OUR STORY
Welcome to “Our Story” at Treadstone Gold, where three decades of entrepreneurial spirit and resilience have shaped our journey from the prairies of Manitoba to the gold-rich landscapes of the Yukon.
Brian McCaughan, co-founder, began his journey on a farm in Manitoba. Armed with little more than a truck and a tool pouch, he chased a hailstorm to Alberta and founded a siding company in Okotoks, AB. Amid setbacks like deals gone awry, a flood, and an economic downturn leading to bankruptcy, Brian McCaughan’s tenacity and drive for success prevailed.
Bouncing back from challenges, he spearheaded the creation of Treadstone Equipment Ltd. McCaughan set his sights northward, venturing into the Yukon Klondike Gold Mines in 2013.
Dealing with the ups and downs of Yukon placer mining, the McCaughans’ knack for buying and selling heavy equipment which guided them through the years marked by weak gold recovery.
In 2018, on the verge of considering calling it quits and relocating to Alberta, the McCaughans had a stroke of luck when they met a local miner. This fortunate encounter led to the opportunity to lease claims on Eureka Creek, offering a newfound lifeline and changing the course of their journey.
In the five years following success on Eureka Creek, the McCaughans have been blessed. They not only found enough gold to support and upgrade equipment also made a significant world-renowned discovery on June 21, 2022 – the Baby Mammoth, Nun Cho Ga.
While Treadstone Gold is dedicated to cultivating an efficient, safe, and enjoyable work environment for unearthing valuable paydirt, our narrative is woven with the luck of the Irish—brimming with resilience, adaptability, and the seizing of opportunities in the heart of the Yukon goldfields. Adding to the mix is the joy of working with family, because when your prospecting adventures are fueled by a genuine passion for gold mining, laughter becomes just another nugget in the pan of life.
THE DISCOVERY OF NUN CHO GA (meaning "Big Baby Animal")
During his first year at Treadstone Gold on the Eureka Creek claims, employee Travis Delawski, made an incredible find on June 21, 2022. Operating an excavator with a ripping attachment, Travis cut into the permafrost at depths of about 50 to 60 feet, unveiling the remarkable discovery of Nun Cho Ga.
Spotting what appeared to be an ancient bison skull, Travis Delawski couldn’t resist investigating. To his amazement, it turned out to be the well-preserved body of an animal with skin, fur, eyes, and a trunk! Excitedly, Travis radioed the foreman and co-owner, Brian McCaughan, exclaiming, “I found a body!” Brian, recognizing the discovery’s significance, promptly contacted Dr. Grant Zazula, the Yukon paleontologist in Whitehorse. For more details on this thrilling find, click here!
Management
Nickname: 2Dogs, Raminstein
Born: March 9th
Years Placer Mining: Since 2012, Owner of numerous companies since 1992
Position in Company: COO, Project Designer/Builder, Class 1 driver
Personality Traits: Risk Taker, Optimist, Jack of all trades, Charismatic (Brian’s Vortex)
Best Known for: Thinks outside the Box, Innovative, using gorilla tape to fix anything, Habitual Entrepreneur, Business deals in “Gerdies”
Sayings: It’s a No Brainer, Just Giver, Yes’m
Interests: Auctions! Stock car racing
Something you would not know about him: 2008 he raced World of Outlaws Sprints
Nickname: Stressella, C.O.C. (Controller of Chaos), Shannon
Born: April 14th
Years Mining: 12 years mining, 30 years managing family businesses
Position in Company: CEO, Co-founder
Personality Traits: generous, kind, tenacious, diligent work habits, integrity
Best Known for: Writing on her hand, mistress of the messy desk, first one up last one to bed, Gold “personality colors”, always wanting things fair, being late
Sayings: “Reverse the tables”, “Nip it in the Bud”, “Do for one do for all”, “Where’s my phone?”, “Shit can you do that again?” (when taking a picture/video), “No I don’t gamble”, “Gold mining is enough”, “I hate Passwords”, “What did Brian buy now?”
Pet Peeve: Lazy people, thieves
Interests: Yukon Nuggets and rocks, self improvement books/courses
Something one would not know about her: Use to be an elementary school teacher, sold Passion Parties, farm girl.
Bookkeeper / Office Administrator
Nickname: She says it use to be “Chatterbox” ….. Um that still suits her
Born: April 6th
Years with TG: 9
Position in Company: Bookkeeper, mediator between owners
Personality Traits: Positive, witty, easy going, huge heart (cries watching commercials)
Best Known for: Multiple nugget winner for naming equipment contest (no she does not use ChatGPT) TV show expert, cat lady
Sayings: “No one likes a quitter” (when asked when she will quit smoking), “You guys should have your own reality TV show”
Pet Peeve: Quitters
Interests: Her family, proud Oma of 7!
Something one would not know about her: After ten years, has yet to make it to the Yukon!
Our Team "In The Cut"
Nickname: Bryceless
Born: October 23rd
Years with TG: 10 seasons, operating since age 14
Position in Company: Excavator/dozer operator, “Cut Boss”
Personality Traits: Raw sense of humor, quiet, animal lover, always thinking
Best Known for: “Volunteers” for night shift, keeps us laughing with his wit, goes back for seconds & thirds (if the cook is good), not answering the two-way, although you may not hear from him all day, the job gets done!
Sayings: He is a man of few words, the rest are censored
Pet Peeve: Being filmed, being asked questions, being stared at
Interests: Chill’n with the boys online, travelling to warmer climates to escape Canadian winters, watching YouTube
Something one would not know about him: Started going grey at age 16, interested in fashion, has a cat named Miah
Nickname: 12-Gage, Qwage, Greg
Born: August 10th
Years with TG: Operating for 10 seasons (since age 12)
Position in Company: Excavator/dozer operator, “Cut Boss”
Personality Traits: Animal lover, energetic, hard working, excellent lover, likes to make people laugh
Best Known for: Ripping to Dawson City in his razor Saturday night, hugging & wrestling with Tusk & Bear
Sayings: “Luck of the Irish”, ”I’m going deep & I’m going hard”
Pet Peeve: Morning meetings, new hires overstating their operating experience
Interests: Passion for gold mining, wakesurfing, boating in Arizona
Something one would not know about him: Raced mini sprints, late models & legends.
Nickname: “Spike”
Born: April 17th
Years with TG: 4
Position in Company: Dual Red Seal Mechanic & Welder, class one driver, operator, Yukon mediator for the owners
Personality Traits: Easy going, / happy go lucky/ positive attitude /”Gold” color
Best Known for: BBQing, relaxing in his lawn chair, smiling, Chaga Hunter, edibles, Camp Dad
Sayings: Do you see what I’m saying ? What would Wayne Do? “WWWD”
Pet Peeve: People not doing Pre Inspections on equipment, when Sharon is scheduled to make oatmeal and is late making it throws off his schedule
Interests: Restoring Vintage Cars & Trucks 1967 Dodge Monaco 500 2 door hardtop, 1970 Dodge Dart GT Hardtop , 1967 GMC C10, 1968 GMC 910, 1972 Chevy C10 just to name a few
Something one would not know about him: An actual Alberta farm boy, Cancer Survivor
Nickname:“Speed”
Born: November 4th
Years with TG: 3
Position in Company: Red Seal Welder, mechanic, operator
Personality Traits: Social, flexible, resourceful, witty , hard worker
Best Known for: Multitasking (Working, talking, smoking, speed walking), camp fires, night owl, volunteering for the long shifts
Sayings: “Oh Fuk yeah she’ll go”
Pet Peeve: Tools being left out in equipment and not put back
Interests: Snowboarding, shooting, camping
Something one would not know about him: Use to rodeo
Nickname: Pickles, Trav
Born: September 12th
Years with TG: 2
Position in Company: Equipment operator
Personality Traits: Hard worker, ethical, loyal, quick learner, positive, energetic
Best Known for: On June 21, 2022 he discovered the Baby Mammoth. He became a proud first-time father in July 2023.
Sayings: “Mind over matter”, “Okay let’s GO!”
Pet Peeve: Vegetables, social media, slow pokes
Interests: Has many interest as he is jack-of-trades, working with his hands, building things
Something one would not know about him: He has owned more than 50 vehicles in his 33 yrs of life, he wants to live in a bus
Nickname: Doogie
Born: September 1st
Years with TG: 2.5 seasons
Position in Company: Operator, Carpenter/Renovations
Personality Traits: Loyal, supportive (will give a helping hand to anyone), patient, strong work ethics
Best Known for: Feeding the Wash Plants for hours on end, and his evening Kraken & Cokes
Sayings: “Fuk-over” when on the two-way
Pet Peeve: Running out of Rum when living off the grid, unclogging sewer-line at camp!
Interests: Metal detecting, fishing, skiing, “The Pit”
Something one would not know about him: Long time friend of the McCaughans, worked for them as a gutter guy in ’96.
Name: Jason
Born: March 4th
Nickname: Ned
Seasons with TG: 1 (Rookie)
Position in Company: Equipment Operator
Personality Traits: Slightly accident prone, slightly easily distracted, funny, strong work ethics
Best Known for: Keeping the couch from floating away after a night in Dawson City
Sayings: “I’m not superstitious, … I think it’s bad luck to be superstitious!”
Pet Peeve: “Making lists about myself”
Interests: Golfing, Gerdies
Something one would not know about him: TV cameraman for 20 years, butcher.
Bear
Born: 2014, Maremma Kuvasz, loves to be have his paw held, howls at the train, taught Tusk everything he knows.
Tusk
Born: 2021, Pyrenees and Maremma mix, will do anything for a Treat, has a repertoire of tricks, and is the best watchdog we have ever had.
