Corporate
about us
Blue Ice Gold Origins
The name "Blue Ice Gold" serves as a tribute to the unique characteristics of Newfoundland and Labrador—a region renowned for its untouched landscapes and mineral-rich terrains. "Blue Ice" is an homage to the region's immaculate water bodies and imposing icebergs, encapsulating our dedication to environmental integrity and resilience. The "Gold" element, while denoting our primary mining focus, also stands as a testament to our commitment to unparalleled excellence in every facet of our operations. This includes stringent adherence to social responsibility, environmental conservation, and ethical governance. As such, Blue Ice Gold is not merely a corporate name but a representation of our holistic business ethos that harmoniously integrates economic vitality with sustainable development practices.
Mission
Our mission is to ethically and sustainably tap into Newfoundland and Labrador’s abundant mineral resources to generate lasting value for all stakeholders.
We are steadfast in our commitment to safeguard the environment’s natural splendor and ecological balance.
Blue Ice Gold aims to redefine industry benchmarks through forward-thinking practices, comprehensive employee benefits, substantial community involvement, and unyielding dedication to environmental protection.
Vision
Blue Ice Gold aspires to be acknowledged as an industry pacesetter that surpasses conventional standards in environmental conservation, social responsibility, and value generation for stakeholders.
With meticulous exploration, technological innovation, and judicious mining practices, we aim to fully realize Newfoundland and Labrador’s vast mineral potential.
Our vision encompasses not just financial prosperity for our stakeholders, but also a long-lasting commitment to the welfare of our workforce and local communities, all while maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the natural world.
Officers & Directors
Howie Wakeham
Founder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Director
Howie Wakeham is a seasoned entrepreneur and corporate leader, boasting over three decades in investment banking and recent endeavors in mineral exploration. As the Founder, President and CEO of Howco Ventures Inc., a boutique investment banking firm, he has been at the forefront of private and public company financing, corporate development, and investor communication since 2005. In 2021, Howie co-founded Long Range Exploration Corp. (LREX), centering on the Simms Ridge Gold project in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). This venture led to the creation of Blue Ice Gold, where he now spearheads efforts to develop the rich mining prospects of NL. Prior to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Howie built a significant career in the finance sector. He served as Vice President at Leede Financial Markets Inc. (2000-2005), assisting corporate and high-net-worth clients achieve their financial objectives. At Union Securities, he was Regional Manager and Vice President, overseeing operations and enhancing efficiency and profitability in Western Canada. Earlier, he was an Investment Advisor at Goepel Mcdermid, where he built and managed a significant book of business specializing in portfolio management for high-net-worth clients and early-stage company finance and liquidity. Howie embarked on his professional path with seven years as a stockbroker in St. John's, NL. Blue Ice Gold brings him back to his NL roots.
Angie Stockley
President, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) & Director
Angie Stockley offers over 25 years of executive expertise in corporate development, market strategy, communications and M&A. Her career began in strategic consulting across natural resources, tech and public sectors, leading to 12 years in progressively senior roles at Alcatel-Lucent, now Nokia, a leading Fortune 500 telecom and IT corporation. She further developed her leadership and strategic skills at mdf commerce, spending over ten years on the management team representing a suite of enterprise SaaS companies. Presently, Angie dedicates her efforts to the mining industry, contributing close to ten years of sector-specific acumen. As Chief Commercial Officer at SSAF Inc., she shapes corporate strategy, oversees commercial operations and engages mining industry stakeholders for growth opportunities. Stepping into the not-for-profit domain, Angie is the Founder and President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Minerals Collective (NL Minerals Collective), which focuses on maximizing property development potential and market value opportunities for its members. As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Newfoundland and Labrador Prospectors Association (NLPA), she actively champions equity and representation within the industry. Angie's approach to leadership and mining project advancement is enriched by her extensive background in technology, and she is committed to employing advanced technologies and data analytics to steer strategic decisions, stimulate market expansion, and spearhead transformative projects in the mining space.
Charles Jenkins BA, CPA, CGA
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Director
Charles 'Chuck' Jenkins, BA, CPA, CGA, has over 25 years of experience in senior roles, 15 years in corporate finance followed by a focus on mining and technology companies since 2005. On the mining side, his expertise encompasses both exploration and development (E&D) and operational activities while his geographical experience spans Canada, the United States, Mexico and South America. Charles began his career in corporate finance, working with brokerage firms, which provided a foundation for his subsequent roles in public companies, focusing on financial efficiency and growth. He has held significant positions such as CFO and director in various organizations, where he demonstrated proficiency in cash flow management, budgeting, business development and financial strategy. Notably, his tenure in various mining and technology firms involved key responsibilities like financial structuring, administration, management and guiding companies through exploration projects and corporate development initiatives. His career is distinguished by a commitment to strong financial governance and strategic growth in the organizations he has served.
Eugene Chen
Director
Eugene Chen is a versatile corporate lawyer with over 25 years of service to emerging and growth-oriented companies. He is known for his strong business acumen, diverse experience and responsive service as well as his innovative, practical solutions to complex business issues. As a partner in various distinguished regional and national law firms and co-founder of diverse businesses, Eugene has become a trusted advisor in corporate finance, securities and M&A. His expertise extends to working with entrepreneurial start-ups, rapid growth businesses and public companies, particularly those with intricate capital structures. Eugene currently heads the Capital Markets, Securities and M&A Group at McLeod Law LLP in Calgary, applying his expertise across broad sectors including mineral exploration. There, Eugene provides strategic counsel on initial public offerings, private placements, take-over bids, stock exchange listings and regulatory compliance. He has been counsel and advised on numerous financing and M&A transactions in the mining sector involving properties throughout North America, South America and Africa and is currently a director of Fathom Nickel Inc., a critical mineral focused mining exploration company with properties located in Saskatchewan. Since May 2016, he also serves as Managing Partner at Optimal Capital Advisors, providing independent M&A and financial advisory services for growth companies. Additionally, he has held prominent positions at various major law firms, where his focus was on securities, capital markets, corporate finance and M&A. Passionate about the nexus of law and business, Eugene excels in identifying corporate opportunities and risks, providing strategic guidance to management teams and helping ensure clients achieve their goals. His strong leadership, excellent communication, and impressive negotiation skills are enhanced by his ability to build relationships and foster consensus among diverse professional teams.
Special Consultants & Advisors
Blaine Parks, B.Comm
Financial/Business Consultant
Blaine Parks, B.Comm, boasts over 35 years as a seasoned investment professional in the financial services industry. His career began as a trader on the Alberta Stock Exchange. This role led to key positions including Investment Advisor, Commodities Trading Advisor and Branch Manager for two preeminent national firms. He was part of a group that founded a biotech firm and helped facilitate the firm's initial financing efforts. Over the past two decades, this firm has successfully secured over $60 million in funding. Blaine's leadership extended to underwriting endeavors for small public companies and a prolific participation in countless financings, showcasing his adeptness in capital markets. For over three decades, Blaine has provided tailored investment advice for a wide range of financial needs and a broad client base. Specializing in cash flow enhancement and risk mitigation, he employs a sophisticated set of strategies and techniques like covered calls, spreads, butterflies, condor and more. Blaine builds and maintains robust investment portfolios leveraging diverse investment vehicles such as equity options, RSPs, TFSAs, tax products, equity securities, regional and sector-specific stocks, and ETFs. Blaine's tenure features roles as Senior Investment Advisor at Queensbury Securities, Mackie Research Capital and Wolverton Securities, including leadership at Wolverton as Branch Manager and Vice President. Blaine has also served as a Designated Options Principal at Wolverton, further solidifying his reputation as a trusted authority in investment strategies and financial advisory.
Gary Lewis
Project Manager/Technical Advisor
Gary Lewis, with over 35 years in exploration and project development in Newfoundland and Labrador, has been central to the region's exploration initiatives. In 2000, he played a key role in bringing the Exploits subzone's mineral potential to Rubicon Minerals, leading to multiple gold discoveries. He steered VVC Exploration's activities in the area in 2004, which included the acquisition and subsequent revival of the dormant Beaver Brook Antimony Mine. His discovery in 2008 of a significant Critical Rare Earth Metals District in Labrador, as a co-founder of Search Minerals/Alterra Resources, marked a industry milestone, earning him the 2012 Prospector of the Year award and Developer of the Year award for Search Minerals from the CIM Newfoundland branch. Gary's strategic introduction of the mineral potential within the Appleton and Jonathan’s Pond linears to Newfound Gold's founders in 2016 and 2017, as well as his insights into the structural importance of the geology between the GRUB line and the Dog Bay line, have been instrumental in the area’s development. He was also the first to recognize the significance of the Gander Lake sigmoidal structure and its related formations. Gary is also a founder and advisor for Exploits Discovery. Related to his own extensive mineral rights portfolio, Gary is also a founder and part of the executive of Unity Resources and Nidon Enterprises. His role in founding many mining, exploration, and prospecting companies and his continued involvement with several of them attests to his influence and dedication to the development of Newfoundland and Labrador's mining industry.
Stephen Stockley
Exploration Manager
Stephen Stockley serves as the CEO and Chief Prospector at SSAF Inc., a family-owned entity with commanding control over more than 100,000 hectares and 300 mineral licenses throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. These holdings include prominent sites within the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt and Labrador's Central Mineral Belt (CMB). The properties are notable for their early-stage indications of base metals like Nickel and Copper, strategic metals including Molybdenum, Cobalt, Uranium, and Rare Earth Elements (REE), alongside valuable precious metals such as Gold, Platinum, and Palladium. With a solid background of close to 20 years in prospecting for SSAF and leading projects for various junior and established mining and exploration entities within the region, Stephen's expertise is well-established. He is also a co-founder of the NL Minerals Collective, an alliance of prospectors, project managers, and property option owners dedicated to the optimal development and enhancement of property values.
Blue Ice Gold Corporate Presentation
The Blue Ice Gold corporate presentation provides a quick overview of the corporation, our strategic portfolio, company fundamentals, the team and key project details.