Surface miner grads lauded

Heather Latter

Eleven people from across the district recently completed the Surface Miner Aboriginal training program and were recognized at a graduation ceremony last Wednesday at the Copper River Inn here.
The program, created by New Gold in partnership with Big Grassy First Nation, the Métis Nation of Ontario, Naicatchewenin First Nation, Rainy River First Nations, Seven Generations Education Institute, Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong, Sandvik, and SMS Equipment, was a pilot initiative to teach people the skills so they can be successfully employed with the Rainy River Project.
The graduates included Tiffany Bombay, James Copenace, Susan Councillor, Derek Horton, Brett LeGarde, Denise Morrison, Donald R. Morrison, Michelle Poirier, Orville Smith, Maria Vandenbrand, and Josh Wreggitt.
The program began at the end of August, with the participants spending the past two months being trained on complex pieces of equipment.
All were trained on the large Komatsu 830E haul trucks, with eight also learning how to operate the new Sandvik DR850 production drills.
“The program provided people with the amazing opportunity to get some hands-on training,” noted project general manager Grant Goddard.
“It was a very exciting program and the enthusiastic participants learned valuable skills in the field,” he added.
“By stepping up to the
challenge, the opportunity to participate in the program, you’ve shown courage, you’ve shown a passion and a commitment to learning and self-development,” Goddard stressed, addressing the graduates.
“And you have, yourselves, become role models,” he remarked. “You’ve certainly made this program a true success.
“In the future, the experience you’ve gained here will support you being a coach and a mentor to your future team members,” Goddard said.
“And to me, that’s an exciting opportunity, an honour, and it’s really an accountability and a responsibility to carry with you.”
Eight of the graduates already have been offered full-time employment.
Mine manager Ryan Hoel noted there are 24 employees who make up the surface miner team right now but said another 70 will be coming on board in January.
“So my challenge to you, and my expectation of you, is to continue to be the leaders, the coaches,” Hoel remarked.
“Out in the field, please taking on the role of the informal leader because there are going to be 70 others coming behind you that are going to be looking for support and guidance.”
Hoel said the program graduates did an awesome job.
“You worked a difficult rotation of an eight and two,” he noted, explaining they also were drilling on a contour surface.
“It’s the original landscape,” he stressed. “It’s not a flat bench, it’s not straight-forward, and you all handled that with precision and the utmost care.
“When I watched some of the things you were doing with those machines, and taking your time to carefully manoeuvre machines into place, not damaging the assets and learning all at the same time, I couldn’t have been prouder of each one of you,” he added.
Hoel encouraged the graduates to have confidence as they move forward in their careers.
“We’ve surrounded you with some of the best trainers we have in the world,” he indicated.
“And the fruits of your labours are already starting to show.”
Hoel noted they had planned for about 132 metres drilled on a shift, but the trainees already are starting to do 200-238 metres on a shift.
“So congratulations—keep that up.”
Goddard noted the trainers also made the program a success.
“Your selfless giving of your time, your experience, your passion for learning, your care for people’s personal growth has brought this together in terms of the organization,” he remarked.
Goddard thanked the many people who organized, operated, and supported the program.
“Your contribution, whether small of large, made a real difference to your organization, to your community, and, most importantly, to the people involved in the program,” he stressed.
Robert Horton, of the Seven Generations Education Institute, had some words to offer to the graduates, as well.
“I want to say thank you, miigwech, for taking time out of your lives, taking time away from your families, long days and long afternoons, to reach for knowledge,” he said.
“To reach for things that are going to improve your lives and the lives of your families.
“I guarantee you, the time you have taken is going to inspire people,” Horton added. “When we impart on that road of knowledge and education or training, we’re imparting on something that no one can take away.
“All of you should be walking so tall and so confidently.”
Vandenbrand spoke on behalf of all the graduates.
“A few of the things I’ve taken from this program is personal growth,” she noted.
“I have learned patience and I think others have learned patience,” she added
“We’ve all have also kind of had an attitude adjustment.”
And Vandenbrand said they learned to work together.
“We have an awesome team,” she enthused. “We just clicked right from the beginning.
“We’re almost like a family now.”
Vandenbrand admitted it was a challenge to learn about the machinery.
“Some of us have never touch machinery before,” she noted. “Some of us have been waitresses, cooks, labourers.
“Personally, I milked cows and cut hay before this so it’s a whole 180,” she confessed.
“You get in a drill and there are so many things to think about.”
And the machines are so big. When Vandenbrand first got on top of one of the shovels, she had to sit down.
“I was almost crying because it was so tall,” she recalled, adding she was holding onto the railings for dear life.
“It’s so amazing to be given the opportunity to learn about mining,” Vandenbrand stressed.
“You’ve given us a new skill set that we will have for life.
“It’s just such an amazing opportunity to be given,” she enthused.