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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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The University of Saskatchewan and IMII announce innovative funding agreement
The University of Saskatchewan and the International Minerals Innovation Institute announced a $1.67 million funding agreement to develop five new mining courses and create three undergraduate mining options in engineering. The initiative addresses critical skills shortages driven by $40-50 billion in announced mining expansions and new projects across Saskatchewan.
Yukon College celebrates 50 years
Yukon College celebrates its 50th anniversary while highlighting the success of its Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining (CNIM), established in 2012. The centre's first Introduction to Mining Operations program achieved remarkable success with 11 of 12 graduates finding employment, demonstrating strong industry demand for locally-trained mining professionals.
New trades trailer will help train Yukon residents
The Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining has secured $1.8 million in funding from Yukon Education and CanNor to deploy a first-of-its-kind mobile trades trailer across Yukon. The 53-foot trailer will provide apprenticeship training in welding, electrical, millwright and piping trades in remote communities, starting with a pre-employment welding program in Dawson City in January 2014.
Top geoscience students were given a unique opportunity
PDAC hosted its seventh annual Student-Industry Mineral Exploration Workshop (S-IMEW) in Sudbury, bringing together top geoscience students for a two-week industry-funded intensive program. The workshop provided hands-on training in exploration techniques, mapping, geophysics, and other mining disciplines, with several participants going on to careers in the industry including at sponsor companies like DGI Geoscience.
Promoting the positives and attracting the next generation
Goldcorp's senior VP of people and safety Paul Farrow discusses the company's efforts to modernize mining's image and attract young talent through graduate programs and technology integration. The company brings in 25 graduates annually for a three-year program providing hands-on experience at multiple mine sites. Farrow emphasizes how modern mining operations have evolved beyond historical stereotypes through improved safety, technology adoption including autonomous truck fleets, and better living conditions.
College of the Rockies receives $1.1 million for training simulators
College of the Rockies received $2.8 million in combined funding from provincial, federal, and regional sources to purchase five haul truck training simulators. The program will address critical workforce shortages, with 6,370 mining workers needed in the Kootenay region over the next decade.
BC AMTA celebrates two major milestones
The British Columbia Aboriginal Mine Training Association celebrated major milestones with 55 First Nations students graduating from mining workforce programs in Williams Lake and Merritt in early 2013. The organization secured $10 million in federal funding and expanded operations to multiple offices across BC after previously shutting down in 2012.
The BC Task Force is creating a vast array of opportunities
The BC HR Task Force for mining, formed in 2007, is addressing the industry's labor shortage through innovative pilot programs including youth apprenticeships at Mount Polley and Gibraltar mines. The task force has expanded beyond its initial mandate to develop comprehensive training programs connecting high school and post-secondary students with mining careers.
An innovative discovery camp is coming to Williams Lake
The BC Task Force is launching an innovative four-day mining career discovery camp for Grade 8 students in Williams Lake, B.C. at the end of June. The pilot program aims to address the industry's aging workforce and talent shortage by engaging students early with hands-on mining career exploration including mine tours, safety demonstrations, and equipment simulations.
How B.C. can win a gold medal in the economic Olympics
Mining executives at the BC Natural Resource Forum called for streamlined permitting processes and improved First Nations consultation frameworks to boost mining investment in British Columbia. The panel highlighted regulatory inefficiencies as barriers to development, with companies like Xstrata Coal investing $700 million in northeastern BC coal projects.
Women in Mining comes to B.C.’s East Kootenay
A new Women in Mining Kootenays branch has launched in B.C.'s Elk Valley, targeting networking and professional development for women in the region's mining industry. The group was started by senior geologist Alison Seward and aims to address challenges like childcare access and workplace networking in the male-dominated industry.
Yukon and Alaska: a significant collaboration
Yukon College and University of Alaska signed a memorandum of agreement to collaborate on industrial and mine training through the new Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining. The partnership will share expertise, curriculum and faculty to address an anticipated shortage of 2,500 mining workers in the North over the next decade.
A coal mine and college partner on the Mothers to Miners program
Peace River Coal partnered with Northern Lights College to launch the Mothers to Miners program, a 12-week tuition-free training course for stay-at-home mothers to become haul truck drivers. The program received $88,000 in provincial funding and provides graduates with 200 hours of work experience and full-time employment opportunities at the coal mine.
A family visit to the Britannia Mine Museum
The Britannia Mine Museum in British Columbia, located on the historic site of what was once the largest copper mine in the British Commonwealth, has been recognized as a top destination by TripAdvisor. The National Historic Site offers underground tours, gold panning activities, and educational exhibits that showcase the importance of mining to British Columbia's history and economy.
The BC AMTA will continue to provide valuable services
The BC AMTA, which had to close in 2012 due to funding issues, is set to resume operations with a new three-year government agreement. The organization has successfully placed 335 First Nations people in full-time mining jobs and plans to expand into two new regions in British Columbia.
East Kootenay mine rescue and first aid teams show they’re well prepared
Teck's East Kootenay mining operations held their 91st annual mine rescue and first aid competition on May 12, 2012, at Elkford fire hall. Greenhills mine rescue team placed first overall, with both Greenhills and Coal Mountain teams qualifying for provincial championships in Revelstoke.
Building inclusive relationships with First Nations communities
Northwest Community College's School of Exploration and Mining in Smithers, BC offers a unique program where students learn mining and exploration while living in camp with First Nations elders. The program has achieved a 70% graduate employment rate and focuses on building culturally inclusive relationships between the mining industry and Indigenous communities.
How to break the glass ceiling
AGC Communications lobbyist Madeleine Champagne has developed workshops to help women advance in male-dominated industries like mining. Her research shows that while women earn 60% of university degrees, they hold only 14% of professional board positions, indicating significant barriers to career advancement.
York University launches world’s first MBA with a mining specialization
York University's Schulich School of Business launched the world's first MBA program with a mining specialization, responding to industry demand for business professionals who understand mining. The program targets students from diverse backgrounds including HR, sustainability, law, and accounting to address an executive talent shortage in the booming mining sector.
Mining Day in Kamloops
The Kamloops Exploration Group and Canadian Institute of Mining South Central branch are hosting Mining Day at the Big Little Science Centre on May 12, 2012. The family-oriented educational event will feature interactive displays, rock samples from local mining groups, and a heavy equipment simulator from Thompson Rivers University.
Making mining accessible
The Kamloops Exploration Group (KEG) is promoting mining awareness and education through its 25th annual conference and various outreach programs. The organization has grown from a small group of geologists to thousands of members focused on educating the public about mining and exploration in British Columbia.
School of rocks
The East Kootenay Chamber of Mines held its 7th Annual Minerals South Conference in Kimberley, featuring a new Junior Miners Program that engaged over 100 elementary students. The program successfully introduced young students to mining's role in everyday life through hands-on activities and mineral displays. The initiative aims to inspire the next generation of mining professionals in British Columbia.
On track to deal with a looming labour shortage
British Columbia's mining industry, generating $6-8 billion annually, faces a looming labour shortage but has a dedicated task force implementing workforce measures. The province announced $1.1 million in funding to support training initiatives, with plans to add 10,000 direct mining jobs over the next decade as the industry continues its post-recession recovery.
Targeted training for the mining industry
The University of British Columbia's Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering has launched a Certificate of Mining Studies program to address critical skills shortages in BC's mining industry. The program offers flexible, remote learning across six specialized streams to train both current industry workers and professionals seeking to transition into mining careers.