The mineral science industrial vocational program, which started at R. D. Parker Collegiate in 1977, is making a comeback.
In the late 1970s, the program offered high school students the complete first year of the mineral science technology program at Keewatin Community College in The Pas. Students who completed Grades 10, 11 and 12 components received 12 credits, and who also undertook work experience, were awarded with a mineral science technician diploma, recognized by Keewatin Community College, Hailebury School of Mines, Cambrian College, and the B. C. School of Mines. Around 135 of the students went onto work for at Inco and many of them holding supervisory positions today.
The School District of Mystery Lake has been working on developing the mineral science program. The online modules for the full nine credit courses have been completed and the district has committed to collaborating with a developmental consultant to complete the student tracking component. Staff is looking at stored equipment and making sure that repairs and upgrades are completed.
Grant Kreuger, a vice-principal at R. D. Parker Collegiate, says that renewed interest in the mineral science industrial vocational program was brought on at the Northeast Technical Vocational Educational Consortium meeting held at the school board office last year. He says the goals of the school district include establishing pathways to the University College of the North's (UCN) earth science program and the University of Manitoba's earth science program.
Community Futures North Central Development (CFNCD) created a proposal for a four-year pilot project of the mineral science industrial vocational program. It was submitted by a private-public partnership between Vale Inco Ltd. and the School District of Mystery Lake and released on Jan. 27, 2009.
In the proposal, CFNCD said the four-year pilot project's total cost would be $981,205. Implementation of the timeline was set for September with funding totaling $324,126 already available when the proposal was written.
Kreuger says the school district planned on readying the school for the new program by looking to add a mezzanine level to the school's existing aviation building, which would include a multiuse mineral science lab/classroom, a storage room, interior stairs and an external fire escape. Through the program students would have the chance to take part in the new mineral science industrial vocational program and a millwright program.
In Grade 10, students enroled in the program would take an introduction to mine engineering course, a geology course and a surveying course. In Grade 11 students would take an introduction to chemical engineering and extractive metallurgy; a geology course focusing on rocks and fossils; and a surveying course that looks at measuring angles. In Grade 12 students will be able to take an introduction to civil engineering; a geology course focusing on the geologic process; and a surveying course that takes an in-depth look at surveying practices. On top of this students can supplement their learning with three courses in drafting.
Kreuger also points out that students who take part in the program don't have to limit themselves to a few careers within the mining industry. He says they can go on to enter into technically qualified level mining and apply for any of the advanced entry programs at the University of Manitoba, including a bachelor of science in geological sciences.
"In addition to just the engineering and geology type academic path and the geo-scientific community, that cluster of courses lends itself to early skill set development that allows students to have career paths or exit paths from the program before that could lead them to other career choices before they go down that path," he explains. "There are many other career choices that one could assume by sampling in the earth sciences cluster."
Since the proposal by CFNCD was written, the School District of Mystery Lake has received a pledge that will see it getting $600,000 in funding for the program. Kreuger says the money is coming in pockets from taxpayer-supported government entities such as the Community Adjustment Fund, an arm of the Western Diversification Fund, although none the funding is coming directly out of local school taxes.
"The Manitoba Northern Sector Council made the application on the School District of Mystery Lake's behalf, and what this brings us is four years of staffing and developmental money to improve infrastructure and develop a mineral science program that starts a student in Grade 10 and gives them nine various credits that lead towards the first year of a two year diploma at UCN's faculty of earth science," Kreuger explains. "Upon completion of the UCN program, that gives them the first year towards a degree in geological sciences with the University of Manitoba."
Kreuger says the lab on the second floor of the aviation building is currently under construction, and will include a floatation cell, a ball mill, a crusher and a foundry.
"Everything that you see when you do the Inco tour - the mill, the smelter, the refinery - all of those processes are replicated in a lab sense," he says. "It is a huge program that will be a core foundation to our school, and our students will get a glimpse into the mining sector."
Kreuger adds that all of the programs will be available in an online format and anyone from the community can enroll to take the courses.
The School District of Mystery Lake is currently in the process of establishing a steering committee that will guide the developmental stage of the project.
