Moving on.

AuthorKelly, Lindsay
PositionTom Laughren joined Lake Shore Gold

A Timmins man, who for years championed the mining sector from the mayor's seat, will now join the industry in the private sector.

Tom Laughren, who served as mayor of Timmins for eight years--and as councillor from 1994 to 2003--will move on from a life in municipal politics when he joins Lake Shore Gold in the role of director of corporate responsibility.

Health and safety, environment, site security, and First Nations and community relations will all come under his purview.

"I'm excited for the opportunity" he said of the Timmins-based position. "I think, if' I could close my eyes and think about a job that I would like to take on, this would be the ideal, for sure."

Even though this is a new direction for the mayor, he's not new to the industry; before going into politics, Laughren, a crane operator by trade, worked in mining construction for 27 years. He's worked in quality assurance, purchasing, health and safety, and construction management. Laughren is also marking his 36th year as a volunteer firefighter and has served on a number of community boards and committees.

Laughren said he started thinking about taking his career on a new path in January. While he enjoys the mayor's work, he also recognized that running for, and securing, a subsequent term of council would commit him to the role for another four years.

"I'm 58--I just turned 58, actually--and if' I wanted to do something different, do I do it at 58 or 62, because they're four-year terms," Laughren said. "In my mind, 58 was the right time to do it."

By June, Laughren had been presented with the Lake Shore opportunity and was immediately drawn to the position. Calling the miner "kind of the new mining company on the block," with regard to gold mining in Timmins, Laughren said he's been impressed with what he's seen so far.

"I've been very excited with a couple of things they've done as it...

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