Artemis Gold Inc. officially opened its new Blackwater Mine Friday, May 31 at the mine site southwest of Prince George.
Premier David Eby, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals Jagrup Brar, Acting Chief June Baptiste of the Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation and representatives of Ulkatcho First Nation attended the event at the site of the new gold and silver mining operation.
They were joined by municipal leaders, industry associations, business partners and other stakeholders.
The Citizen was there and will have a detailed report on the opening in the days ahead.
“Blackwater Mine is an example of what can be achieved through collaboration with First Nations and the protection of vital lands and waters,” Eby said. “This mine is part of what we’re building in BC — the economic engine of the new Canadian economy. It creates hundreds of family-supporting jobs and builds prosperity here and across the country.”
In a press release, Steven Dean, chair and CEO of Artemis Gold, said the mine’s opening follows 22 months of construction and three months of commissioning.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team,” said Dean. “What we have achieved together is a model for the sustainable and responsible development of mines in first-world jurisdictions like Canada.”
Brar said Blackwater Mine sets a strong example for responsible resource development.
“This is a project that creates good jobs, supports local and Indigenous communities, and takes crucial steps to minimize environmental impact,” he said.
Baptiste said the Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation is pleased to be part of the project, located within its traditional territory.
“The development of the Blackwater project will provide long-term employment for our members and economic opportunities for our Nation,” she said.
Ulkatcho First Nation Chief Charlie Williams also marked the milestone.
“This project reflects the dedication and vision of many since 2015,” he said in a statement. “We extend our gratitude to Artemis Gold for choosing to invest in our lands and a future that will benefit Ulkatcho First Nation for years to come.”
The open-pit gold and silver mine, located 110 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof and 160 kilometres southwest of Prince George, is 100 per cent owned by Vancouver-based Artemis Gold. It is the largest resource development project in BC's Cariboo region in more than a decade.
Construction began after the company received its Mines Act permit in March 2023. First gold was poured in January 2025, and Artemis announced commercial production earlier this month. Production for the 2025 financial year is forecast at between 190,000 and 230,000 ounces of gold.
To date, more than 5.3 million hours of work have been logged at the site without a lost-time incident, said company president and chief operating officer Jeremy Langford in the press release.
“The safety record at Blackwater Mine is an exceptional achievement,” he said.
The mine currently employs more than 400 people, with 25 per cent identifying as Indigenous and 40 per cent coming from the region. Artemis plans to develop the mine in three phases. Construction of Phase 1 is complete, and a decision on advancing Phase 2 is expected later this year. That phase would create an estimated 800 additional construction jobs and 170 more operations roles.
Since 2022, Artemis has spent about $1 billion in Canada on the project, including over $700 million in B.C. and more than $300 million with local and Indigenous businesses. The company says this investment brings economic opportunity to a region hit hard by forestry closures and curtailments.
A 2020 economic impact study by KPMG, conducted when commodity prices were lower, projected the mine would contribute $13.2 billion to the provincial economy over its lifespan. That includes $2.3 billion in provincial revenue and $1.5 billion in federal taxes—figures likely to rise with current gold and silver prices.
Environmental stewardship was central to the permitting process. Artemis worked with multiple First Nations, including Lhoosk’uz Dené, Ulkatcho, Nadleh Whut’en, Saik’uz, Stellat’en and Nazko, as well as provincial and federal governments, to develop leading-edge environmental management plans for habitat offsetting and conservation.
The company also invested in a fully electrified processing facility powered by hydroelectricity via a new transmission line connected to BC Hydro’s Glenannan substation near Endako. All traditionally diesel-fuelled processes have been replaced with electric systems, significantly reducing emissions.
Artemis says the Blackwater Mine is on track to become one of the world’s lowest-emitting open-pit operations. It is also exploring zero-emission hauling options for ore and waste by 2030.
Blackwater Mine holds measured and indicated resources of 11.7 million ounces of gold and 122.4 million ounces of silver.
