SourcingAug 17, 2023
Rio Tinto to Build Solar Plant to Help Power Diavik SourcingAug 22, 2023
Diamond Companies Support Employees as Canadian Wildfires Rage
Rio Tinto, De Beers and Burgundy all have mines in the Northwest Territories, where wildfires have forced mass evacuations.
An aerial view of one of the wildfires currently burning near Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories’ capital city and the largest city near the territory’s three diamond mines, was evacuated late last week. (Photo courtesy of the NWT Fire Facebook page)
Yellowknife, Canada—Diamond miners and manufacturers in Canada are working to aid employees and adjust operations as “unprecedented” wildfires continue to burn across the Northwest Territories, forcing thousands to evacuate.
Yellowknife, the capital of the territory, has a population of about 20,000 and sits on the northern shore of the Great Slave Lake.
Benjamin King, CEO of Diamonds De Canada, a boutique diamond manufacturing firm in Yellowknife, said in a telephone interview Monday that fire is closing in on the city from the west, east and north.
While wildfires happen every year in the Northwest Territories, this year, weather has exacerbated the spread of the blazes.
“This year has been an incredibly dry season for the north, low humidity,” King explained. “Generally speaking, throughout the summer you get a lot of rain on and off and there hasn’t been that. This has been a trend for the past couple years; it’s been a lot drier in the summer.
“This is the first time I think anybody can remember that Yellowknife has been threatened by a fire.”
Residents were ordered to evacuate late last week and King, who splits his time between Yellowknife and the United States, said they complied, except for those who are aiding in the firefighting efforts.
Diamonds De Canada’s facility is closed, as is mining company Rio Tinto’s office in Yellowknife.
Rio Tinto is the sole owner of the Diavik mine, one of three major diamond mines in the Northwest Territories.
A Rio Tinto spokesperson told National Jeweler via email over the weekend that the office will remain shuttered for the foreseeable future.
The mine, which is located about 186 miles northeast of Yellowknife, is not directly threatened by the fire.
Operations are able to continue safely, albeit at a reduced capacity as Rio Tinto works to support and give flexibility to employees who have been evacuated or need to be near their homes or with their families.
The company added, “Rio Tinto has reached out to the government of the Northwest Territories and the City of Yellowknife to offer assistance and is in discussions about the best way we can assist in terms of supplies, equipment or personnel.”
De Beers, which operates the Gahcho Kué mine in partnership with Mountain Province Diamonds, said in a statement last week that while the mine is not directly threatened, the Northwest Territories is home to more than 200 De Beers employees.
Many of them live in communities impacted by the fire; about 30 percent of Gahcho Kué’s workers reside in Yellowknife.
Like Rio Tinto, De Beers said it is working with employees who’ve been affected by evacuations to allow them to be with their families.
It has evacuated employees from its Yellowknife office while operations at Gahcho Kué and ongoing closure activities at De Beers’ inactive mine in the territory, Snap Lake, continue.
The company also said it has donated a total of $70,000 to the United Way NWT Emergency Response Fund to support wildlife relief and is considering how else it can help residents of the area.
Related stories will be right here …
Yellowknife, the capital of the territory, has a population of about 20,000 and sits on the northern shore of the Great Slave Lake.
Benjamin King, CEO of Diamonds De Canada, a boutique diamond manufacturing firm in Yellowknife, said in a telephone interview Monday that fire is closing in on the city from the west, east and north.
While wildfires happen every year in the Northwest Territories, this year, weather has exacerbated the spread of the blazes.
“This year has been an incredibly dry season for the north, low humidity,” King explained. “Generally speaking, throughout the summer you get a lot of rain on and off and there hasn’t been that. This has been a trend for the past couple years; it’s been a lot drier in the summer.
“This is the first time I think anybody can remember that Yellowknife has been threatened by a fire.”
Residents were ordered to evacuate late last week and King, who splits his time between Yellowknife and the United States, said they complied, except for those who are aiding in the firefighting efforts.
Diamonds De Canada’s facility is closed, as is mining company Rio Tinto’s office in Yellowknife.
Rio Tinto is the sole owner of the Diavik mine, one of three major diamond mines in the Northwest Territories.
A Rio Tinto spokesperson told National Jeweler via email over the weekend that the office will remain shuttered for the foreseeable future.
The mine, which is located about 186 miles northeast of Yellowknife, is not directly threatened by the fire.
Operations are able to continue safely, albeit at a reduced capacity as Rio Tinto works to support and give flexibility to employees who have been evacuated or need to be near their homes or with their families.
The company added, “Rio Tinto has reached out to the government of the Northwest Territories and the City of Yellowknife to offer assistance and is in discussions about the best way we can assist in terms of supplies, equipment or personnel.”
De Beers, which operates the Gahcho Kué mine in partnership with Mountain Province Diamonds, said in a statement last week that while the mine is not directly threatened, the Northwest Territories is home to more than 200 De Beers employees.
Many of them live in communities impacted by the fire; about 30 percent of Gahcho Kué’s workers reside in Yellowknife.
Like Rio Tinto, De Beers said it is working with employees who’ve been affected by evacuations to allow them to be with their families.
It has evacuated employees from its Yellowknife office while operations at Gahcho Kué and ongoing closure activities at De Beers’ inactive mine in the territory, Snap Lake, continue.
The company also said it has donated a total of $70,000 to the United Way NWT Emergency Response Fund to support wildlife relief and is considering how else it can help residents of the area.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been forced from their homes and who have lost their homes and businesses during this unprecedented wildfire season,” said Erik Madsen, the corporate affairs lead for De Beers Group Managed Operations (Canada).
“We are also working closely with our more than 40 Gahcho Kué colleagues who have evacuated from Hay River, Fort Smith, Enterprise, and Jean Marie River.”
Burgundy Diamond Mines Ltd., which recently completed its purchase of the Ekati mine, also said while the mine is not currently threatened by the fires, it is aiding impacted employees.
In a statement issued Monday, the company said several Burgundy employees who live in Yellowknife have relocated to cities in Alberta, while a couple of Ekati workers who have specialized emergency response skills are volunteering to help fight the fires.
A majority of the Burgundy workforce flies into the mine from Calgary, Alberta, working a two-week shift then taking two weeks off.
To help those who used Yellowknife as a fly-in point but have had to evacuate, the company said it is allowing for flexible work arrangements and adding additional flights from Edmonton via Calgary that then go on to Ekati.
“Burgundy Diamond Mines remains committed to supporting its people who have been affected by the wildfires and will continue to monitor and provide updates on the wildfire situation,” the company said.
“We will continue to work with the government of the Northwest Territories to assist with wildfire response efforts and supporting those team members who live in evacuated regions.”
As of Monday afternoon, NWT Fire, the informational Facebook page maintained by the government of the Northwest Territories, said the Behchoko/Yellowknife Fire was about 15 km (9 miles) northwest of Yellowknife but was “highly unlikely” to reach the city’s outskirts in the next three days because it has been held at bay thanks to aerial support and rain.
King said it is unknown at this point when people will be allowed to return to Yellowknife. It could be two to three weeks as the government of the Northwest Territories tends to be cautious, particularly since there is only one highway in and out of the city.
He said Diamonds De Canada will resume filling orders as soon as it is able to reopen but customers should expect some delays.
In the meantime, he wants the industry to know about the strength and resilience of the people of the Northwest Territories.
“By nature, being from the North, you’re about as tough as a diamond,” King said. “Despite all the changes the world has thrown at us with climate, the one thing to know about the [people of the] north is, they adapt and they overcome all these difficulties.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Sourcing
The Latest
TrendsJul 31, 2026
These Pieces of the Week Are Sweet Edina Kiss’ “Popsicle” pendant and Karina Choudhrie’s “Ice Cream” charm satisfy that summer craving for a sweet piece of jewelry.
MajorsJul 31, 2026
Macy’s Iconic Red Shopping Bag Sign Torn DownThe massive billboard has been in the same spot on the department store’s Herald Square flagship store for decades.
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2026
JA Heads Back to Washington as New Wave of Tariffs Takes Effect David Bonaparte, along with Tim Haake and Ronnie VanderLinden, continue to lobby for tariff exemptions for diamonds, gemstones, and pearls.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
SurveysJul 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Slips in JulySurvey respondents were concerned about the rising prices of food and groceries as well as unemployment.
Weekly QuizJul 30, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsJul 30, 2026
Vicenzaoro Releases 2026 Education LineupThe trade show, slated for Sept. 4-8 in Vicenza, Italy, will feature sessions on trends, AI, gemology, and manufacturing.
Events & AwardsJul 30, 2026
Hillsborough Show Moves to New Location for 2026The public shopping event featuring art, jewelry, watches, and rare collectibles, will take place in Santa Clara, California, this fall.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
EditorsJul 29, 2026
Q&A: The Past and Future of Angola’s Diamond Industry Endiama Commercial Director Elton Escrivão knows people have a lot of misperceptions about Angola. He wants to change that.
MajorsJul 29, 2026
Kevin Reilly Retires After 39 Years in the Jewelry Industry Reilly has been with PGI USA for the last 20 years, leading partnership development and professional education.
FinancialsJul 29, 2026
Kering’s H1 Jewelry Sales Up 14%Boucheron reached record sales while Pomellato found success in its signature collections.
Events & AwardsJul 29, 2026
Lauren Harwell Godfrey Designs a Flag for ArkansasShe was one of more than 120 American designers who created flags for the “United Flags of Fashion” project led by CFDA and Vogue.
ColumnistsJul 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Why Your Job Postings May Be Working Against You Smith reveals the method The Retail Smiths use to help retailers and vendors write better job postings.
FinancialsJul 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Lead the Way for LVMH in H1LVMH’s jewelry and watch brands outperformed the company’s other divisions in an environment the company described as “disrupted.”
CollectionsJul 28, 2026
Lionheart’s New Collection Unites Spiritual Iconography“Sacred Heart” features symbols like crosses, angel wings, the Star of David, and the evil eye as a representation of coexistence.
Events & AwardsJul 28, 2026
The Edge Funding 2 Scholarships Via 24 Karat Club SEUS The scholarships will go to early-career professionals looking to study gemology, bench work and jewelry design, or store operations.
SurveysJul 27, 2026
Jewelry Leads Luxury Market Amid Stabilization, Bain SaysBain & Company delved into the trends shaping the luxury market, the impact of AI, and more in its recent study.
SourcingJul 27, 2026
‘Rubies’ Goes on Display at Harvard MuseumThe exhibition reveals the gemology, geology, and cultural history of the iconic red gemstone.
Policies & IssuesJul 24, 2026
New Trump Tariffs: What They Mean for Jewelry The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Ode to ‘The Odyssey’From coin pendants to diamond shields, these old world-inspired jewels are the perfect accessory for an epic journey.
TrendsJul 24, 2026
Courtney Leidy’s Silk Cord Pendants Center Unexpected Pairings Our Piece of the Week pairs a checkerboard-cut amethyst with an ivy green silk cord.
PodcastsJul 23, 2026
Episode 7: Reinhold Jewelers on the Power of RelationshipsMildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.
SourcingJul 23, 2026
De Beers’ Production Jumps 88 Percent in Q2 Production also was up in the first half of 2026 but is expected to “substantially” decrease in H2 as two key mines undergo maintenance.
CollectionsJul 23, 2026
Silvia Furmanovich’s New Collection Travels Back to the 1920s“Art Deco” fuses ancestral techniques, rare materials, and modern perspectives as a tribute to the optimism and curiosity of the movement.
IndependentsJul 23, 2026
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens Casino StoreThe jeweler’s newest store is inside Arkansas’ Saracen Casino Resort.
WatchesJul 23, 2026
Movado Inks Licensing Deal With Kate Spade New YorkThe watch company will design, manufacture, and distribute Kate Spade New York watches.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2026
Trump to Put 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.
