Well, we have all seen the unfortunate news regarding Ross Mining and its previous owner having to pursue legal action in an effort to recover its former gold placer mining operation. The situation is complicated by large unpaid bills to Mackenzie Petroleum.
Jon Rudolph has been the operator of the site for the past two years and appeared to be doing a good job of running the operation, from several perspectives.
He was a winner of the John Leckie Reclamation Award in 2008. This coveted industry award is presented to companies that demonstrate exemplary practices in mine reclamation and responsible environmental practices in their operations.
Also in 2008, his company was involved with the minting and issuance of a new gold coin, certified to be “green” and having gone through a range of scrutiny by leading environmental groups, which labelled it with a special accreditation.
But now we get the disappointing news É Rudolph has not been paying his bills to a lot of suppliers in the Yukon and also hasn’t met significant obligations related to the property purchase from the Ross family.
In this regard, consideration should be made to now change the name of the annual prestigious Christmas ball that supports a significant worthy cause.
After all, how can one continue to appear to be a community leader and yet, on the other hand, be failing to pay one’s bills?
Regardless of the range of circumstances surrounding the financial situation of his companies, Rudolph should do the respectful thing and bow out of the annual ball and allow another credible Yukon businessperson or group to take the leadership role in the most prestigious ball of the year É Rudolph’s ball is over.
Christopher Harrison
Whitehorse