Bekkers, Johannes (Gertjan)

Johannes (Gertjan) lives in Timmins with his wife and three children. He is a professional mining engineer who came to Canada from The Netherlands in 1997 and his passion for the mining industry has taken him to different parts of Canada and the world, which has encouraged him to learn basic communication in several languages, including some Inuktitut. He is particularly mindful of the delicate balance between economic development and permanent resource extraction. Besides traveling with his family or for work, Gertjan enjoys being at home, where he can prepare fresh artisanal breads. He also likes to work on renovation projects that maintain the character of his older house.