Dominion Diamond Corporation (DDM) was a Canadian mining company that played a central role in establishing the Northwest Territories as one of the world's significant diamond-producing regions. Founded in 1994 as part of the consortium that developed Canada's first commercial diamond mine, the company operated the Ekati Diamond Mine and held a minority interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine, both located in the subarctic Lac de Gras region of the Northwest Territories, approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.

Origins and the Ekati Mine

The company's origins are inseparable from the discovery of diamondiferous kimberlite pipes at Lac de Gras in the early 1990s — a find that fundamentally altered the global diamond supply map. Ekati, which opened in 1998 as Canada's first operational diamond mine, was a joint venture in which Dominion Diamond (then operating under earlier corporate names) held a controlling interest. The mine exploits a series of kimberlite pipes through both open-pit and underground methods, producing a broad range of gem-quality and near-gem rough diamonds. Ekati's output became commercially significant not only in volume but in the reputational value attached to its Canadian provenance.

Diavik Stake

Dominion Diamond also held a 40 per cent interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine, with Rio Tinto holding the remaining 60 per cent and acting as operator. Diavik, which began production in 2003, is situated on a small island within Lac de Gras and is notable for producing diamonds of generally high average quality, with a meaningful proportion of gem-grade white stones. Dominion's dual position in both Ekati and Diavik made it one of the most significant pure-play diamond mining companies outside the De Beers and ALROSA groups.

Canadian Provenance and Responsible Sourcing

A defining aspect of Dominion Diamond's market positioning was the emphasis on Canadian origin. Canadian diamonds — produced under the environmental and labour regulations of a stable, high-income jurisdiction — attracted a premium in certain retail markets, particularly in North America, where consumers and retailers sought documented alternatives to diamonds of uncertain provenance. Dominion marketed its production with chain-of-custody documentation, and its rough was sold to manufacturers and polishers who could in turn offer Canadian-origin certification to end consumers. This positioning aligned with the broader post-Kimberley Process era in which provenance transparency became a commercial differentiator.

Acquisition and Insolvency

In 2017, the Washington Companies, a privately held American industrial group, acquired Dominion Diamond Corporation, taking the company private. The transition removed it from public markets but did not alter its operational profile. In 2020, amid the severe disruption to diamond markets caused by the global pandemic, Dominion Diamond entered creditor protection under Canadian insolvency proceedings. The Ekati mine was subsequently acquired by Arctic Canadian Diamond Company, a new entity formed to continue operations. Dominion Diamond's stake in Diavik had already been sold to Rio Tinto in 2021 as part of the restructuring process, consolidating that operation under a single owner ahead of Diavik's planned closure.

Legacy in the Trade

Despite its relatively brief independent existence, Dominion Diamond Corporation occupies a notable place in the modern history of the diamond trade. It was instrumental in proving the commercial viability of Canadian arctic mining and in normalising the concept of origin-verified rough diamonds as a distinct market category. The Ekati and Diavik mines it helped develop continue to produce, and the infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and supply-chain practices established during Dominion's tenure remain foundational to Canadian diamond production.