Birks Honors Two Canadian Actresses

Emily Hampshire, Jean-Christophe Bedos and Sarah Gadon at Cannes.

Actresses Emily Hampshire and Sarah Gadon received the Birks Canadian Diamond award, which honors “individuals whose professional accomplishments allow Canada to shine beyond our country’s frontiers.” The inagural award was presented by Birks, the largest luxury jewelry chain in Canada, during the Cannes Film Festival in souther France.

Jean-Christophe Bedos, Birks president and CEO, presented the trophies to the actresses Thursday during Telefilm Canada’s inaugural Tribute To Canadian Talent press event and reception.

The two actresses appear in the film, Cosmopolis, a scathing critique of capitalism and the financial industry, directed by David Cronenberg. The film made its world premiere Friday at Cannes.

“Sarah and Emily’s talent can now be celebrated not only across Canada but around the planet,” Bedos said. “They are an asset to the Canadian film industry and help our country shine abroad.”

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Harry Winston May Purchase Second Canadian Diamond Mine

Ekati diamond mine. Photo credit: Jason Pineau, through Wikipedia

Harry Winston is in talks to purchase an important asset of BHP Billiton’s diamond business, according to published reports.

The Toronto-based company, which describes itself as a diamond enterprise with premium assets in the mining and retail segments of the diamond industry, has secured bank financing for a possible deal to buy the Ekati diamond mine in Northwest Territories of Canada, according to the Financial Times. However, the deal, which was to be completed by mid year is going slower than expected and could even break down.

Harry Winston, best known as a luxury jewelry and watch retailer, already owns a 40 percent share in the Diavik diamond mine in the same area with Rio Tinto, which owns a 60 percent stake.

Both BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto announced in November 2011 that they are looking to get out of the diamond business to focus on larger, more-profitable assets from their vast mining businesses.

It’s a complicated matter, according to the report, because if Rio Tinto agreed to sell Diavik to Harry Winston, it would make it more difficult for the mining giant to sell the rest of its diamond assets.

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