Significant new gift advances mining law and finance
May 15, 2012
Mining has deep roots in Canada but the sky’s the limit for its future economic potential. Now, a significant new gift from Stephen Dattels (LLB’72) in the area of mining law and finance will help prepare Western University law students to play a role in one of Canada's most vital economic engines. This gift builds on Dattels’ previous gifts to Western Law that have helped support the faculty’s January Term course in mining law and finance and the Stephen Dattels Chair in Corporate Finance Law.
“Stephen Dattels’ generous commitment of $1.525 million will deepen the school’s expertise in the important field of mining law and support future mining law leaders,” says W. Iain Scott, Dean of Western Law. “We are truly grateful for Mr. Dattels’ leadership and support.”
Dattels, a seasoned senior mining executive, was a key executive in the formative years of Barrick Gold Corporation. He has been an active executive and director in a number of global mining companies and now serves as Executive Co-Chairman and CEO of both Polo Resources Limited and West African Minerals Corporation, both of which are listed on the AIM market of The London Stock Exchange.
The new donation will support the Stephen Dattels Visiting Pre-eminent Speakers in Mining Law and Finance Series and the Stephen Dattels January Term Fellowship in Mining Law and Finance.
“I strongly believe in the importance of education with a functional focus,” says Stephen Dattels. “I hope this gift will help ensure Western Law graduates are well prepared to excel and become leading international lawyers in mining law.
An estimated $130 billion worth of investment is projected over the next five years for the Canadian mining industry, according to the Mining Association of Canada.
