"If this is Monday, this must Sudbury."
At times, that is exactly what Laura Clinton, the well-traveled project co-ordinator of the Mining Matters education initiative must probably be thinking.
During the 2005-2006 academic year, she had given 80 workshops
across the province, ranging from isolated fly-in aboriginal
reserves in Northern Ontario to Windsor and Toronto. There are
few places in this province the enthusiastic Clinton has not
visited during the past four years on the job.
This Monday, she was at LoEllen-Park Secondary School,
conducting a workshop for teachers from the Rainbow District
School Board on the best way to teach about the mining
sector.
Clinton, who is based in Toronto says, "This is probably my
12th visit to Sudbury over the past few years, and the
community feels like a second home to me." (She was heading out
to Ramsey Lake with her skates after the telephone
interview.)
"The support of local industry and the MNDM have played an
instrumental role in the success of this program. In addition,
the enthusiasm of the teachers is fantastic. One decorates her
entire class like a mine with photos of different activities on
all the walls. A fridge is made to look like a mineshaft."
In the early 1990s, the Ontario curriculum contained no
requirements to teach about rocks and minerals. This was a
major concern to the mining sector as students could go through
their entire education with no knowledge about the industry's
enormous wealth creation and employment opportunities, as well
as the production of essential metals for our modern
comfortable standard of living.
Modelled after a similar program in British Columbia, the
Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's (PDAC)
education committee spearheaded the Mining Matters initiative
in 1994. 
Clinton is a graduate from the University of Toronto's
specialist program in environmental science. She came to Mining
Matters in September 2002 from the Ontario Science Centre,
where she had gained experience as a science educator as well
as co-ordinating Earth and Space Week, and continuing education
programs.
"As an earth scientist, I feel that I have an important
responsibility to raise public awareness of the increasingly
vital impact earth science has on our daily lives," says 
Clinton.
Two different programs will be taught at the workshop. The
first is called The Earth's Crust, and is directed at the Grade
7 level. The unit includes rock and mineral samples, testing
and observation materials as well as maps and poster. For their
final project, students must decide whether a mine will be
allowed to be developed taking into account all the various
stakeholders, just like in real life.
The second resource kit is called Discovering Diamonds, which
teaches high school students about the riches of Canadian
diamond sector.
Students will explore where diamonds are formed, how they reach
the surface and how diamond-bearing kimberlites are found. Much
of the technical guidance for this course came from industry
experts and Ontario's first diamond mine, located in James Bay,
is used as a case study.
Sofia Gallagher, science and technological studies curriculum
co-ordinator says, "This resource will be a major success with
our students, particularly helping support the specialist high
skills major in mining which is being implemented at the school
board."
Gallagher continues, "This pilot initiative enables students to
customize their courses to get their high school diplomas and
prepare them for a successful postsecondary transition to
apprenticeship training, college, university or employment in
the booming mining sector."
A specialist high skills major allows students in the Rainbow
board to gain mining sector preparatory skills, and knowledge
in order to make better informed career choices.
The initial attitudes of the teachers toward the Mining Matters
workshops mirror their urban or northern/rural backgrounds.
Many of those from Northern Ontario are more likely to have a
better awareness of the importance of rocks, minerals, metals
and mining as most of them have seen first-hand the important
role mining has played in their communities.
Clinton says, "It has been a great pleasure working with the
industry and government partners, many of whom have taken the
time to provide me with fascinating insights and educational
tours of their facilities. I have thoroughly enjoyed these rare
and invaluable learning opportunities that I routinely share
during my workshops."
As a charitable organization, all aspects of the program's
development and implementation are made possible by financial
and in-kind contributions from the minerals industry, service
sector companies, interest groups, individuals and
government.
Through the donation of time and resources, the Ontario
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) has been a
critical part of the success of Mining Matters since its
inception.
Year after year, thousands of rock and mineral samples are
collected and donated by the province's team of resident
geologists. The arduous task of collecting and breaking samples
for the resources are vital components of Mining Matters kit
production, as these samples provide students with an
opportunity to learn through hands-on activities.
Since the program's inception, it is estimated that more than
400,000 teachers and students have learned about the importance
of rocks, metals, minerals, mining, and Canada's geology.
It takes about $250,000 a year to operate the Mining Matters
initiative. The PDAC supplies a yearly $50,000 for core
operating costs, while the remainder is supplied by donations
from individuals and the industry.
To learn more about Mining Matters or if you wish to donate to
this initiative, visit
www.pdac.ca/miningmatters/
.
Stan Sudol is a Toronto-based communications consultant and policy analyst who writes extensively on mining issues,[email protected]
