Building Mineral Literacy through STEM Education
Issue #20, Spring 2020
Version française disponible 
In This Issue:



Please make note of our new address:
 
Mining Matters
1102 - 150 Ferrand Drive
Toronto, ON M3C 3E5
T: 416-863-6463 | F: 416-863-9900
[email protected] | MiningMatters.ca

Cool Science Saturday  cool
Mining Matters exhibited at Cool Science Saturday at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa. The annual event invites families to explore different branches of science - from physics to agriculture, and of course, Earth science!
 
Our mining-themed photo booth was a big hit. We demonstrated mineral fluorescence, conductivity, and Product Matching to promote mineral literacy.
More than 200 children and parents dressed  for the job and 
used  our  g reen-screen to put themselves underground !
Mining Matters Hockey Tournament  hockey
The 13th annual  Mining Matters Hockey Tournament was held on February 29th. Fourteen teams took to the ice in support of mineral resources education.

Congratulations goes out to  Kirkland Lake Gold  for taking home the Championship Trophy and to  New Gold  for being the winners in the Fossils Division.

Thanks to all our teams and sponsors for making the 2020 tournament a resounding success! To inquire about playing in next year's tournament, please email [email protected].
Kirkland Lake Gold Team, 2020 Champions
New Gold Team, 2020 Champions - Fossils Division
PDAC Education Program and Mining Matters Silent Auction  pdac
Mining Matters returned to the PDAC Convention this year to deliver another education program. Fifty-nine high school students from Dr. Norman Bethune C.I. participated in exciting activities and toured the Trade Show floor, learning about different aspects of the industry and various career opportunities.
 
Students left the convention with a better understanding of the importance of the mining industry and the applications of rocks and minerals in our daily lives.  We also had 20 teachers attend, providing them with the opportunity to expand their knowledge of geology and the minerals industry, and add ideas to their classroom tool kits. 
Over at the Mining Matters booth, we hosted a silent auction to raise funds for our programs. Thanks to the generous donations of individuals, corporations and community partners, we successfully raised over $10,000. If you have an item you would like to donate to our next auction, please send an email to Sarah Hahn at  [email protected] .
 
Mining Matters would like to thank the  Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and the following companies and individuals for inspiring the next generation of geoscientists:
  • Beth McLarty Halfkenny (Carleton University, Department of Earth Sciences)
  • Boart Longyear
  • Corinna McDonald and Jeff Sage (University of Waterloo Earth Science Museum)
  • Duralite Diamond Drills Ltd.
  • Geo Labs
  • Judy Tutchener (Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute)
  • Karl Bjorkman, Prospector
  • Lauren Twible and Sarah Kumar (University of Toronto, Lassonde Institute of Mining)
  • Laurentian University
  • Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines
  • Noront Resources Ltd.
  • Seequent
  • Tobias Roth (Laurentian University, Department of Earth Sciences)
  • University of Waterloo
Our Work in Baker Lake  baker
In March, Mining Matters delivered four Mining Rocks Earth Science Programs in the Hamlet of Baker Lake, Nunavut in partnership with Agnico Eagle Mines. We delivered a variety of learning activities about rocks, minerals, mining, engineering, industry careers and how mineral resources are applied in society .
The Headframe Challenge had participants developing their engineering and collaboration skills as they worked in teams to construct the strongest headframe using straws and masking tape. Students engaged in friendly competition as they determined which design could support the most weight. Our Cookie Mining Activity was customized with satellite imagery from Nunavut and helped develop students' understanding of the mining cycle, including environmental management throughout the life of a mine.
 
Members of the community took part in an evening event where they created soapstone carvings and made necklaces out of copper wire and pieces of polished amethyst.
 
We would like to thank Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. for their continued support of our programs in the Kivalliq Region.
WHERE Challenge  where
We asked and you answered!

Hundreds of students between the ages of 9 and 14 rose to the (WHERE) Challenge.  The national contest asks students to submit a project that answers the questions, "What on Earth is in your stuff?" and "WHERE on Earth does it come from?" The contest is designed to help students understand the importance of non-renewable resources and their applications in our lives. We received many entries in a range of formats, from poems to videos to comic strips, that demonstrated a high level of creativity.


Winning entries from 2019
Since September, 49 workshops had been delivered to 1,139 students across Canada inviting them to participate in the contest. We also engaged individuals at public outreach events with hands-on activities that show the ways in which rocks and minerals are used every day.
 
Thanks to all those who participated. The projects are currently being judged by a panel of volunteers and winners will be announced in May. Thank you to our judges and to Teck Resources Limited for having sponsored the contest for the past three years.
 
To view past winning entries, please visit the  WHERE Challenge website.
Mineral Resources and Mining Education Tours minetours 
Mining Matters and the Canadian Ecology Centre invite educators to participate in the 2020 Mineral Resources and Mining Education Tours. The tours provide opportunities to learn about Earth sciences, mineral resources and mining, including the mine life cycle, sustainability, and careers. 
 
With exciting site visits to underground and surface mines, reclamation sites and sites of geological significance, these unique experiences provide a front row seat to the minerals industry.
 
This year we will be featuring three different tours:
  • Life in a Mining Camp Tours, Thunder Bay
    • Tour #1 (July 10-12)
    • Tour #2 (July 12-14)
  • Mine Life Cycle Tour (August 16-19), Timmins
  • Mineral Resources and Mining Foundations Tour (August 19-21), North Bay
To learn more about each of the tours and to register, please visit: CanadianEcology.ca .
Our Co-op Experience students
Over the past couple of years, we have offered more than a dozen placements for co-op students. These co-operative education opportunities provide valuable work experiences and allow students to apply knowledge gained in the classroom in a practical workplace setting.

Most recently, we had Nicholas Kerr and Akila Visram from the University of Waterloo join our team. We are pleased to share with you their testimonials.

"Mining Matters has provided me with amazing opportunities to travel to different Indigenous communities and teach about Earth Sciences and the minerals industry.

Through my experience at Mining Matters, I developed several skills that will benefit my future employment endeavors. These skills include teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, resourcefulness along with several others.

In addition, through my first-hand experiences, discussions and interactions with the Indigenous people, I gained new relevant knowledge about Indigenous communities in Ontario and Nunavut that I did not know before. "
 - Nicholas Kerr, Co-op Student
 
"As a Co-op Student at Mining Matters, I have gained a great amount of knowledge and experience related to rocks and minerals, as well as the mining industry as a whole. Throughout my experience, I received ample training to ensure a high level of confidence when traveling to remote locations. I was able to travel to places in northern Ontario to teach students about geoscience and run various STEM activities.  I really enjoyed interacting with the students in each of these remote locations. 

Overall, these were amazing experiences which have taught me a lot about the different Indigenous cultures and lifestyles throughout Canada, as well as inspired me to reflect on and continuously be grateful for the opportunities presented in my life.

The employees at Mining Matters truly care because from start to finish they make sure their Co-op Students are presented with the maximum amount of opportunities to learn and make a difference within the industry."
- Akila Visram, Co-op Student

UPDATE: Diamond in the Rough Golf Classic and Rock Cycle Ride for Minerals Education update
Mining Matters would like to thank our sponsors and volunteers for their continued support of our signature events: The Diamond in the Rough Golf Classic and Rock Cycle Ride for Minerals Education.
 
Due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19 as well as the preventative measures enacted by the provincial and federal governments to mitigate the spread, these events are CANCELLED for 2020. Mining Matters is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, sponsors and participants. We also respect the measures implemented to prevent the spread of the virus.
 
The Diamond in the Rough Golf Classic and Rock Cycle Ride for Minerals Education have been rescheduled for June 10, 2021. Please mark your calendars and we hope you will join us for next year's events.
Wishing Everyone Good Health  update
As COVID-19 continues to affect us all, the staff at Mining Matters would like to wish all of our sponsors, partners, donors, supporters, and friends the best during these uncertain times.
SUPPORT MINING MATTERS
 
Mining Matters is a charitable organization committed to educating young Canadians about mining's importance to our quality of life. 
Mining Matters has reached an estimated 750,000 teachers, students and members of the public since its inception in 1994.

Your personal or corporate contribution supports the development and delivery of leading edge educational programs that meet all Earth science curriculum expectations for the grades in which they're offered.

 
Charitable Registration Number: 88775 6435 RR0001








Mining Matters | T: 416-863-6463 | F: 416-863-9900
E:  [email protected] 
MiningMatters.ca