Gilbert Adélard LaBine

Gilbert Adélard LaBine for his pioneering discovery in 1930 of pitchblende containing radium and uranium at Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories. This discovery helped shape the course of world history. The pitchblende, rich in radium broke the worldwide monopoly held by the Belgian Congo on this mineral. In 1942 the United States needed uranium for the atomic bomb they were developing. Gilbert's ready supply saved the U.S. valuable time in its successful race with Germany to develop the atomic bomb. Gilbert LaBine received the Medal of Service of the Order of Canada in 1969 and was inducted posthumously into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 1989. He died on 8 June 1977 in Toronto, Canada.