BHP Group Donates to Saskatoon’s New Downtown Library

walterpalladNovember 24, 2022

The mining company’s $450,000 donation is the first large-scale private donation to support the new downtown flagship store.

Cali BHP President Simon Thomas (left) and Saskatoon Public Library CEO Carol Cooley reveal renderings of the study rooms planned for the library’s new central branch. The room will be funded by her $450,000 donation by BHP. Photo taken Thursday, November 24, 2022 in Saskatoon, SK. Photo by Matt Smith /saskatoon star phoenix

The Saskatoon Public Library has landed its first major corporate donation for its new flagship branch in the heart of the city’s downtown.

Mining company BHP Group Ltd. issued a check for $450,000 on Thursday to use the money to build a library that looks out from the north side of the proposed building’s third floor.

“We see this as an investment in our community,” said Simon Thomas, president of BHP Cali. With BHP itself involved in the construction of his $5.7 billion Jansen potash mine, Thomas said he and other members of the company have spent SPL’s staff on major projects like the new central branch. He said he could sympathize with his work.

Library chief executive Carol Cooley said the need for quiet study spaces arose during the public consultation phase of the new library project. She said discussions led to the addition of a larger room than originally planned, to serve as a “destination space” for people looking for a quieter place.

The library announced final plans for the building in October. Designs by Formline Architecture, Chevalier Morales Architectes, and Architecture49 draw inspiration from Saskatoon’s Native American history. The sloping walls are reminiscent of an indigenous tipi, and the overall shape of the building resembles a Metis longhouse, as does the exposed wooden timber planned for the upper floors.

SPL is targeting $8 million in personal donations for its new downtown branch, and so far, donors have accounted for about 30 percent of that total, Cooley said.

This artist's rendering shows what Saskatoon's new downtown library looks like from the intersection of 25th and 2nd Avenues. (Saskatoon Public Library) — This artist’s rendering shows what Saskatoon’s new downtown library looks like from the intersection of 25th and 2nd Avenues. (Saskatoon Public Library) jpg

BHP is in the process of significantly expanding its presence in Saskatchewan. The company recently announced that it has surpassed its initial goal of starting production at the Janssen mine.

The $5.7 billion project is expected to be the world’s largest potash mine, with an initial production of 4.35 million tonnes expected from late 2026 onwards. The company had previously targeted the mine to start production in 2027.

Thomas said the Janssen site is a hub of activity as the company works to get the mine up and running. The company has been working on developing the mine’s underground shaft for the past few years, but Thomas said more work is being done this summer to prepare it for surface operations.

BHP plans to employ 400 people, all of whom live near the Jansen mine or in Saskatoon, home to the Australian-based company’s North American headquarters. Thomas said he expects the company’s philanthropic efforts in Saskatchewan to continue to grow as its operations grow.

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