MacLeod Resources Ltd. - Company Announcements
2005
Marble Unlimited to distribute Canada’s Marble in Los Angeles, CA (December 15, 2005)
MacLeod Resources signs Surface Design as a distributor in Quebec (November 1, 2005)
Canada’s Marble represented at the MARMOMACC show in Verona, Italy (October 5, 2005)
Atlantic Stone Carving Symposium features Canada’s Marble (September 10, 2005)
MacLeod Resources completes two installations (July 5, 2005)
Reserve Estimate of Canada’s Marble approximates 30 Million tonnes (June 16, 2005)
Canada’s Marble a hit at the CarraraMARMOTEC in Carrara, Italy (June 5, 2005)
MacLeod Resources visits Stone+tec in Nuremberg, Germany (May 30, 2005)
Forever Woods memorial completed using Canada’s Marble (April 15, 2005)
London Stone Show targeted to establish new market exports (March 15, 2005)
MacLeod Resources Ltd. explores the California market (March 10, 2005)
Canada's Marble attracts the interest of Antolini Luigi SpA (February 15, 2005)
MacLeod Resources Ltd. explores the Western Canadian market (February 1, 2005)
Canada's Marble earns a 3-year financing agreement for marketing costs (January 15, 2005)
Two new directors nominated to join the board of MacLeod Resources Ltd (January 3, 2005)
Marble Unlimited to distribute Canada’s Marble in Los Angeles, CA - (December 15, 2005)
After exploring the southern-Californian market earlier in the year, MacLeod Resources is pleased to announce that Marble Unlimited has begun to distribute Canada’s Marble in Los Angeles. Known as the source of unique, rare, and exquisite natural stone, Marble Unlimited has further expanded its offering of special products with the addition of Canada’s Marble to its showroom.
MacLeod Resources is excited about this addition to its family of distributors because the west coast is renowned for a high per-capita use of natural stones, of all types, from around the world. Competition amongst designers and architects to develop unique projects for their particular clients benefits well-known distributors like Marble Unlimited and its offering of unique stone. MacLeod Resources is confident that Canada’s Marble will be well-received and form a strong bond with the Californian market.
MacLeod Resources signs Surface Design as a distributor in Quebec - (November 1, 2005)
Located in Thetford Mines, Surface Design is welcomed as a new distributor of Canada’s Marble in the key Quebec market. Surface Design is excited to carry a Canadian product, to compliment its offering of engineered “Stone Italiana” and high-end products. MacLeod Resources sees this opportunity as a way to develop lasting relationships in the style-conscious, French-speaking part Quebec.
In conjunction with its expanding network of distributors, Canada’s Marble is being developed as a brand that conveys a unique set of values including quality, uniqueness, purity, and class. MacLeod Resources expects its relationship with Surface Design to yield both financial and knowledge-based results, for the mutual benefit of both parties.
Canada’s Marble represented at the MARMOMACC show in Verona, Italy - (October 5, 2005)
Chris Trider makes his fourth trip to Italy this week to showcase the natural stone of MacLeod Resources amongst the world leaders in dimension stone processing and marketing. The trip is intended to present Canada’s Marble as a unique material from a deposit that is commercially sound for the long-term. Verona hosts MARMOMACC annually, which is widely acknowledged as one of the most important gatherings of natural stone representatives in the world.
MacLeod Resources is keen to develop relationships with fabricators, distributors, architects, designers, and other key players in the dimension stone industry. Meetings with all of these types of individuals have been scheduled and the company is excited to expand its distribution base around the world, as well as gain more expertise in quarrying and production. The Verona Fair will continue to play an important part in the company’s strategic planning, year over year.
Atlantic Stone Carving Symposium features Canada’s Marble - (September 10, 2005)
As covered in the Inverness Oran, MacLeod Resources was proud to donate all of the material used for carving by eight nationally renowned artists during the 14-day Atlantic Stone Carving Symposium. Canada’s Marble was shaped into a wide range of symbols during the interactive event, throughout which visitors could experience the art of carving at close range.
The resource-rich highlands of Cape Breton have been showcased for decades by artisans of all mediums. However, Canada’s Marble continues to stand out as a special material, especially after the Symposium had ended. Dramatic veining, unusual textures, and ancient colourations emerged from the careful treatments applied by eight extremely talented individuals.
MacLeod Resources completes two installations - (July 5, 2005)
Two installations have recently been completed using Canada’s Marble: The Justice Centre of Port Hawkesbury now features a Canadian marble staircase of the Cape Breton Bordeaux variety. The installation was personally supervised by representatives of MacLeod Resources, for this special, civic project. Port Hawkesbury is located 15 minutes from River Denys, where the company quarries its varieties of Canada’s Marble.
Various varieties of Canada’s Marble were installed in a hotel development in Kelowna, through Quadra Stone of Vancouver, British Columbia. The development marks the first installation of Canada’s Marble in the countries western-most province. MacLeod Resources hopes that the relationship with Quadra Stone continues to prosper over the coming years, thus leading to many more projects like the one in Kelowna.
Reserve Estimate of Canada’s Marble approximates 30 Million tonnes - (June 16, 2005)
Garth Demont of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources submitted a memorandum stating his assessment that 29.256 million tonnes of Canada’s Marble could be in-situ at River Denys. Mr. Demont is recognized as being the dimension stone expert for the Province of Nova Scotia and has detailed knowledge of the properties surrounding all properties owned by MacLeod Resources.
At current production and recovery rates, the figure quoted represents over 200 years of quarrying potential. The strike length of 2.5 kilometres has been mapped and drilled since the 1960s, and further explored between 1999-2001. MacLeod Resources is pleased to be quarrying Canada’s Marble from such a plentiful deposit and looks forward to delivering this massive and cohesive tonnage to market, over the life of the company.
Canada’s Marble a hit at the CarraraMARMOTEC in Carrara, Italy - (June 5, 2005)
The largest stone fair in the world played host to Canada’s Marble from June 1-4, 2005. Recently squared large, commercial blocks of Cape Breton Bordeaux were debuted by Giani Trading as a Canadian product that is unique, plentiful, cohesive, and ancient. This event is extremely significant for MacLeod Resources because is demonstrates to the world market that its stone is readily available for purchase in any quantity, size, and style.
CarraraMARMOTEC is the annual opportunity for the leaders of the dimension stone industry to establish trends for the coming year. Lavish displays, helicopter tours, meetings, showcases, and other events are all intended to develop relationships around the world. Italy remains the centre of the dimension stone industry for fairs such as this one, where the economic engine of the industry is refreshed every year.
MacLeod Resources visits Stone+tec in Nuremberg, Germany - (May 30, 2005)
Chris Trider represented MacLeod Resources in Nuremberg, Germany, from May 25-28 for one of the largest dimension stone trade shows in the world. Stone+tec is the premier show for sourcing new equipment, proving the structural integrity of natural stones, development and nurturing industry contacts, as well as gaining a sense of the central European market.
MacLeod Resources, in its expanding stages, attended the show to better understand the portfolio of equipment available to the company from around the world, especially with respect to diamond wire sawing, slab polishing, and tile production. The company expects to pursue the diversification of its product base through the acquisition of such equipment over the coming months.
Forever Woods memorial completed using Canada’s Marble - (April 15, 2005)
MacLeod Resources is proud to have donated all of the marble used in the construction of the Forever Woods memorial at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School in Okotoks, Alberta. The memorial celebrates the lives of seven students lost in an avalanche on February 1st, 2003, in Rogers Pass, British Columbia.
Forever Woods is an arrangement of seven commemorative sites in the forest beside the school. It is intended for the memorial to be used by students as a retreat, for years to come. The donation was made on behalf of the company by its Chairman, Kirk Purdy, whose three children have all attended the school.
London Stone Show targeted to establish new market exports
MacLeod Resources Ltd. will be exhibiting Canada's Marble at the London Stone Show from April 5-7, 2005, at the Wembley Exhibition Centre. In the ongoing effort to diversify its customer base and after evaluating statistical trends in marble consumption across international markets, MacLeod has determined that the United Kingdom is the next region to target for sales of its six varieties of Canada's Marble.
With the focus of the show firmly on architectural and building stone and the use of stone in, on or around the building, the London Stone Show has become "the event" to promote and sell products into the lucrative UK market. With a target audience of over 8,500 visitors, it is the show at which to increase market presence and find the vital business contacts needed to increase awareness of stone products.
MacLeod Resources Ltd. explores the California market (March 10, 2005)
Representatives of MacLeod Resources Ltd. recently conducted market research on a trip to Southern California from March 1-5, 2005. Meetings with a diverse array of distributors and industry experts in the areas of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara revealed that the Western United States is a strong market for the red-coloured varieties of Canada's Marble, namely Highland Heart, Cape Breton Bordeaux, Mountain Rose, and even Pynk Floyd.
MacLeod learned that homebuilders are beginning to seek the unique qualities of marble for countertop and vanity installation, over the mature and predictable use of granite. Especially, certain distributors and retailers have been looking for any and all instances of extremely unique stones from around the world. Most recently, rumours of supply problems for a red-coloured marble from Syria have spurred large firms to begin seeking other sources of similar material. Overall, the California market was confirmed to be a lucrative opportunity that will require much focus over the next few months.
Canada's Marble attracts the interest of Antolini Luigi SpA (February 15, 2005)
Since beginning to establish an inventory of blocks and slabs in Carrara, Italy, MacLeod Resources Ltd. has slowly created market awareness for Canada's Marble. Much to the credit of Andrea Giani, MacLeod's agent in Carrara, numerous sales have been made throughout Europe, to various parties in Italy, France, Germany, and Russia. However, recent news of two blocks of Highland Heart being purchased by Antolini Luigi SpA indicates that a new level of acceptance has been established.
Antolini Luigi SpA has one of the largest collections of exotic and rare marble, granite and semi-precious stone in the world. With over 700 colours in marble, granite, limestone, travertine, onyx and semi-precious stone, there is an extensive inventory of each of them available at all times. The company is a high-end fabricator and exporter of a large variety of marble and granite from around the world in slabs, cut to size works or tiles.
MacLeod Resources Ltd. explores the Western Canadian market (February 1, 2005)
Christopher Trider, President of MacLeod Resources Ltd., recently completed a trip to Calgary, Alberta during which many distributors, designers, and retailers were evaluated for anticipated growth into the Western Canadian market. After presenting an update to shareholders, formally meeting and briefing MacLeod's two new directors, as well as meeting with the Chairman, Mr. Trider focused the remainder of his time on understanding the competitive landscape of the Calgary market.
Calgary is one of Canada's fastest growing cities as people from around the country relocate to enjoy its natural beauty, vibrant economy and world-class arts and culture. Calgary is Canada's sixth largest city with a metropolitan population of just under 900,000. As Canada's energy capital, and western Canada's business capital, Calgary is home to the second largest concentration of corporate head offices in the nation. Due to its geographic location, Calgary has developed into a major distribution hub for goods and services throughout western Canada and the Pacific Northwest region.
Canada's Marble earns a 3-year financing agreement for marketing costs (January 15, 2005)
MacLeod Resources Ltd. has entered into a 3-year financing agreement with the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation in which a portion of marketing costs will be reimbursed on a sliding scale over time. The purpose of the agreement is to provide MacLeod with an incentive to capitalize on opportunities and grow market awareness for Canada's Marble in the short-term. Eligible costs include, for example, such items as trade show fees, travel expenses, website design and maintenance, promotional materials, and advertising.
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, in partnership with all levels of government, the private sector and other community stakeholders, uses its broad and flexible powers to assist, promote and coordinate efforts that foster an environment supportive of the generation of wealth to effect sustainable job creation throughout Cape Breton Island and Mulgrave. The Corporation's vision is to address the long term economic development needs of the community by facilitating job creation, identifying opportunities, investing in strategic infrastructure and providing business advice and counselling.
Two new directors nominated to join the board of MacLeod Resources Ltd. (January 3, 2005)
MacLeod Resources Ltd. has the pleasure of announcing that two new members have been nominated for board membership, pending shareholder approval. Mr. Nick Kirton and Mr. Jeff Tonken are both from Calgary, Alberta, are long-time acquaintances of the Chairman, Mr. Kirk Purdy, and have extremely impressive histories as successful and responsible corporate citizens.
Mr. Nick Kirton, FCA, spent his entire thirty-eight year public accounting career with KPMG, including its predecessor firms. This was initially in the firm's Montreal office and then in its Calgary office, from 1978 through to his retirement in 2004. Nick was elected to Partnership in 1976. He is currently the Chair of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Qualifications Committee and Chair of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta Complaints Inquiry Committee, and has otherwise had substantial involvement with his profession and with a number of community organizations.
Mr. Jeff Tonken has previously founded and sold a number of oil and gas exploration companies, including Stampeder Exploration Ltd. and Case Resources Inc., and is currently involved in building Birchcliff Energy Ltd. (TSXV: BIR) into a sizeable oil and gas producer. Mr. Tonken is a serial entrepreneur who has demonstrated the focus and determination necessary to succeed in early-stage business development.