Sudbury Students Discover Mining Careers Through Interactive Game

More than 350 high school students from Greater Sudbury engaged in a unique learning experience on March 6, 2024, during the Mine Opportunity Challenge. This event, held at Laurentian University, is a key feature of Sudbury Mining Week and aims to introduce students to potential careers in mining and related fields.

The challenge combines elements of popular games like Monopoly and Amazing Race. Participants move through various booths representing 24 companies and educational departments, answering questions and completing tasks. The focus is on critical areas such as mining, technology, engineering, geoscience, the environment, and skilled trades.

Nicole Tardif, chair of Sudbury Mining Week and program coordinator at the Goodman School of Mines, emphasized the importance of this initiative. She explained, “So that they can learn not only what career paths are available to them, but also about the modern mining technologies and the modern mining environmental rules, engagement with the communities.”

Tardif developed the game two decades ago to make learning enjoyable for her geology students. Over the years, she has observed various adaptations of the game. “I think some students don’t know anything about mining or students don’t know anything about the companies that are here in our community,” she noted. “They do learn about who these companies are and what they do – that opens their eyes to different possibilities of careers they can have.”

The game has grown beyond Sudbury, being played in cities like Timmins and Thunder Bay, with plans to reach North Bay on March 8, 2024. Tardif expressed excitement for the future of the game, stating that efforts are underway to digitize it, incorporating animation through a collaboration with students from Cambrian College.

Looking ahead, Tardif has ambitious goals for the next five years. “My goal is to eventually have the game be played Canada-wide in a virtual format…and have people from all across Canada learning about mining and the industry,” she stated. This innovative approach to education not only makes learning engaging but also highlights the diverse career opportunities available within the mining sector.

As the event continues to gain traction, it aims to inspire a new generation of students to consider careers in mining and related fields, showcasing the industry’s evolution and its significance in today’s economy.