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 70 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