It’s more about networking than the competition

While, at first glance, the Canadian Mining Games looks like a competition between universities and where students showcase all of the skills required by the mining industry, the unexpected value is in the networking and professional development of the participating students.

The three-day event includes multiple opportunities to meet industry professionals, network at the career fair and meet other mining engineering students, many of whom will be their future colleagues in the close-knit Canadian mining sector.

The competition is made possible by industry sponsors like Barrick Gold, the lead sponsor for the 2017 Games, who also act as judges for each event.

“Our Mining Games teams from previous competitions have always exemplified the strong teamwork and academic excellence developed in the Lassonde Mineral Engineering Program,” said Professor Brent Sleep, chair of the Civil Engineering and Lassonde Mineral Engineering programs. “The industry connections have led to our students being hired in temporary and permanent roles. I always look forward to hearing about the connections that are made and seeing the successes of our students each year.”

The Canadian Mining Games, which is being planned this year by a team of MinE alumni and students, is made up of 24 events which cover the breadth and skill required by engineers involved in mining today. Individual students from each team compete in events such as public speaking and mineral identification. There are also events that see multiple students from each team compete, like the mine design competition, which requires a multidisciplinary approach to develop a plan, strategy and mine design to optimize the resource extraction from the earth.

Events like the Canadian Mining Games often become the cornerstone of a students’ undergraduate experience. In its 27th year, the host of the games rotate between each of Canada’s 10 mineral engineering programs. U of T alumni who have participated in the past continue to give back through volunteering, judging challenges and facilitating industry sponsorship.