FERDERBER, Peter Prospector and Pioneer
February 2, 1927 - February 2, 2019
Passed away at home in his beloved Val-d’Or, Quebec, on his 92nd birthday, our Dad joined our Mom, Dolores, his most precious “find”. With him were his five children- Randon, Rhonda (James Ferguson), Angela (Carmen Demarco), Harold and Daniel. His pride in and love for us knew no bounds and included his eight grandchildren: Kyle (Beth), Blair (Natalie), Lucas (Stephanie), Alyssa (Josh), Peter (Madeleine), Kira-Lynn (Jesse), Sophie (Mathieu), and Sahra and his 10 great-grandchildren: Porter, Mackenzie, Emma, Brady, Jacob, Noah, Avery, Liv, Clara and Stella Dolores. Also survived by sister-in-law, Raymonde Cote, and many nieces and nephews. He will be forever admired, loved and missed by all who knew him.
Born in a tiny village in Slovenia, former Yugoslavia, Dad journeyed as a baby with his mother Margaret, sister Angela and brothers Mark and Bill to join their father Mark Sr. in Rouyn-Noranda where his brother Harry was born. From humble beginnings in a log cabin, in then Bourlamaque (1934), emerged a remarkable man with a remarkable story. He was a Val-d’Or pioneer who grew with the town and worked to make the town what it has become today. His accomplishments as a Prospector and man of mining fame are well known in Quebec’s North, in Northern Labrador, across Canada, the United States and abroad. A Prospector with successes in discoveries of deposits of gold, iron ore and other base metals, he remained actively working on his latest projects.
He was instrumental in the discovery of eight mines in the Abitibi region and beyond: Belmoral, Beacon #2, Sleeping Giant, Hemlo, Aurizon Mines, Bras D’Or, River Gold and Dorval Mines, situated along Peter Ferderber Street just outside of Val-d’Or. As the President of Prospecting Geophysics, a mining exploration company, Peter earned the respect and trust of many working in the field of exploration and geophysical work. He was known in the mining world for his integrity and modesty, for being courteous and unassuming, and for his smile- oftentimes being referred to as “The Smiling Prospector”. Peter was a lifetime member of The Royal Canadian Legion- Val-d’Or Branch 76. He was a member of The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) and a founder, in 1975, of the Quebec Prospectors’ Association (QPA). For outstanding service to mining exploration and development, he was recognized and awarded “Prospector of the Year” by both PDAC and the QPA in 1979.
In 1988 he was named Business Man of the Year by the Val-d’Or Chamber of Commerce. Honoured in 2009 for his 60 years of contribution to the mining industry and involvement in the growth of Val-d’Or he received, from the Government of Quebec, the Medaille de L’Assemble Nationale. In 2012, he was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
An avid golfer and fisherman; a story teller possessed of a witty, wonderful sense of humour, who loved nothing better than the annual family lamb barbecues, Fort DeSoto Park picnics, eggnogs he made from scratch each New Year’s Day and serving up his specialty, barbecued “Chickies”.
With a heart of gold, he was generous and caring. Gregarious, cheerful, at times cheeky and ever appreciative of just the little things. He valued his family, friends and colleagues. We his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were blessed and proud to call him ours – we will make “Ferderber Footprints Forever”.
A celebration of this amazing man and his life and legacy will take place in the
Spring. Details will be announced at a later date.
Those wishing to make a donation in acknowledgement of Peter are asked to consider the Salvation Army or the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76, 542 3rd Avenue, Val-d’Or, QC, J9P 1S4.