"The Big Three" / Les trois principales mines

[English] Timmins is one of the richest gold producing areas in the world; the Porcupine Gold Rush led to the extraction of well over 65 million ounces of gold to date and by comparison, the Klondike Gold Rush coaxed out just over 5 million ounces. Over the last one hundred years, the Porcupine area saw well over 150 working mines contribute to the local economy. Of those, the following came to be known as the "big three": , Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mines , Location: south of Gillies Lake, Timmins, Ontario , Benny Hollinger and Alex Gillies were working a mining claim east of the Dome discovery in 1909, and stumbled upon what would become Canada's largest and most important gold mine. The Hollinger Mine operated in Timmins from 1910 to 1968, producing well over $556 million worth of gold. Today, Goldcorp is reworking the property, breathing new life into the historic property; the berm you see before you outlines the original Hollinger site. The ore body continues to yield its treasure; when the mine finally closes, the area will be turned into an outdoor activity oasis. , Dome Mine , Location: Tisdale Township, South Porcupine, Ontario , The Dome Mine was the first big gold discovery made in the camp in 1909. The John Wilson party staked claims on August 24th, and the "Golden Staircase" has been a legendary part of the region's history. The Dome Mine was incorporated in 1910 and milling began in 1912. The original six claims increased to include the five claims from the Dome Extension, three claims from the Goldale property, thirteen from the Foley-O'Brien Mine and 4 claims from the Schumacher Vet properties. The Dome Mine, now known as Goldcorp continues to be the major producer of gold in the area. , McIntyre Gold Mine , Location: north shore of Pearl Lake, Schumacher, Ontario , Sandy McIntyre and Hans Buttner were part of the gold rush of 1909, staking their claims a few days later than the Hollinger party. Production at the mine started in 1913, and during its lifespan, well over 11 million ounces of gold was extracted; in 1963, copper was also mined at the site. The McIntyre finally closed its doors in the late 1980's. Today, you can visit the McIntyre headframe, one of the biggest in Ontario, located on the shores of Pearl Lake. The Hollinger team who were to uncover one of the world's biggest gold mines and the Sandy McIntyre-Hans Buttner partnership that found the McIntyre Mines, initiated the development of Northern Ontario. , Maurice Gaudreault was a Northern Ontario clay sculptor who immortalized everyday life in northern Ontario through his work. He created three large collections, the first being "I Still Remember" (1993) which chronicled his early life on a farm in Fauquier, Ontario. "He was called Jesus" (1996) was an exhibition based on the public life of Christ; this show toured throughout the province. With "Wildlife" (1998), the artist paid tribute to the animals and wildlife of Northern Ontario. Maurice worked on a series of sculptures for the Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour which is now relocated across the community. Maurice Gaudreault passed away in 2000. ,