The BC Task Force is creating a vast array of opportunities

The BC Task Force is undertaking innovative pilot projects to ensure the growth of the mining industry

1 of 2Ian Samson is a welding student participating in the apprenticeship pilot at Mount Polley. — Gordon Armour photo

2 of 2Brandon Douglas is an electrician student participating in the apprenticeship pilot at Mount Polley. — Gordon Armour photo

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The BC HR Task Force: Exploration, Mining, Stone, Sand & Gravel (BC Task Force) was initially formed in 2007 to identify the labour shortage facing the industry in B.C. According to the BC Task Force, following identifying the looming shortage (10,000-plus new hires by 2021), it expanded its mission to include planning, developing and implementing pilot programs to ensure the mining industry in B.C. has the human resources needed to support the growth of the sector.

According to Gordon Armour, chair of education and training for the BC Task Force, the importance of encouraging young people to explore a career in the mining sector is paramount.

"The mines are identifying they have an aging population and there is a strong need for new people to enter the sector," said Armour. "We seem to be in a situation in B.C., or Canada, where there are less people after the baby boom than there are jobs coming up. So we are constantly in competition with other sectors for the same people."

Encouraging early interest

Armour said it is advantageous for the mines to connect with youth at an early age so they can build their potential and attract long-term employees.

"It is a bonus for everyone," said Armour. "It gives opportunities to students to learn something early on but also supports the industry. The different mines that we work with see that as a very positive output of working with youth."

The BC Task Force initially had a three-year mandate and was supposed to be finished by 2011, but the government came to the task force and asked them to consider applying for another three-year extension; they are now in their second year of the extension. Armour said funding comes from the government and funding in-kind from industry as well as all the different representatives that sit on the task force and their individual bodies. For example, Armour is also the district co-ordinator for transition, training and trades for School District 27 and his district supports his travel and meetings in its budget.

Giving students first-hand experiences

The BC Task Force is doing some innovative projects across the province. It has a pilot project coming to Grade 8 students to participate in a discovery camp in Williams Lake, B.C., as well as a work experience pilot and a youth apprenticeship pilot in Williams Lake that has been underway for the last year. The BC Task Force chose the local Gibraltar and Mount Polley mines because of their unique involvement over the last eight years. They take students that have done technical training in the trades area at the local Thompson Rivers University and move them out to get work-based hours at Mount Polley.

The BC Task Force is also now involved with the Northwest Community College in Smithers, B.C., in conjunction with the college's school of exploration and mining.

"This one is for the delivery of a program called Mining Environmental Monitoring Assistance," said Armour. "Previously they've delivered this program to an adult community in a camp format. What's unique is they are developing the program to a mixed cohort of adult learners and high school learners. This is a post-secondary credit which provides students with dual-credit status back to their high school."

Armour said the college is now going into the planning stages and the marketing of students in the spring with the delivery to happen the first semester of the school year in 2013. He said this course will go towards a credit in environmental monitoring systems and once students enter this area, Northwest has found in the past that it opens opportunities in other areas of mining as well.

"Once students see activities in and around exploration and mining, it can not only focus a student in a particular direction, it can open up a whole array of other mining occupations and opportunities that they can then move on to training in that area," Armour said.

For more information on the BC Task Force, visit the website.