On behalf of the CMEB, we cannot begin without saluting a monumental personality in the history of our organization. On April 28, 2021, the CMEB suffered a great loss with the passing away of its president in office, Mr. Reggie Mark. Mr. Mark, or Reggie as everyone called him, was one of the CMEB’s founders, appointed to its board of directors in 2002 and was its president since 2016. He was an active community member of the Cree First Nation of Wemindji, he was its chief for two terms from 1999 to 2005, then he served as Deputy Chief and Councillor. He was also President of Vieux Comptoir Construction and director of numerous entities such as Beesum, Air Wemindji as well as Tawich Development Corporation. 

Most of all, Reggie was a remarkably kind and generous man. He humble man with deep human values. The CMEB wishes to acknowledge and salute his exceptional contribution to the mineral industry. He will be missed by many friends throughout Eeyou Istchee, Québec and Canada. We look forward to carry on in the spirit of the heritage of values and respect he so well instilled in those he met and worked with. 

I have the honour to succeed to Mr. Mark following my appointment on September 29, 2021, by the GCC (EI)/CNG’S Executive Committee as director to CMEB’s Board and my election as its president on November 3, 2021. For me it’s a return since I served as directors on CMEB’s Board from 2015 to 2019 and it is with great enthusiasm that I undertake this new function. I hope and will serve so that my experience gathered over the years as administrator, advisor and negotiator in various fields including the mining industry will be beneficial to the CMEB’s growth and prosperity and those it serves. 

This year again the CMEB worked with and provided assistance to Eeyou communities and Eeyou land users in view of raising their awareness and involvement in the mineral exploration field. The CMEB believes that mineral exploration in Eeyou Istchee will continue to increase despite the slowdown caused by the Covid 19 pandemic and that Eeyouch must continue to be more and more involved in this field as the mining cycle will reach again its peak in coming years. In this regard, the CMEB has been providing a basic training course to Communities’ leadership and interested Eeyou beneficiaries in view for them to have a better understanding of the development of mining projects from the grass-roots exploration to operation and decommissioning. 

For the coming year, the CMEB wishes to pursue it goals of having not only a greater presence in the mineral exploration field but also to increase economic benefits of our community members and businesses. As well, we wish to find ways to promote a greater implication from community members who are not as involved in this field, namely youth and women. 

My thanks go especially to the members of the Board of Directors of the CMEB for their time, their knowledge and the efforts they devoted to the success of the programs of the CMEB. I take this opportunity to welcome Mr. Marc Leblanc, Director General of Géologie Québec (MENR) who has been recently appointed to CMEB’s Board. I particularly make a point of underlining the Director’s engagement to achieve the CMEB’s goals which target nothing less than excellence with respect to the participation of the Eeyouch in the sectors of mineral exploration and durable development in Eeyou Istchee.