I have known Andrew Thomson from Toronto Ontario, Canada for several years having met him as CEO of Soltoro Ltd. which was then trading on the Toronto Venture Exchange, TSXV:SOL.
Soltoro’s exploration properties were located in Jalisco and the company was sold to Agnico Eagle Mines in June 2015.
Thomson, having made some nice money on the transaction, wanted to pay back his good fortune to some of those in need and August 3 was that day.
Thomson, along with Agnico Eagle, Maxit Capital, corporate advisors to Soltoro, and Weir Foulds, legal counsel to Soltoro, funded the purchase of the wheelchairs. All agreed it would be more socially responsible to give something back to the local communities to celebrate the sale transaction.
Over 40 wheelchairs were given away at the Hospital Civil in Guadalajara. Many hospital administrators and staff were on hand for the presentations, as well as the recipients in the hospital’s auditorium. It still takes a lot of players to pull off an event like this. Also on hand was Manual Padilla, head geologist for Agnico Eagle Mines in Mexico and Steve Priesmeyer formerly with Soltoro and now vice president of exploration at Thomson’s new mining company, Palamina Corp.
Facilitating the purchase of the wheelchairs and with us was Gordon Holmes, founder of http://StreetwiseReports.com, The Gold Report and many others. Holmes has donated over 20,000 wheelchairs in more than ten countries around the world through his foundation Lookout Ridge. Lookout Ridge organized the purchase of the wheelchairs and worked with the local rotary club to set up the event.
Assisting with the transportation and importation of the wheelchairs from the United States to Mexico was the Rotary Club in Guadalajara.
On August 4 another 22 wheelchairs were given out in Guachinango where the previous exploration offices of Soltoro were located and which I had the opportunity to visit on many occasions. Minas Chaparral, Agnico Eagle’s Mexican subsidiary now operating in the town, worked with the local mayor to identify those in need and organize the event.
I know Thomson was particularly proud to have his family with him to share this wonderful event and to see the smiles and tears in the eyes of the recipients. Over the next three weeks, the Rotary Club will be handing out another 60 wheelchairs to other poor communities with great needs around Guadalajara.
It is a joy to know and be associated with all of these folks and to have shared this event with them. We topped off the long day with a wonderful dinner in Guadalajara at the Casa de Los Platos in Colonia Providencia.