Honouring Mining’s Past, Building Its Future: Avalon Supports Frank Grimshaw’s Pitmen

By: Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

At Avalon, we believe mining’s story is not just about the materials produced, but about the people and communities whose hard work has shaped the industry. This past May, our CEO, Scott Monteith, had the privilege of attending Pitmen, a powerful exhibition by photographer Frank Grimshaw that captures the resilience, sacrifice, and spirit of mining families. The exhibition left a lasting impression — a reminder of why honouring the human side of mining is essential as we build the next generation of critical mineral projects.

 

That impression deepened as we learned more about the story behind Pitmen and the journey that inspired Grimshaw to create it. Frank Grimshaw worked as a mining photographer in the North West of England from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. His career took him into a wide range of mines — from a 19th-century drift mine to what was then Europe’s most modern mine in the 1960s. Beyond documenting industrial operations, he was drawn to capture the lives of miners as fathers, friends, and neighbours whose efforts sustained entire communities. His body of work bridges history, memory, and artistry.

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Grimshaw’s photographs give voice to the everyday experiences of miners — their labour, camaraderie, and the significant role they played in community life. For Avalon, these stories resonate deeply. As we work toward developing projects to support the clean energy transition, we remain mindful that mining’s legacy is carried forward by the people who made it possible. Recognizing this history strengthens our commitment to building a sustainable and responsible future for mining in Canada and North America as a whole.

 

This connection between past and future is also reflected in the printing processes used for the exhibition. The photographs were printed by Silver Shack in Toronto, one of Canada’s leading fine art photographic printers. Silver Shack employs traditional methods that incorporate a wide range of rare earth elements (REEs) to produce permanent prints designed to last more than 500 years. The colour images use 19th-century techniques — Tricolor Gum Bicarbonate over Palladium — while also incorporating other REE’s and materials such as gold and coal dust. The black-and-white images were printed on silver gelatin paper. These methods underscore the physical connection between the art and the very resources that miners dedicated their lives to extracting. As printer Bob Carnie noted: “…as you can see, without the mining industry there would be no photographic process.”

 

We are proud to showcase and support Grimshaw’s Pitmen as a reminder of the humanity at the heart of our industry. Art like this ensures that the voices of past generations remain part of the conversation as we look ahead. We encourage everyone to explore Frank Grimshaw’s work and reflect on the enduring connection between mining, culture, and community.

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Further information is available from the Estate of Frank Grimshaw (contact: Jeremy Grimshaw at jgrimshaw2@mac.com) or Silvershack (contact: Bob Carnie at bob@silvershack.ca).

Mark N.J. Ashcroft, P.Eng, is a seasoned professional in the mining, resource and finance sectors with a legacy as a sixth-generation miner, who first went underground at 12 years old. Beginning his career underground in Thompson, MB, he later earned an engineering degree and gained extensive experience across North and South America and Australia. He has held roles in mining operations, corporate development, and finance, including President and CEO of Stonegate Agricom, where he managed a pivotal $51.75 million IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Currently, he is the CEO of Aurelius Minerals Inc., focusing on gold projects in Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Mark’s background includes investment banking and corporate finance positions in London, New York, and Toronto at firms like Barclays Capital, Standard Bank, Versant Partners, and Toll Cross Securities, dealing primarily with resource companies. He has served on various public mining and exploration boards, advising on governance and capital markets. Mark is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario, and holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining Engineering from Laurentian University and a Master of Science in Finance, Regulation, and Risk Management from the University of Reading..

Cindy Hu joined Avalon in 2007. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Hu was a senior manager with the accounting firm Andersen & Company Professional Corporation. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of experience in public accounting practice and financial reporting, primarily for junior public companies and private wealth management portfolios.

MS. Hu earned her B.Com from Laurentian University in 1996.

Scott Monteith was appointed CEO of Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. in May 2023. He is an entrepreneur and business owner with a successful track record of moving inventions from ideation to commercial success. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Management from Toronto Metropolitan University and is part of the Young Presidents’ Organization in Ontario. 

Mr. Monteith is currently the Chairman of Monteco Ltd., Cable House Capital Ltd. and Imtex Membranes Corporation. He also serves as a Director on the Avalon Board. 

Mr. Monteith has extensive experience in the areas of marketing, manufacturing, technology transfer, technology licensing, new product development, patent management, corporate development, government affairs, and strategic planning. An intuitive individual, he possesses strong communications, team building and management skills.

Mr. Monteith is the founder of a successful portfolio of companies that include Biox Biodiesel, Imbrium Systems, Green Turtle Technologies, Filamat Composites, and Imtex Membranes.