ABOUT CONTOUR EXPLORATION

OUR COMPANY HISTORY

Contour, established in 2022 by Paul MacDonald, Jim Donaldson, Michael MacDonald, and Michelle Palmes, was created with the mission to provide safe, professional, and top-tier services to clients in mining exploration and geotechnical site investigations. The addition of Brett Joseph to the leadership team further strengthened the company.

Safety and quality are the foundational principles that fuel the company's expansion. Currently, Contour is active in Western Canada, covering areas in Yukon and British Columbia, and is extending its reach into other Canadian provinces.

This expansion includes our Alaskan subsidiary, Contour Services Inc., which is ready to deploy crews for projects in the United States.

What We Do

At Contour we provide the following services to our clients:

• Remote drill pad and helipad construction

• Turnkey Exploration Programs (from planning, permitting, and expediting, to execution and reporting)

• Exploration camps – Design and construction

• Falling / Clearing / Line Cutting

• Helicopter and ground claim staking

• Geochemical surveys

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide the highest quality service in the safest and most professional manner possible.

Integrity, Hard Work, Safety, and Service – ALWAYS!

Vision

To have a positive impact on our industry’s safety and quality levels by setting the standard.

We can do this when we:

• Deliver reliable service

• Take ownership in everything

• Commit to continuous improvement

• Build a positive team environment

Values

• Integrity

• Hard Work

• Safety

• Reconciliation

• Service

• Respect

OUR MISSION, VISION, and VALUES

Standing up for DEI and Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation.

We believe all organizations have a responsibility to address the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through policy, including ongoing Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation efforts.

Here’s where we stand on these essential principles. 

MANAGEMENT TEAM

PAUL MACDONALD

Born in Whitehorse, Paul has over 35 years experience in the mining exploration industry, specializing in leading pad building crews on multi-drill programs. His expertise spans across all aspects of placer and hard-rock mineral exploration, from claim staking to resource drilling, as well as placer development and mining.

In addition to his mining exploration experience, Paul is an accomplished climber and faller, holding a ticketed blaster position in the Yukon for two decades. His dedication to his craft is evident in his strong work ethic, and he takes great pride in mentoring and guiding younger crew members to develop their skills and excel in their roles.

Managing Partner

JIM DONALDSON

Managing Partner

Jim is a passionate Explorationist with over 35 years of hands-on experience in grassroots mining exploration. Throughout his career, he has fulfilled various roles, including claim staker, line cutter, dirt-bagger, prospector, drillers' helper, placer miner, camp carpenter, extreme pad builder, program lead, and project manager.

Jim's extensive expertise includes conducting MAG, VLF, and HLEM surveys, covering thousands of kilometers in search of base and precious metals. He has ventured from the high arctic islands to Patagonia, exploring challenging terrains. Jim thrives on tackling logistical hurdles and increasing efficiency on exploration projects.

MICHELLE PALMES

Managing Partner

Michelle has 17-years experience in the exploration industry across Canada, the USA, and Mexico. She has excelled in everything she does including recent roles as Senior Geological Technician at operating BC mines. Her expertise encompasses geochemical sampling programs, prospecting, surface and downhole surveying, overseeing drill programs, and the management of exploration camps and core shacks. Beyond her technical roles as an XRF technician, data collection, sampling, and QA/QC, Michelle plays a vital role in overseeing our Health & Safety protocols and leads our Administration department with skill.

MICHAEL MACDONALD

Michael has over 13 years of experience in Mining Exploration, and what initially began as a summer job during his university years, transformed into a full-fledged career, igniting a deep passion for the industry. He has dedicated the majority of his career to constructing drill and helicopter pads in remote regions of British Columbia, Yukon, and Nunavut. Additionally, Michael has valuable experience in managing camps, overseeing drill programs, cutting seismic lines, clearing sites, and tackling various challenges that arise during projects.

He excels at assisting clients in accomplishing their project goals while maintaining a strong commitment to safety and efficiency.

Managing Partner

Brett Joseph

Brett, hails from Kitselas, BC, and boasts an impressive 15-year track record in mining exploration. He is a seasoned crew leader, having successfully led teams in various locations, including Alaska, Yukon, Nunavut and BC.

Over the past 15 years, Brett has developed his expertise in constructing drill pads across diverse environments, including steep rocky terrain, high Arctic tundra, intertidal zones, permafrost, swamps, and more.

In addition to his construction expertise, Brett is highly regarded for his exceptional mentoring abilities. His competence, intelligence, and adept problem-solving skills have earned him a reputation as a sought-after, reliable, and solution-oriented project lead, often requested by name.

Senior Project Manager

Guy Laplante

Senior Crew Lead / Project Manager

Guy, originally from Elliot Lake, Ontario, brings over 15 years of experience in Mining Exploration, excelling as a Pad Builder and project leader. His expertise spans a range of activities including camp construction, staking, line cutting, soil sampling, and conducting geophysical surveys.

A passionate outdoorsman, he enjoys fishing and snowmobiling near his Maple Sugar bush in Northern Ontario.

Guy is a highly reliable and invaluable crew lead, known for his problem-solving skills, commitment to safety, and consistent demonstration of skill and dedication in fieldwork.

CONTACT US

Can't wait to help you with your exploration program or geotechnical site evaluation.