IOC president and CEO Terry Bowles explains that it was his job to encourage change across the company and "to get everyone on the same page, and I'm very satisfied with the things I see happening.

"We're getting everyone to work together, we're seeing the growth of teamwork. Indeed, the best ideas come from the floor, but it's implementing those ideas that is the difficult bit. In today's world we can't stand still - there are many more things still to do, and new things to learn, but I'm pleased with the results so far."

Terry enthuses over the company's new mission statement: Securing our future together as a successful supplier of iron ore products to the global steel industry.

"We developed the mission statement in consultation with the employees, and that phrase 'Securing our future together' is especially important as it underlines the link between company and communities and our shared determination to be a success."

Looking back over his first four years with IOC, Terry becomes animated: "I am proud of my part in building the company. It's very satisfying. We can improve more and we'll soon catch the best performing Rio Tinto companies! All the ingredients for success are in place and we have a lot of very good people."

This year marks IOC's first 50 years of operations. The company is an integral part of Labrador City and Sept-Îles, and citizens, employees, active retirees and various community groups joined together to celebrate the reciprocal nature of their relationship.

"You know" says Terry, "IOC was perhaps perceived in 2001 as not a particularly exciting place to work. We've changed all that!"

Ralph Mills is a writer and archaeologist based in Nottingham, England.