Scotia Technical College’s graduation ceremonies. As most graduates know, graduation week is just one long party climaxing in the graduation prom.

Bright and early the next day, an exceedingly tired passenger boarded the first Air Canada flight to Edmonton, Alta. Upon arrival, there was no time to find a hotel — only time to take a cab directly to Terra’s head office to sign on and arrange for a medical and transportation to the mine the next day.

The plan was to fly from Edmonton to Hay River, N.W.T., where I would be paged by a company representative for the final leg of the journey via company plane. This was all very well except that the plane was fogged out of Hay River and continued on to Yellowknife. While waiting at the airport for my name to be called, I noticed a plane preparing for takeoff, with the word “Terra” painted on its tail. I immediately headed for the tower (fully expecting to be stopped by security) to have them radio the plane and inform the pilot that he was missing one passenger.

A very irate pilot circled the runway and taxied to the terminal. The props were still spinning when the door was flung open and someone hollared at me to toss my luggage in and hop on. It was a 200-mile flight to the mine, which was situated on the southern shore of Great Bear Lake. There were only three other pasengers on the flight, which was just as well as there were only four passenger seats. Everything rattled.

After touching down on the ice, I was directed to the office to check in with the manager. It was at this point that I learned that between the time of accepting the position and my arrival, the company had hired an additional surveyor. He had been hired because he was available immediately. Having an experienced underground surveyor as a partner was quite a relief, as I had never before surveyed underground.

— The author is a mining engineer who resides in South Porcupine, Ont.