June/July 2011

Excerpt

David and Alexander Fasken were key players in the development of the mining industry in Canada. The obituary prepared by Excelsior Life Insurance on the death of Alex in 1944 read: "David and Alex Fasken, in the late 1890s, were among the first to see the possibilities of mining development in Northern Ontario."¹ They participated in the development of silver mines in Cobalt, gold mines in Porcupine and base metal mines at Flin Flon, and helped fund exploration elsewhere. Their combination of business judgment, entrepreneurial energy, foresight, money-raising capabilities and legal expertise proved an important asset in the successful opening of Northern Ontario and other areas.