When Bob Garner joined the team at New Gold’s New Afton Mine in 2012, he couldn’t have imagined what the future would hold, both for him and for the operation.
“From where we started, building the first cave, then the second, and now the third, it’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come,” he said.
After a mining career spanning nearly five decades, Bob is retiring as New Afton celebrates 13 years of commercial production. From beginnings as a summer student in Colorado to his role as General Supervisor at New Afton, Bob has been part of the team helping to build and operate Canada’s only operating underground block cave mine—first building out the West and East caves, and then transitioning C-Zone into production.
“What I’ll miss most is the people.” said Bob. “I’ve worked with some great crews here, people who genuinely care, who want to learn, and who look out for each other. That’s what makes this place special.”
Bob’s career at New Afton began in a time when car bumpers bolted to the wall tracked cave growth and is finishing in an era where automation and battery-electric vehicles are reshaping the industry, as New Afton advances C-Zone production and continues exploration. “People were still learning how block caving operates in Canada, and being part of this from the beginning has been an incredible experience,” said Bob. “If you’ve learned something the hard way, help the next person avoid the same mistake. That’s how we get better together.”
