Whitehorse resident Anne Lewis, founder and president of Yukon Women in Mining (YukonWIM), has won the prestigious national Women in Mining Canada 2022 Trailblazer Award.

It recognizes her commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and innovative leadership, within the Yukon’s, and the country’s, mining sector.

Established in 2012, the awards recognize women who “embody the trailblazing spirit, which refers to the leadership mindset needed to make extraordinary personal strides to navigate the Canada mining industry.”

Lewis was informed of her award win late last month amidst YukonWIM planning for May’s annual Yukon Mining & Geology Week.

She had been nominated by Kaeili Gattens, the director of Environment, Social, Governance for JDS Group of Companies.

The nomination had been supported by Math’ieya Alatini, chief strategist for GSD Strategies; Paul West-Sells, president and CEO of Casino Mining Corp. and Scott Kent, the Yukon Party MLA for Copperbelt South and a former minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.

“I am honoured to receive the Women in Mining Canada Trailblazer Award and grateful to all the incredible people I work with each day who share my passion to educate, elevate and empower women in the mining industry and, to have spent the past decade promoting and attracting investment to the Yukon’s globally leading responsible and innovative mineral industry with Yukon Mining Alliance,” Lewis said.

“As my career has developed, and I have visited communities and mineral industry projects throughout the territory and across the North, I have learned about rural and Indigenous social and economic development, reclamation and remediation, geology and investment,” added Lewis.

“I’m committed to continuing to build bridges for those alongside me so that they can participate as trailblazers, advocates and allies of EDI and our modern and increasing progressive, inclusive and diverse mining industry.”

According to Alatini, “Anne exceeds the substantial requirements and expectations of the award, disrupting traditional perceptions and pathways, questioning assumptions and expectations, and challenging the status quo to bring awareness, education, and recognition to, and for, women in Canada’s mining industry.”

“Women in Mining Canada is committed to shining a spotlight on the individuals making a difference for women in the Canadian mining industry through our annual Trailblazers Awards,” said Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert, the director and awards lead for Women in Mining Canada.

“Since launching the awards in 2012, we have recognized over 30 women and mentors, and we are proud to celebrate Anne’s significant contributions with the 2022 Trailblazer Award.”

A born and raised Yukoner, Lewis has 15 years’ experience in the mining industry on the local, national and international stage.

As the executive director of the Yukon Mining Alliance, she collaboratively developed the globally recognized Invest Yukon brand to connect investors with territory’s competitive advantages through innovative capital attraction initiatives.

Building on that model, Lewis developed the Invest Canada North PDAC project with leaders from the Yukon, the N.W.T. and Nunavut mineral industry and governments to highlight and promote the advantages of investing in jurisdictions founded on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.

She is the president of Whitehorse-based CSR Management, and, in addition to her founding/leadership role in YukonWIM, is co-founder of the Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference.

Most recently, on last month’s International Women’s Day, she launched WE.ArcticImpact with co-founder Lynn Hutton – a new initiative to create and support inclusive and diverse economies which enhance the economic empowerment of women and girls throughout the Arctic from coast to coast to coast.

Lewis also supported, in partnership with the Yukon’s mining organizations, governments and communities, Kate Carmacks’ 2019 induction into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame.

“If someone needs to know what is happening in the Yukon’s mining industry, one of their first calls is always to Anne,” said Kent.

“Her passion to make mining a sector where opportunities are distributed equally, women and girls are empowered and innovation is always encouraged, is unparalleled, and worthy of recognition alongside the previous Women in Mining Canada and YukonWIM trailblazers.”

“I am proud to call Anne an esteemed colleague, friend and mentor,” said Gattens.

“Anne not only empowers women, she empowers our industry, governments and communities through her inclusive approach to engagement and her reputation as an accomplished role model.”

“On behalf of the entire YukonWIM board of directors, we extend our sincere congratulations to Anne on her receipt of the national 2022 Women in Mining Canada Trailblazer Award and our heartfelt appreciation for all that she does; both for the organization and for the betterment of the industry,” said YukonWIM Director Allison Rippin-Armstrong.

Lewis is the second Yukoner to receive this award in its 10-year existence.

In 2017, geologist and YukonWIM Champion Sue Craig garnered the recognition.