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Oct 19/2005


Canada’s Diamond Industry Celebrates First Woman to Achieve “Round Brilliant Specialist” Status

The world’s third largest diamond producer focuses attention on developing quality craftsmanship and a skilled workforce.

Yellowknife, NWT (October 19, 2005): Canada’s cutting edge approach to its burgeoning diamond industry is once again celebrated with the announcement of the country’s first woman to achieve certification as a "Round Brilliant Specialist."

That unique distinction goes to Jeannine Pilon, a graduate of the Diamond Cutting and Polishing program of Aurora College in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NWT), who has been perfecting her craft at Arslanian Cutting Works (NWT) Ltd. since January 2003.

This qualification comes from creating round brilliant shapes by polishing facets according to set specifications and sequences. They may polish rough, sawn, cleaved, bruted or lasered diamonds, and can specialize in blocking, crossworking and/or brillianteering. Pilon achieved this status by polishing five entire diamonds in a 16-hour period.

While a diamond’s clarity, carat and colour are determined by nature, masterfully skilled hands influence the cut and determine its ultimate beauty, brilliance and value. Mindful of the need to nurture and develop a thriving, enthusiastic and talented workforce to support its anticipated growth, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has taken the lead and implemented the world’s first and only occupational standards and certification program for diamond cutters and polishers.

While a diamond’s clarity, carat and colour are determined by nature, masterfully skilled hands influence the cut and determine its ultimate beauty, brilliance and value. Mindful of the need to nurture and develop a thriving, enthusiastic and talented workforce to support its anticipated growth, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has taken the lead and implemented the world’s first and only occupational standards and certification program for diamond polishers.

“We are proud of Ms. Pilon and the example she sets for others, especially women, in completing our world-class training program, based on the occupational standards developed with extensive input from international diamond experts," said the Honourable Charles Dent, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. "As a successful graduate of this program, she has reached a very high level of competence as determined by the global industry and we could not be more delighted for her."

The competency-based standards follow rigorous guidelines set out by the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupations Certification Board. Occupational standards and certification have been set for a number of diamond positions, including sawing, bruting, round brilliant and fancy cut specialist.

The NWT’s Diamond Cutting and Polishing program is the first of its kind in Canada. This unique program attracts students from all over the world.

The Northwest Territories is a major player in the world diamond industry with two operating mines producing more than $2 billion last year. This makes the NWT the world’s third largest producer of rough diamonds, surpassing South Africa and just behind Botswana and Russia. The booming diamond exploration and mining industry has developed into a critical and growing part of the north’s economy. Combined with a focus on producing high quality finished diamond products, diamonds are an important part of the present and future of the NWT.

With its mines producing 14% of the world’s diamonds, efforts are being made to move beyond the role as diamond producer and develop a vibrant secondary diamond industry. Polished diamonds that are mined, cut and polished in the NWT have found a niche in the global marketplace, reinforcing the efforts to explore value-added industries, such as cutting and polishing, design, manufacture, retail and tourism.

Notes to Editors

1. High resolution photos of Ms. Pilon are available for editorial use by request.

2. Three diamond facilities in Yellowknife, NWT participate in the certification program, and in doing so, have attracted some of the world’s most skilled craftsmen to Yellowknife, capital of the NWT and diamond capital of North America.

3. To further support its diamond industry, the Government of the NWT and its partners has mounted an international awareness campaign to position itself as North America’s diamond centre and capitalize on the potential for economic, social and cultural development in the North through diamonds. With a host of special events, consumer and retailer programs and spectacular promotional activities in Canada and the United States, the "Rare in Nature: Diamonds of the Canadian Arctic" campaign is a multi-faceted global effort which will promote the exciting new tourism niche of diamond travel; fuel the growth of skilled diamond trades in the NWT; and invite Canadian and international designers to work with the exceptional diamonds and talented people of the North.