2018 Annual Report Table of Contents Our History .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Happy 15th Anniversary! ............................................................................................................................... 3 Programming for 2018-2019 ......................................................................................................................... 3 Skilled Partnerships Fund .......................................................................................................................... 3 Programming for Skilled Partnerships Fund ......................................................................................... 3 Surface Miner Programs ....................................................................................................................... 4 Mineral Process Operator Technician Program .................................................................................... 6 Geoscience Field Assistant .................................................................................................................... 7 Introduction to the Mining Industry ..................................................................................................... 9 Safety Boot Camps (Industrial Safety Training) .................................................................................. 12 Record Suspensions ............................................................................................................................ 16 Skills Link ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Introduction to Prospecting .................................................................................................................... 17 Ranney Hill Project .................................................................................................................................. 18 Diamond Empowerment Fund ................................................................................................................ 19 A Personal Note ...................................................................................................................................... 21 1 Page Our History In the early ’90’s the Northwest Territories was undergoing a tremendous boom in mineral exploration which led to the opening of Canada’s first diamond mine. The Ekati mine, owned by BHP (and now owned by Dominion Diamond Corporation) was commissioned and made operational in 1998. At that time, the Giant mine in Yellowknife was facing its final closure, the Northwest Territories was undergoing geographical and political division with creation of Nunavut in 1999. The unemployment rate was 13% overall. This created an available labour pool for Ekati to draw on in terms of skilled and experienced mine workers, as well as drawing on the pool of available trades persons in the various communities of the Northwest Territories. Diavik Diamond Mines did not have this luxury when it began construction of its mine in 2001 and eventual commissioning in 2003. It needed a bit more of an innovative approach to developing its own workforce. Working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Indian and Northern Affairs as well as the Yellowknife Dene First Nation and the Chamber of Mines, Diavik sought to create an ad hoc training committee. The committee looked at creative ways of delivering community based training that would meet the labour force needs of its own operation. The Mine Training Committee was incorporated in 2003 and officially changed its name to the Mine Training Society in 2004. It was a successful model that was to used later for the development of the Mine Training Society, and further was replicated in Northern BC, Yukon and Nunavut and Northern Ontario. Since 2004, the MTS has received over $38.9M in federal funds, with additional cash funding by the GNWT ($1.58M), CanNor ($1.02M), Industry Partners ($1.1M) and Indigenous Partners ($1.02M) as well as in- kind contributions in the amount of $41M for a total of $124M to develop and deliver job readiness, pre- employment and programs for Indigenous people in the North. The most important statistic is that the MTS has facilitated employment for 7% of the entire working labour force. NWT LABOUR FORCE July 2019 Total Labour Force (agest 15 to 65 24,100 Employed 22,500 Unemployed 1,700 Not in the labour force 8,200 Source: NWT Bureau of Statistics 2 Page th Happy 15 Anniversary! The Mine Training Society turns 15 on September 4th, 2019. We have come a long way since our early days – from our origins as the “bank of the Mine Training Society” to becoming much more proactive as demanded by our mandate. The Mine Training Society’s mandate is to maximize an Aboriginal and Northern Workforce to the greatest extent possible, to train in all areas of the industrial sector, provide job assurances wherever and whenever possible, as well as assessing and supporting exploratory pre-employment programs; and to be proactive, conduct needs assessments, be transparent in processes and reporting, and to communicate and coordinate with all potential stakeholders. Programming for 2018-2019 The Mine Training Society has several sources of funding for training-to-employment and its other projects. The funding sources included Employment and Social Development (Skilled Partnerships Fund and Skills Link), Government of the Northwest Territories (Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Industry, Tourism and Investment) and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association. Skilled Partnerships Fund The Mine Training Society entered into a Contribution Agreement with the Government of Canada on June 15, 2017, under the Skilled Partnerships Fund. This is a demand driven, partnership-based program that supports government priorities through strategic partnerships by funding projects contributing to the skills development and training of indigenous workers for long-term, meaningful employment. The agreement runs from June 19, 2017 to April 30, 2020. Under the agreement, the following sums were allocated for expenditure under the proposal submitted in July 2016: Funds Allocated under Agreement 1435811 Fiscal 2017/2018 $2,141,587 Fiscal 2018/2019 $2,677,979 Fiscal 2019/2020 $2,477,164 Fiscal 2020/2021 $173,253 Total Contribution $7,439,893 In fiscal 2018/2019, the Mine Training Society was approved to carry forward the sum of $647,055.00. These additional funds were expended on Industrial Safety Training (Safety Boot Camps) as well as supporting the delivery of Mineral Process Operator and Surface Miner programs. Programming for Skilled Partnerships Fund April 2018 saw the start of two programs: Surface Miner program and Mineral Process Operator program. Both programs were combined at the beginning of the delivery starting April 3, 2018 for the purposes of 3 receiving their safety training under the Safety Boot Camp. The program participants were supported by Page the Mine Training Society through contributions provided by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. The twenty participants received the following certifications in Safety: • Standard First Aid, CPR and AED • WHMIS • Lock out/tag out • Fall Protection • Confined Space • Radio Operator’s Certificate Aeronautical • Fire Extinguisher • Fit Testing • Safety Leadership Surface Miner Programs Surface Miner Program – April 3 to July 15, 2018 The Surface Miners received 12 weeks (360 hours) and developed entry-level knowledge, skill and attitudes outlined in the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) National Occupational Standards for Surface Miners. In this practical hands-on program, the participants were introduced to surface mining operations and mine operations in northern cold-weather environments, using both mining equipment and simulators. The course content focused on surface mining operations, mine safety and mobile mine equipment operation. The participants are not allowed to use the equipment until they have completed their safety knowledge components regarding the machinery. The delivery included both classroom based and practical training. The Mine Training Society has an agreement with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council that should a participant be enrolled for their occupational certification by their employer, they would be credited 840 of their 1000 required hours upon completion of their traineeship. Their first turn around as a full-time employee would see them earning the additional 160 hours required for their Level 1 Occupational Certification. Surface Mine Participants (all ten completed) We received 17 qualified applications for this program. Surface Miner program participants: Name Gender Community Michael Baker Male Norman Wells Chantal Bavard Female Norman Wells Austin Blake Male Inuvik Dakota Burrill Male Fort Smith Miles Away Migwi Male Behchoko Joshua Rabesca Male Behchoko Carla Simpson Female Behchoko 4 Donovan Simpson Male Gameti Page Damond Sinclair Male Yellowknife Olivia Zoe Female Behchoko We completed mock interviews with the participants in early June, 2018. All ten received offers from DeBeers, Diavik, Dominion Diamond Corporation and Tlicho Logistics. Surface Miner Program – August 20 to November 23, 2018 Ten individuals were selected for the program. However, three declined the offer: two had obtained