OREANDA-NEWS. Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc. and the Northwest Territories Track & Field Committee are pleased to announce a new multi-year partnership for the Northwest Territories Track and Field Championships.

The partnership, which spans three years from 2016 to 2018, includes C$45,000 in funding and in-kind contributions.

Students from over 25 schools across the Northwest Territories (NWT) attend this track and field event, which has occurred annually since 1990. This year, the championships are scheduled for June 1-3 at the Diamond Jenness Secondary School in the Hay River community.

“At Diavik, we have a strong track record of supporting healthy lifestyles,” said Diavik Diamond Mines manager communities and external relations, Rebecca Alty. “It’s something we promote at our mine and with our community partners. We’re proud to support and improve this longstanding northern event that encourages our youth to get active.”

“We are very proud to announce our new partnership with Diavik,” said NWT Track & Field Championships Co-coordinator, JJ Hirst. “With this generous contribution we have made significant improvements to the event.”

“On behalf of our 1,200 athletes, coaches, volunteers and numerous spectators thank you for your generous support of this wonderful event,” added NWT Track & Field Championships Co-coordinator Tim Borchuk.

Diavik Diamond Mines (2012) Inc., a Rio Tinto company, operates the Diavik Diamond Mine, at Lac de Gras, 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Approximately half of the mine’s 1,100 employees live in Canada’s north and one quarter of Diavik’s workforce is Aboriginal. Since 2003, C$6.8 billion has been spent on goods and services to support the mine, of which over 70 per cent is with local firms many of which are Aboriginal-owned. Diavik also supports the North through its community contribution program that builds upon existing programs, all of which are focused on improving the quality of life for local residents.