Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/264766
S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 25 for employment in the minerals indus- try. The training starts with a two-day workshop that provides an overview of the industry and the opportunities avail- able for aboriginal communities. This progresses to a two-week training course in basic geology. AMTP co-ordinator Jim Morin has taken the program to almost 50 communi- ties around B.C., reaching more than 700 students since 2006. He says, "aboriginal people now have a pathway that assists them in getting training and in getting employment [in the minerals industry]." In another very successful AME BC partnership, the six-week Workforce Exploration Skills Training (WEST) program was delivered last summer by Northwest Community College's School of Exploration and Mining. Funding was provided through the Canada–British Columbia Labour Market Agreement. Almost 75 per cent of WEST gradu- ates found work in this challenging exploration season, thanks to innovative eld-based training that provides a real- istic exploration camp environment and training from industry instructors. "Many of B.C.'s 350 mineral explo- ration and development projects are located near First Nations communities; the alignment between the industry's need for workers and the aboriginal pop- ulation's need for jobs and capacity build- ing is very strong, " says Gavin Dirom, president and CEO of AME BC. Shane Gibson from the Gitanyow Band is a WEST graduate who strongly agrees. "I can't think of a more effective way of teaching this material other than living it and working with people from all walks of life." Despite the eld training, one of the biggest barriers to employment for First Nations is the lack of a driver's licence. The BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association ( BC AMTA) is addressing that. BC AMTA has customized a five-day workshop to assist candidates in passing ICBC's driver's licensing test. To prepare candidates to write the driver's test, BC AMTA adapted ICBC's material into a toolkit. Staff ensures a supportive learning environment where candidates are comfortable asking ques- tions and working together. Innovations such as BC A MTA's driver training, Pat McAndless' tireless mentoring and Northwest Community College's high school dual-credit pro- gram are ensuring that B.C. success- fully trains a new generation of minerals industry employees. Tomorrow's explorers: Patrick McAndless, VP exploration for Imperial Metals, with students, staff and elders at Camp Ganokwa, Smithers, at the August 2013 graduation ceremony of the Workforce Exploration and Skills Training (WEST) program. p24-25_Training.indd 25 14-02-14 3:07 PM