First-year U of T Engineering students, who had not yet declared an interest in Mineral Engineering, were taken on a trip to see a northwestern Ontario mine in operation. The unique experience gave them new industry certifications, an appreciation for the scope and scale of operations, a taste of outdoor adventure by snowmobile and the revelation they could forge a career in the mining industry.
Eleven first-year U of T Engineering students, drawn from programs across the Faculty, travelled over 1,000 km from Toronto to see an operational mine in northwestern Ontario up close. They came home with industry certifications, an appreciation for the sheer scale of modern mining, a taste of outdoor adventure by snowmobile and the realization their engineering future could be in mining.
The field trip was held during the February 2026 Winter Break, aimed at students from different programs across the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, including Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), Chemical Engineering (ChemE) and the TrackOne program, which allows students to explore different areas of engineering before selecting a focus in second year. The goal was to provide an eye-opening view into the mining industry and the many future career possibilities available to engineering graduates.
The trip has already led to jobs. As direct result of this initiative, Equinox Gold Corp’s Greenstone Mine extended summer internship offers to three of the 11 participants. Among them are Abdullah Ammad (Year 1 ElecE) and Ana Maria Gastelum-Carbajal (Year 1 ChemE). Several others say they now see a future in mining across a wide range of engineering roles, with one student leaning towards switching to the Lassonde Mineral Engineering Program for their second-year studies at U of T.
Looking towards the future for Critical Minerals in Canada, as well as provincial policies in Ontario, the program is designed to help ensure the coming engineering needs of mining are met by exposing students to the multitude of possibilities available. This program directly gives them the opportunity to sample the possible roles and see the full-scale operations in action.
The Ontario Mining Association chronicled the trip with several videos and a blog post.
What does a career in mining actually look like for the next generation of engineers?
That was the question behind The Greenstone Grind, a weeklong immersive experience that brought 11 first-year engineering students from the University of Toronto to Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Mine in Northwestern Ontario during reading week in February.
Over the course of the week, students explored mine operations, mill operations, warehousing and logistics, safety systems and community life at the mine and in Geraldton, Ont. They rode in 250-tonne haul trucks, toured processing facilities and learned how different engineering disciplines intersect across a large-scale mining operation. They also earned key industry certifications like Surface Miner Common Core and others through their NORCAT training that are now on their resumes for their future job applications.
For many students, the experience challenged preconceived ideas about the industry.
“It’s completely different from what I thought,” became a recurring sentiment throughout the program as students saw firsthand the scale, coordination, technology and problem-solving involved in operating one of Canada’s newest and largest gold mines.
The experience also highlighted the critical role engineering talent plays in Canada’s resource economy. At a time when the world is reorganizing itself around energy, critical minerals, supply chain sovereignty, beneath it all is mining. With a growing demand for engineers.
Programs such as Greenstone Grind aim to encourage Canadians to consider a career in mining by exposing students to career pathways they may not otherwise consider during their early years of study.
Designed as an experiential learning opportunity, the Greenstone Grind gave students a clearer understanding of how classroom concepts translate into real operational environments. From chemical engineering principles used in gold extraction to electrical systems, logistics coordination and environmental monitoring, students were able to see engineering theory applied in real time. As many students said, it ‘brought the textbook to life.’
The program also emphasized the human side of the industry. Students spoke directly with operators, engineers, tradespeople and site teams about career progression, workplace culture and life in Northern Ontario communities that host mining operations.
As Canada continues to focus on workforce development, STEM engagement and domestic resource capacity, initiatives that connect education with industry experience are becoming increasingly important. The Greenstone Grind provides one example of how universities, industry and community partners can work together to introduce students to sectors that are actively shaping Canada’s economic future.
~ Ontario Mining Association
Watch the Greenstone Grind Reality Series for a behind-the-scenes look at modern mining through the perspective of the 11 first-year U of T engineering students experiencing it firsthand.
The Greenstone Grind was a partnership between the Ontario Mining Association, Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Mine, the University of Toronto, the Lassonde Institute of Mining, the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, the TrackOne engineering program, Dyno Nobel, Fastenal Canada and NORCAT; and part of a the broader This Is Mine Life initiative funded through a partnership between the Ontario Mining Association, the Government of Canada, Ontario Government and Employment Ontario.