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Education.
Whether it’s training potential employees what they need to know to head out into the field or informing the public about the important everyday items that mining makes possible, education is a vital aspect within the mining and exploratio...
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Aurora College and the Mine Training Society expand simulator training program
Aurora College and Mine Training Society are expanding their mining simulator training program in Yellowknife with new Cybermine simulators to meet growing demand from three major diamond mines. The program has successfully trained over 200 operators who have gone on to full-time employment, with plans for 15 trainees per program and three programs annually.
Building a culture of safety is a slow process
PDAC and AME BC released their annual safety survey showing the Canadian mineral exploration industry continues to improve safety practices, with 93% of respondents having health and safety programs in 2013. However, challenges remain including fewer companies participating in the survey and only 62% of boards having safety as a standing agenda item.
Celebrated author injects some balance into the debate about energy, the environment and the economy
Author Alex Epstein is conducting a Canadian book tour for 'The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels' with events in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal in June 2015. The tour, organized in partnership with eco-pragmatist.com and the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, aims to provide a balanced perspective on fossil fuel use and climate debate.
B.C. Mine Rescue teams battle for top spot in Smithers
British Columbia held its 60th annual Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition in Smithers, with teams from Huckleberry Mines, Highland Valley Copper, and Elkview Mine taking top honors across various categories. The competition tests emergency response capabilities and maintains BC's world-class mining safety standards, with over 30,000 people employed in the province's mining sector in 2014.
Time for diversity in mining leadership
A study co-authored by Women in Mining UK and PwC shows companies with more women on boards significantly outperform others financially. Mining lawyer Carole Turcotte advocates for diversity in mining leadership, noting women represent only 16% of the mining workforce despite comprising 48% of the total workforce.
Project Heavy Duty returns to the Elk Valley
Project Heavy Duty returned for its third year in the Elk Valley, providing 24 grade 11-12 students with hands-on heavy equipment training from May 12-13. The program is a partnership between Southeast School District #5, College of the Rockies, and local heavy industry including Teck Coal, aimed at developing skilled trades workers for the mining sector.
Driving success at COTR
College of the Rockies' Haul Truck Operator Program has successfully trained over 150 prospective mining employees since launching in September 2013. The four-week program is unique in B.C., using advanced simulators and covering all aspects of haul truck operations to prepare graduates for Canada's mining sector.
PDAC International Convention takes place March 1-4, 2015
The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada announced details for its 2015 International Convention taking place March 1-4 in Toronto. The event will feature over 1,000 exhibitors and 25,000+ participants from 100 countries, expanding into the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the first time.
The light at the end of a narrowing tunnel
The 2014 Silver Summit conference in Spokane featured presentations from major silver producers including Endeavour Silver, Hecla Mining, and Coeur Mining. Despite lower attendance due to challenging precious metals market conditions, industry participants remained optimistic about silver and gold's future prospects.
Roundup 2015 moves to new, roomier Vancouver venue
The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia's Roundup 2015 conference is moving to the Vancouver Convention Centre East from January 26-29, featuring a 25% larger exhibit space and expanded international scope. The event will introduce new best-practice sessions covering aboriginal engagement, corporate social responsibility, and other key industry topics under the theme of 'intelligent exploration'.
New guidebook describes opportunities in B.C. mining and exploration
The B.C. Centre of Training Excellence in Mining (CTEM) published the first BC Career Pathways Guidebook: Mining Careers in August 2014, listing 47 educational institutions and training resources. The guidebook aims to connect students and employees with career pathways in B.C.'s exploration and mining industries through a virtual hub approach.
It’s not just scientists who discover dinosaurs
The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology has established strong partnerships with Alberta's mining, construction, and oil and gas companies to manage significant fossil discoveries during industrial operations. Recent finds include a 110-million-year-old armoured dinosaur at Suncor's Fort McMurray operations and marine reptile fossils from Syncrude bitumen mining. The museum has developed protocols to quickly extract fossils with minimal operational disruption, typically requiring only days rather than weeks of work stoppage.
Andy Randell helps budding geologists with free workshops
Principal geologist Andy Randell of Strata GeoData Services offers free workshops for unemployed geology graduates in Vancouver, addressing a gap in industry mentorship programs. The initiative provides networking opportunities and skills development for geologists struggling to find work during the mining downturn. Recent workshops have included field mapping at Kitsilano Beach in collaboration with UBC.
Coal Association of Canada holding 2014 conference in Vancouver
The Coal Association of Canada is hosting its 2014 annual conference September 10-12, 2014 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver, expecting 300-350 delegates from Canada and internationally. The conference focuses on opportunities in Canada's coal industry driven by Asian demand for energy and steel.
AME BC and Cambridge House agree to align January conferences
AME BC and Cambridge House International have agreed to align their major January conferences in Vancouver, with VRIC scheduled January 18-19 and Roundup January 26-29 at adjacent convention centers in 2015. The alignment aims to provide more value to delegates by making it easier to attend both complementary events.
B.C. launches a training strategy for LNG
The British Columbia government launched the Skills for Jobs Blueprint in April 2014 to address the expected shortage of skilled workers for upcoming LNG projects. The strategy aims to prepare workers for nearly one million job openings expected by 2022, with 58,700 jobs projected at peak LNG construction in 2018 based on five planned LNG plants.
Minerals North 2014
Minerals North 2014, a specialized northern BC mining conference, is being held in Vanderhoof from May 21-23, expecting 500 attendees. The conference highlights growing mining activity in the region, including New Gold's planned $1.8-billion Blackwater gold mine project. The event focuses exclusively on northern BC mining and exploration, differentiating it from larger Vancouver-based conferences.
A career exploration for women in mining
College of the Rockies successfully graduated 15 women from its inaugural Women in Mining course at the Fernie campus on April 11, 2014. The course aimed to address gender diversity in BC's mining sector, where women currently represent only 16% of the workforce despite annual hiring needs of 1,500-2,000 workers through 2022.
Northwest Community College School of Exploration and Mining celebrates 10th anniversary
Northwest Community College's School of Exploration and Mining in Smithers, B.C. is celebrating its 10th anniversary, having trained over 1,200 students for entry-level positions in mineral exploration and mining. The school boasts an 89% graduation rate and 72% employment success rate, with graduates working across Canada's natural resources sector.
CIM 2014 convention in Vancouver May 11 to 14
The Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) announced details for its 2014 convention in Vancouver from May 11-14, featuring the theme 'Mining 4 Everyone' to celebrate diversity in the mining workforce. The event will include technical sessions, workshops, an expo with 500+ exhibiting companies, and plenary speakers including government ministers and mining executives.
Yellowknife’s Mine Training Society gets $5.8 million in funding
The Mine Training Society in the Northwest Territories received $5.8 million in federal funding for its Mining the Future initiative, announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The program aims to train aboriginal populations for upcoming mining opportunities, with projections of 14,000 employment opportunities by 2017 as new mines develop and existing diamond mines enter reclamation phases.
Prospector and President - Q & A with Jason Jacob, president of the East Kootenay Chamber of Mines
Jason Jacob, president of the East Kootenay Chamber of Mines, discusses the organization's progress on establishing B.C.'s first core library near Fort Steele, housing important drill cores from historic mines including Sullivan. The chamber is hosting the Minerals South Conference in Cranbrook from November 5-7.
Benefits for industry and communities
The BC AMTA has successfully placed 561 Aboriginal individuals in mining positions across British Columbia as of July 2013, with eight more candidates graduating from their heavy-equipment operators program. The non-profit organization provides comprehensive training and support to address labour shortages while creating economic opportunities for First Nations communities near mine sites.
BC AMTA receives $13,000 donation from Microsoft
The British Columbia Aboriginal Mine Training Association (BC AMTA) received a $13,000 software donation from Microsoft through TechSoup, providing 30 copies of MS Office Professional for their Williams Lake and New Aiyansh computer labs. This donation will enhance training for Indigenous candidates entering the mining and exploration industry, with graduates seeing average wages increase from $13,754 to $52,959 per year.