Published: July 2001
Kurt Breker of PotashCorp (second from left) presents a new bike to Matthew Couperthwaite at the SMART career expo
As members of the Saskatchewan Mining Association Human Resources Committee, two PotashCorp employees took a real-life approach to introducing more than 700 students to careers in the mining industry during a weeklong Students Moving Ahead with Real-World Training (S.M.A.R.T.) career expo this past March in Saskatoon.
Rather than hand out a brochure detailing careers in mining, the Saskatchewan Mining Association introduced students to the tasks and lifestyles of several individuals actually working in the industry.
Lee Knafelc, Human Resources Superintendent at PotashCorp, Lanigan Division, and Kurt Breker, Human Resources Supervisor at PotashCorp, Patience Lake Division, were just two of six Mining Association Human Resources Committee members to take part in S.M.A.R.T.
“It’s important to be represented in these events because mining is a significant part of the economy in Saskatchewan,” said Knafelc. “Taking part in such events also helps establish links between the industry in the area and the school districts.”
Mining Opportunity
During the presentation, Knafelc emphasized the career advancement in Saskatchewan and abroad, salary, benefits, environmental stewardship, high-tech work, and the fact that the mining industry directly employs almost 20,000 people in Saskatchewan.
Just some of the mining professions included in the presentation were an industrial mechanic, a mine shift supervisor and an instrumentation technician.
“We’d show pictures of actual people doing their jobs at the mines, and then talk about their education, salaries, career paths and lifestyles,” said Knafelc.
The presenters helped promote student interest in the presentation by sponsoring a mountain bike giveaway contest.
In order to win the bike, students had to visit each represented company’s website for a hidden on-line questionnaire and answer each question correctly. Twelfth-grader Matthew Couperthwaite, a student at Bishop James Mahoney High School, was the winner of the contest.
More Than 10,000 Attendees
Over 10, 000 students attended the career fair throughout the week, and approximately 700 of those students attended the presentations given by Knafelc, Breker, and other members of the committee.
Students were not the only ones impressed by the mining industry presentation.
Murray Besenski, Secondary Programs Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Valley School Division, highlighted the importance of the career fair from the education perspective.
“It gave students a snapshot view of the occupation, what to expect if working in that occupation, and allowed kids the opportunity to learn about more careers and help them make a decision for themselves,” Besenski said.
Gil LeBlanc, Career Work Education Coordinator of the Saskatoon Catholic School District, agreed by stating that the career fair is needed to illustrate the new focus on trades and technology as a possible career choice.
Other representatives on the mining industry committee were Laurie Manion (Cameco), Jody Sawchuk (IMC), Dave Jennings (Agrium), and Tandy Sedgwick (Cogema).
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