HAMILTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 14, 2013) - The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today unveiled an historic hammer forge monument at Natural Resources Canada's CanmetMATERIALS facility in Hamilton, Ontario. This century-old hammer forge was converted into a monument that now stands in the courtyard outside the facility.

The unveiling of the hammer forge coincides with National Mining Week, an annual celebration of Canada's international leadership and expertise in the mining of minerals and metals.

"Our Government is committed to supporting research and positioning Canada as a world leader in science and technology," said Minister Oliver. "The monument is a reminder of our industrial history, as well the future that CanmetMATERIALS, the City of Hamilton and the McMaster Innovation Park are building together in materials innovation."

Minister Oliver was joined by Bob Bratina, Mayor of the City of Hamilton; Zach Douglas, President and CEO of the McMaster Innovation Park; and Dr. Nick Markettos, Assistant Vice-President, Research Partnerships, of McMaster University.

"This forge is a testament that CanmetMATERIALS and the McMaster Innovation Park are leaders in the field and creating a brighter future for the City of Hamilton," said Mayor Bratina.

"The history of the hammer forge helps us remember the industrial history of Dundas and Hamilton," said Mr. Douglas. "It will be an important reminder of that history and a counterpoint to the transformation of the advanced materials and manufacturing sector in Hamilton."

"A century ago, this site was home to a centre of manufacturing excellence, and the same holds true today," said Dr. Nick Markettos. "The forge symbolizes our history and commitment to innovation and our future in advanced manufacturing."

The hammer forge was originally constructed in Dundas, Ontario, and was used as a research instrument in a Canmet laboratory up until the 1980s.

Natural Resources Canada's CanmetMATERIALS laboratory is a leading centre for S&T innovation and the largest research centre in Canada devoted to the design, pilot-scale processing and evaluation of metal-based products.

The following media backgrounder is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media

CanmetMATERIALS

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