Take a Tour of KMC's History
In the summer of 1949, Ted A. Klemke and his son John (Jack) Klemke founded what we know today to be KMC Mining. At that time, Ted mortgaged his home to make this initial investment in the business, and soon, the father-son team began operations in southern Saskatchewan constructing irrigation canals.
KMC transitioned into building roads across Saskatchewan, and eventually, their operations made their way to Alberta. KMC then expanded its services to include railroads, dams, and other significant earthworks projects over the Company’s 75 plus year history. As Western Canada developed, so did KMC as they completed projects throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and Northwest Territories.
KMC started working in the Alberta oil sands industry shortly after completing the last leg of Highway 63, which truly paved the way for top oil sands producers. In 1973, KMC officially started our first oil sands project. Since then, we have seen significant growth as this sector has developed over the last 40 plus years. Take a tour to learn more about KMC’s history.
2021
Rebuilt Workforce
Rebuilt workforce to pre-Covid levels.
2022
Concluded KMFM Joint Venture
KMFM joint venture with Fort McKay Group of Companies is concluded.
2019
September
Management buyout complete.
2016
Thiess Partnership
KMC joins Thiess to Win Major Oil Sands Contract with Suncor
2015
CNRL
KMC awarded 2015-2016 Winter Reclamation Material Salvage and Placement Program
Graham Partnership
GKJV formed to perform work at Syncrude
Diversification
KMC was awarded a shale mining contract at a quarry in Western Alberta
2013
On October 29, 2013, KMC achieved a milestone, extending the life of one of our 4000R57 tires to failure at 17,343 hours and 206,047 kilometers. This tire ran for approximately 3 1/2 years.
2010
Acquisition
KMC acquires assets of Cross Oilsands Contracting Ltd.
Teck
Awarded pit bottom mining contract with Teck in BC’s Elk Valley
2008
TriWest Partnership
TriWest, AIMCo and ATB become equity partners in KMC Mining
2007
Partnership with Kiewit
K2 Mining awarded Kearl Oil Sands Project in partnership with Kiewit
2006
Suncor Tailings Pond
Suncor South Tailings Pond completed
2002
KMC awarded heavy civil contract. This project is the primary home for our fleet of super shovels and haul trucks.
1999
H740 Shovel
H740 shovel (collaborated with Komatsu Germany) for first 40 m3 shovel
PC8000
KMC took delivery of the first of the Komatsu flagship PC8000 shovel that was built to KMC specifications under a confidentiality agreement
1998
Uranium
Awarded contract to reclaim Cameco Key Lake mine. This contract involved the placement of approx. 2,700,000 cu. meters of material from a stockpile source back into mined out pit. A large fleet was mobilized for this three month project which was completed on schedule.
Liebherr T282
KMC field tested the first group of Liebherr T282 (380 ton) trucks
1996
Name Change
T.A. Klemke & Son Construction Ltd. changed to Klemke Mining Corporation or KMC Mining
1995
Demag H685
Worlds largest hydraulic excavator commissioned for KMC
1989
Added Shovel
Purchased first 285 Shovel with a 19 cubic meter capacity
1988
Fort McMurray
Oil Sands work continues
Worlds First Shovel
Purchased worlds first 485 Shovel with 28 cubic meters capacity
1987
CAT 789
Bought first 3 CAT 789
1982
Coal
Quintette Coal Mine work
CAT D9N
Purchased first CAT D9N Tractor in the World
1981
Fort McMurray
Oil Sands work for Suncor and Syncrude continues
Cassiar Gold Mine
KMC expanded its mining footprint with Placer Cassiar Gold Mine. Company received provincial government commendation for outstanding environmental reclamation work
1980
Oil Sands Work
Work at Syncrude and Suncor continues
Plane Crash
April 7 Athabasca Plane Crash.
Jack Klemke, Ralph Hope and other passengers suffered minor injuries.
1978
CN Railway
CN Rail bridge approaches
CAT 777
First 777 purchased
Oil Sands Work
Work at Syncrude and Suncor continues
Started direct work for Syncrude with overburden removal contract
1974
Syncrude
Ongoing work at Syncrude
Suncor
Started work at Suncor site in Fort McMurray, AB
1973
Waterton, AB
Waterton Lake Road
Pivotal Contract
Started at Syncrude in November 1973 working for Bechtel. Second company to ever work in the oil sands region.
1972
Highway
Dempster Highway work completed. At the time, it was Canada’s only all-weather road to cross the Artic circle and made Canadian history to connect the Klondike Highway to the Northwest Territories
Klemke Family Business
The next generation of Klemke’s join the Company in various roles to aid in the growing business.
1971
Fort Simpson, NT
Ongoing roadwork project
Highway
Dempster Highway construction commenced
1970
Fort Simpson, NT
Ongoing roadwork project
1969
CN Railway
Fox Creek CN railway bed project
YEO
Bought YEO
Ralph Hope, Pilot, came on staff
1968
Peace River
Completed Peace River Highway Relocation
Highway
Fraust Lake Highway
1967
Grand Prairie, AB
Alberta Resources railway bed project
Highway Relocation
Peace River Highway Relocation
1966
Northwest Territories
Pine Point, NT
Constructed 60 miles of road south of Kluane Road towards Fort Smith
Rail
Grande Cache railway bed project
Edmonton Office
Established corporate office in Edmonton
1965
Fort McMurray
Constructed 41 miles of Highway 63 North of Hangingstone Creek to South of Algar Tower
Project paved the way for top producers to start work in oil sands and opened up new opportunities for the Company.
1964
Waterton, AB
Chief Mountain Highway
Spring flood threatened bridge building efforts
1963
Highway
Millet, AB
1962
Highway
Highway 2 from Clairsholm to Stavely, AB
1961
Morin, AB
Approaches to Red Deer River Bridge
Fossils
Plesiosaur Dinosaur skeleton found with sea shell fossils
1960
Highway
Highway 3 from Coaldale to Lethbridge, AB
1959
Road
Swan Hills to Fort Assiniboine Road
1958
Lemond, AB
Finished up canal contract
Vauxhall, AB
First Highway Project
Vauxhall to Old Man River
Fleet Additions
Bought first 2 motor scrapers DW 15
Wardlow, AB
Until freeze up
1957
Klemke Family Grows
Klemke twins born
Lemond, AB
Finished up canal contract
Vauxhall, AB
First highway project started from Vauxhall to Old Man River, AB
Fleet Additions
Bought first two motor scrapers DW 15
Wardlow, AB
Until freeze up
1956
Horsefly Dam
Back to Taber, AB to finish dam
Lemond, AB
Canal contract until freeze up
Acquisition
Bought Medicine Hat Sand & Gravel
1955
March
Back to Hayes, AB for land leveling
Carsland, AB
Big cut job
Suffield, AB
Road building
Horsefly Dam
Constructed dam near Taber, AB
1954
March
Back to Hayes, AB for land leveling
Added to Fleet
Bought used D8, Richardson Pull Grader and a LP Letourneau Pull Blade
Summer
Bow Island canal building
Land Leveling
Land leveling until freeze up in Manyberries, AB
First Klemke
Third generation Klemke son born
Winter
Repaired machinery to prepare for next year’s work
1953
New Location
Family living in Vauxhall, AB
New Equipment
Bought new D7 and Cat 60 scraper
New equipment became available shortly after Korean War ended
Road
Built roads in Vauxhall, AB
Land Leveling
Hayes, AB
1952
Spring
Sold first trailer
New Trailer
Built 24 ft by 8 ft trailer and 16 ft by 8 ft bunkhouse for family
Fleet Additions
Bought second used D7 tractor and Cat 70 scraper
Moved to Alberta
Resumed canal work in Alberta
September
Crossed Bow River by ferry North of Vauxhall, AB
Force account work patching Ronalain Road
1951
Spring
Repaired dam in Beechie, SK
June to October
Irrigation canal construction
1950
May & June
Built TransCanada Highway between Mortlack and Parkbeg, SK
Unit price at 12 cents/cubic yard
Subcontracted by Clark Construction
July
Dam near Delisle, SK (North of North Battleford)
Summer
Constructed four small dams near Round Hill, SK and another small dam near Smilie, SK
Smilie, SK
Klemke’s lived in 10 ft x 8 ft trailer
Left machine for Winter
1949
Initial Investment
Ted A. Klemke mortgaged their home to make the initial investment in the new business. His son John (Jack) Klemke joined him and the father-son team began operations in southern Saskatchewan constructing irrigation canals.
Spring
Purchased used Caterpillar RD 7 Tractor & Bee Gee Scraper
First Job
Repaired small dam in Pense, SK which is East of Moosejaw
Summer
Built dyke at Kiedive, SK
Dug several dugouts for PRFA between Moosejaw and Regina
Fall
Built a dugout at Caronport, SK