Mining Job Training Program In Smithers Strikes Gold

Thursday, April 14, 2011 03:57 AM

Smithers, B.C. - Northwest Community College in Smithers appears to have struck gold with a camp-based training program that prepares course participants for jobs in the minining industry...

And suppported by more than $1.6-million dollars from the provincial government, 58 participants will participate in the Worforce Exploration Skills Training program this year - spending seven weeks at a mining training camp located outside of Smithers.

The hands-on experience and classroom instruction includes: drill core technician training and cultural resource assessment; prospector basic training; training as a mining exploration field assistant; and industry-related safety certification. WEST has seen 80-percent of its graduates move on to jobs. About three-quarters of program participants are Aboriginal.

Smithers-based, UTM Explorations Services, has hired a number of the grads. Company spokesperson, Anastasia Ledwon, says, "Be it field work or core shack employment, NWCC's school of exploration and mining has provided us with some excellent employees over the years." She points out the students are from all over northern B.C., making it easy for the company to hire where it works, "Assisting us in meeting our community obligations."

Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Mary Polak, says "Programs like WEST are helping local First Nations people, their families, and their communities create a strong and mutually-beneficial relationship with B.C.'s mining industry."

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Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 03:57 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: He spoke on April 14 2011 8:17 AM

Way to go

Posted by: cantaddafter5 on April 14 2011 9:12 AM

Speaking of training programs, the writer appears to require some training in basic spelling. Way to go NWCC.

Posted by: gus on April 14 2011 10:48 PM

Running some numbers ....

7 weeks @ 5 days per week = 35 days.

$788/day/person

$27,586/person for the course

$45,714/day for the class of 58 ...

This is an EXPLORATION Skills Training program as opposed to a Skills Training program.

I wonder how much of this is for living expenses, if any. That seems to be one very expensive program.

Posted by: gold_rush on April 14 2011 11:17 PM

The program is great, and we use tons of the students on our exploration programs. Keep up the good work NCC! For every dollar spent in exploration and mining, there is $288 return. For forestry its $14.

Posted by: gus on April 14 2011 11:50 PM

"For every dollar spent in exploration and mining, there is $288 return"

Who spends the dollar and who is the $288 returned to?

Posted by: gus on April 15 2011 12:09 AM

Okay, so the province spends $1.6 million on this training program that mining exploration companies are too cheap to invest in.

So at $288 return on investment, the province should be able to recvover its $1.6 million investment plus $459.2 million. Over what period of time will that be paid back to the province?

Sounds like such a good deal, we should invest another $1.6 million in training. In fact, we provide enough of such training and we will no longer have to worry about deficit budgets and be able to substantially pay down our debt.

Posted by: gus on April 15 2011 12:13 AM

Did you know that for every dollar spent on the fast food industry, there is a $7.50 return to the health and wellness professionals. :-)