It’s no secret the mining sector has experienced some recruitment challenges over the years. Things like public perception and a lack of trust, which we’ve explored in previous episodes, certainly deserve some of the blame. But if we’re going to ensure we have the materials we need for the green energy transition, the industry needs an influx of fresh talent.

In this season finale episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley sits down with three young up-and-comers from the University of British Columbia’s Geological Engineering program for a frank conversation about the pros and cons of a career in modern mining. They also discuss how the appeal has grown in recent years as the industry evolves, both technologically and philosophically. Finally, Robin is joined by Doctor Charlotte Gibson, the Associate Head of The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen’s University, to find out what schools are doing to put young people on the path to a career in mining, and what they could be doing better.

What is the role of Indigenous Peoples in the global race to secure the critical minerals we need for the green energy transition? And how can the mining industry and Indigenous communities work together to forge an equitable future?

In this episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley speaks with two people with an intimate understanding of the nuanced relationship between Indigenous communities and the mining industry: Christy Smith — Senior Vice President of Indigenous Engagement and Human Environment at Falkirk Environmental Consultants, and John Desjarlais — Executive Director of the Indigenous Resource Network. Together, they tackle some important questions, like where trust has been broken in the past? They also discuss the “Seven Generations” mindset with respect to resource projects, and explore how that way of thinking can further these important relationships, now and for decades to come.

Please note: This episode includes some sensitive topics, including trauma, suicide, and residential schools. If you or anyone you know is facing mental health issues, you can find resources HERE. You can also click these links to learn more about the work of the Indigenous Resource Network and Falkirk Environmental Consultants.

It’s one of the first metals human beings ever mined, and the first to be smelted, cast into molds, and alloyed with another metal. And today, copper has become just as important to humankind as it was to those early Sumerian, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations. But why is it so critical, and why do we need so much of it?

In this episode of Why We Mine, presented by Teck, host Robin Stickley explores copper’s pivotal role in the green energy transition, and why we need to mine more of it in the next 30 years than we have in the past 5,000. With the help of Professor Shaun Barker, the Director of the Mineral Deposit Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, and Tyler Mitchelson, a Senior Vice President at Teck, Robin also learns why copper is so unique, what the mining industry is doing to meet the growing need, and why this is a challenge we can’t simply recycle our way out of.