This banner is a tribute to my grandfather, Walter Sukiennik.   Like many men in the community of Red Lake, my grandfather came to the district to work in the gold mines.  He immigrated from Poland in the 1950's and began his career at Madsen Mine.  The stability of the mine, allowed Walter to begin a family with his wife, Josie, and make Red Lake their home.  The intense labour of mining was offset by the camaraderie amongst the many immigrants working underground together.  In 1991, with a lifetime of achievement and hard work under his belt, my grandfather retired from Dickenson Mine.  He hesitated to leave a career that he had loved for so many years.

Walter's tight connection to the mine remains intact long after his retirement.  He still loves to share stories from underground and talk about modern equipment and practices.  As I have learned, all miners share a fondness for their work and can talk about it for hours.  Gold is a link that remains strong in this community.  As one generation of miners move on, another steps in.  Families continue to depend on our local gold mines to employ men and women and keep the economy of our small town growing.  Few in the district have no mining links, but they too can appreciate the impact of this industry on the beginnings of our community, as well as its future.