Canadian Centre for Raw Materials Display Inc. CACERMDI is hosting its first conference in November and was out promoting the conference at the University of Saskatchewan Prince Albert campus on Sept. 14 and 15.
CACERMDI President Osagie “Leo” Ekhaguere had a display of potash at the university and used the opportunity to tell students and staff about the conference. They cannot show uranium because it is radioactive.
“We are hosting our first conference. We are focusing on potash and uranium in our first international conference and the conference is all here in Prince Albert,” he said. “To get people to know about the conference the U of S allowed us to exhibit or to show students potash.
“We are here to show them potash as the only raw material that we mine in Saskatchewan and that Canada is the largest producer of,” he added.
The samples came from various Nutrien potash mines across the province.
The first International Conference and Exhibition for Raw Materials (ICERMs) 2023 will take place on November 8 and 9 at the Conference Room in the Prince Albert Public Library.
The purpose of the conference is to bring together both Canadian and international people involved in raw materials research to share their ideas for solving the current shortage of raw materials. It will focus on topics including potash exploration and fertilizer production, among other topics.
“We have people from all over the world who are registered already and we are bringing them. They are going to attend this first one online,” Ekhaghuere said.
“That event will be focusing on that province, so we’re going to be having different conferences biannually here in Prince Albert,” he added.
This was one reason he returned to Saskatchewan last year.
“We’re going to have the raw materials we’re going to have it being promoted. So (from) investors to entrepreneurs to researchers and the members of the public,’” Ekhaguere said.
He explained that the goal is to show both technical and non-technical people the advantages of raw materials. One example he gave was fertilizer and a person having that on their farm.
He explained that another goal is to stimulate the use of local raw materials
“It’s easier for you to manufacture whatever you want to make because those things have the backyard of these people can’t feed some in this industry,” Ekhaguere said.
The various programs also help people identify what these raw materials are.
He explained that they are increasing the visibility of raw materials in every province and outside of Canada
“All of our events would bring members of the public whether are technically inclined or not, we bring them in there and we show them in ways that everybody can understand what you are talking about,” Ekhaguere said.
“We’re just focused on this because we have over a dozen people who have registered as part of Canada and here is free for all residents of Saskatchewan,” he added.
The Library has already agreed to be the base and Mayor Greg Dionne has promised to come to greet the opening of the conference.
“We are so excited by that and that makes us very happy and we feel highly supported because the mayor has told us he will be there in person,” Ekhaguere said.
He said that he was glad to have been invited to the university both days.
He explained that they are going to also visit the U of S a week before the conference. The university has promised to remind the students with an email and send all of the students in each of the colleges to the foyer.
“That’s why we are here, to promote the raw materials that we have this in Saskatchewan and also to invite the students for the conference,” Ekhaguere said.
There is another in-person conference planned for April 2024.
“We’re going to be having different conferences biannually here in Prince Albert,” he added.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
