By Adam Donnelly

Kamloops Exploration Group Conference informs kids about mining

Apr 9, 2019 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s estimated that the mining industry is worth over $8 billion to the provincial economy, and considering the number of jobs it provides, it’s an industry which is vital to the economic well-being of our region. This week, the Kamloops Exploration Group is holding their 32nd annual conference and trade show and on Tuesday, some elementary school students got a chance to learn about the mining and exploration industries first hand at the event.

Since before BC joined confederation, mining has been one of the industries that helped shaped our province. This week, the Kamloops Exploration Group is celebrating that industry during their 32nd annual KEG Conference and Trade Show.

“We’re also involved with the association of mineral exploration in the province and we represent those interests on a more localized level,” KEG Director Steve Wanless explains. “[At the conference] you’ll have a mix of people in the exploration industry… but you’ve also got people from mining supply and trades that supply the mining industry, as well.”

Winless says Kamloops acts as a service hub for the mines in our region, which is an important driver for the regional economy.

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“Kamloops is a major supplier to all the mines in the area, particularly New Gold and Teck Highland Valley Copper,” Wanless says. “It’s a major economic driver for the area.”

As part of the conference each year, students from local elementary schools get the opportunity to attend and speak to industry professionals about their roles in exploration and mining.

“[We talked to] people that work at the mine or help the mine,” Kay Bingham Grade 5 student Logan Weibe tells CFJC Today. “[We learned] a lot, actually – about drills and explosions… yeah.”

While it’s a learning opportunity for the students who attend, Wanless says it’s also a chance for these kids to start thinking about their future careers.

“I think it’s very important for youthful people to understand the things we enjoy in our lives, it comes from the resource-based industry,” Wanless says. “We need more people that are interested in geology and mining because it’s an ageing workforce. We need new, young, bright minds to come into our industry and help promote the mining community.”

Logan Weibe says there’s a specific area to the industry he’s interested in.

“I would like to be a demolition guy,” Weibe says.

The Kamloops Exploration Group hopes that more young individuals like Logan have their fuse lit at the conference, and explore mining as a possible career.