A cut above: family tradition keeps Nelson Granite in the pink.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: DRYDEN/KENORA - Company overview

Not all the high value rock excavated from the Canadian Shield can be measured on the London Metal Exchange.

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A northwestern Ontario company of quarrymen and stone cutters stretching back four generations has carved out a successful living harvesting this region's most abundant commodity.

For close to three decades, the family-run Nelson Granite of Vermilion Bay has providing an inspirational story in the resource industry for their longevity and international recognition in mining and manufacturing a product that has made it a leader in the Canadian granite industry.

Porphyritic granite mined from a series of quarries near the picturesque hamlet of Vermilion Bay has made its way around the world for uses ranging from small grave markers to entire building facades for structures in Japan, China, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and its biggest market, the U.S.

Closer to home, fine-grained Vermilion granite is in Thunder Bay's Terry Fox Memorial and in campus buildings at Lakehead University.

iIt all depends on who the landscape architect is, I said the company's low-key president Carter Nelson. iIf it (building design) calls for granite, we stand a good chance of getting it. I

The operation is located west of the hamlet of Vermilion Bay between Dryden and Kenora in the heart of the rugged Canadian Shield.

It's flagship Vermilion quarry of fine-grained pink and red granite sits on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway across from its 50,000-square foot fabrication shop.

Since 1996, they've opened five more quarries within a 100-kilometre radius, each offering a different colours and textures which are marketed as Canadian Mahogany, Pine Green, Canyon Red, Shepody and Crystal Gold.

Last year, the company was recognized by its peers at the Ontario Prospectors Association general meeting in Thunder Bay with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The family's history as quarrymen goes back to 1909 in New Brunswick beginning with Carter's grandfather George, who began as a stonecutter and passed the tradition down to Carter's father, Russell.

Carter's son nevin serves as vice-president, while his wife carolyn works in the office.

Like many of his employees, Carter, 64, learned his skills on the job at age 15 drilling holes, cutting stone, running saws and working quarry machinery.

The move to northwestern Ontario in the early 1980s came when the company had an opportunity to buy out a competitor.

There were some...