From AME BC

Grade   8   students   in   School   District   No.   27,   Cariboo   Chilcotin   will   have   the   opportunity   to   participate   in  an   innovative   pilot   program   that   will   provide   insight   into   career   opportunities   in   the   mining   sector.

The   pilot,   endorsed     by   the   BC   Mining   HR   Task   Force:   Exploration,   Mining,   Stone,   Sand   &   Gravel,   will   see Thompson   Rivers   University   –   Williams     Lake   campus   deliver   an   interactive   4   day   camp   for   40   youth, engaging   them   in   the   discovery   of   the   mining   sector   and   its   vast   employment   opportunities.     This   “hands on”   camp,   intended   to   build   awareness   of   the   opportunities   that   exist   within   the   mining   sector,   will   help youth   make   more   informed   course   choice   decisions   as   they   work   through   to   graduation.

Dr.   Ray   Sanders,   Executive   Director,   Thompson   Rivers   University   –   WL   is   pleased   that   TRU   –   Williams Lake   was   chosen   to   deliver   this   pilot   project.

“We   are   excited   to   be   able   to   provide   a   hands-­‐on   camp   to   help   students   make   better   decisions   about  careers   here   at   home.     It   is   our   belief   that   this   camp   will   provide   students   the   motivation   and  information   to   stay   engaged   in   school,   graduate,   and   enter   a   meaningful   career   in   mining,   ”   Sanders  said.

School   District   27   is   equally   pleased   to   have   been   included   in   this   educational   project   being   delivered   by the   local   campus   of   Thompson   Rivers   University.

Mark   Thiessen,   Superintendent   of   Schools,   SD   27   (Cariboo   Chilcotin),   said:   “In   School   District   No.   27,   we  seek   to   provide   students   with   many   opportunities   to   connect   directly   with   the   world   outside   of  school.     We   foresee   mining   continuing   to   be   a   vital   industry   within   our   region,   and   I   am   excited   that   this  camp   will   make   our   students   more   aware   of   the   multitude   of   career   opportunities   in   the   mining   sector.”

The   project   is   made   possible   through   funding   provided   by   the   BC   Mining   HR   Task   Force   which   is   in   turn  funded   in   large   part   by   the   BC   Provincial   Government,   Ministry   of   Jobs,   Tourism,   and   Training.     In  addition,   in-­‐kind   assistance   is   provided   from   industry   and   its   various   partners   that   have   worked   closely  with   the   school   district   over   the   years,   providing   career   opportunities   to   students.     The   BC   Mining   HR  Task   Force   is   encouraged   by   the   initiation   of   this   innovative   project,   and   is   looking   forward   to   being   able  to   share   the   results   of   the   pilot   with   other   jurisdictions   throughout   the   province.     David   Bazowski,   Chair  of   the   BC   Mining   HR   Task   Force,   said:      “The   primary   focus   of   the   BC   Mining   HR   Task   Force   is   to  encourage   understanding   of   and   participation   in   the   mining   industry   and   its   more   than   120   occupations.  For   us   to   be   successful   a   cornerstone   must   be   the   reaching   out   to   our   youth   and   the   facilitation   of  collaborative   learning   opportunities   between   industry,   educators,   and   students.   This   pilot   initiative   is   an excellent   example   of   the   type   of   partnership   and   experiential   learning opportunity   that   we   are   all  about…”