SEG Annual Golf Tournament September 12

Smithers Exploration Group’s will host the annual golf tournament on Friday September 12 in Smithers at the Smithers Golf and Country Club.  Basic details are below and for full details check out the poster at https://www.smithersexplorationgroup.com/files/2014_Smithers_Exploration_Golf_Tournament_Sept_12_INVITE_(2).pdf.

• Registration: Thursday September 11, 7 – 10 pm, Smithers Legion
• Champagne Breakfast:  Friday September 12, 7:30 – 9 am, Hy-Tech Drilling
• ShotGun Tee Off:  Friday September 12, 10 am, Smithers Golf Club
• Dinner: Friday September 12, 5:30 pm, Smithers Golf Club
• Golf and Dinner:  $80 – cash or cheque (no credit cards)
• Dinner alone: $35 - cash or cheque (no credit cards)

To pre-register contact Judi L’Orsa at  smithersexplorationgroup@gmail.com

If you want to sponsor the tournament, contact Shauna Peterson at Shauna.Peterson@investorsgroup.com

AME BC Supports NWCC School of Exploration & Mining

As a partner in the Northwest Community College School of Exploration & Mining (SEM), Smithers Exploration Group appreciates the support from Association for Mineral Exploration BC for the School.

AME BC donated the proceeds of its recent golf tournament to the School. The proceeds of $22,000 will be used to support SEM’s dual credit Environmental Monitor Assistant Program (EMAP) at Smithers Senior Secondary School this fall. The program introduces 16 students in Grades 11 and 12 to the techniques for carrying out environmental assessment work required in all natural resource projects in BC. Graduates receive 12 credits toward their high school graduation and also receive NWCC credit for completing the EMAP program. 

Last year’s pilot project was so successful, School District 54 committed to two more years.

If the dual credit EMAP seems like something you would like to support, the School is raising funds through the sale of seats in the program. You can purchase an entire seat for approximately $3800 or you can contribute to a seat. Either way it’s a great way of getting high school students interested in the industry. If you’re interested in helping out, contact Tlell Glover SEM coordinator at TGlover@nwcc.bc.ca  

SEG Reaches Out

Speaking of schools, this spring SEG’s 2014 Outreach program targeted elementary schools and community events. Thanks to AME BC Outreach funding to the regional exploration groups, SEG has been able to hire administrator Lorie Farrell P.Geo to reach out to groups that are not usually connected to the minerals industry, helping them to understand the industry and its benefits.

These are the highlights of the last four months:

• Pacific Northwest Science Fair
• Gitanyow Job Fair
• Dease Lake Job Fair Day
• Houston Job Fair
• Smithers Trade Expo 
• Brown Bag Lunch
• Mining Week Luncheon
• “Drilling Cupcakes” – Muheim School Career Day-Smithers, John Fields Elementary School-Hazelton
• “Stump the Geologist” Main Street Fair

The Drilling Cupcakes is a great event. Layered cupcakes were handed out to the students and they had to guess what they looked like inside without cutting into or taking a bite of the cupcake. The cupcakes were then “drilled” with bubble tea straws so the students could take core samples and draw drill sections in their “I’m an Exploration Geologist coloring books” that SEG provided. 

Stump the Geologist is something new for SEG.  Rob Boyce and Lorie Farrell had a booth set up at the Smithers main street festival with a variety of rocks and minerals. People were encouraged to bring rocks to the geologist to find out what they are. About 275 people stopped by the booth – a great success. 
 

The monthly brown bag lunches are where SEG members gather with members from the provincial ministries that are associated with exploration and mining. The content is driven by attendees from month to month and presentations and discussion are leading to greater understanding of the needs of industry for government workers and conversely, industry members are learning how to navigate government protocol and systems more efficiently. Our biggest success this year was engaging SEG members in the conversation and comments regarding the proposed introduction of mines act permit fees.

SEG awards bursaries

Every year SEG awards $1000 bursaries to one or two students in School District 54 who demonstrate an interest in pursuing post-secondary training that will lead them to employment in the minerals industry.

This year Derek Forbes and Gabriel Price from Smithers received $1000 each at the Smithers Senior Secondary School graduation June 21. Derek took the Duel Credit EMAP program at the School of Exploration & Mining and will be attending UNBC to study Natural Resource Management: Fisheries and Wildlife program in the fall. He would like to get on at a mine as an Environmental Coordinator and become part of making mining more sustainable.   Gabriel is planning on going to the University of Victoria and taking chemistry and geology this fall. He is also thinking of doing mine environmental work or mineral exploration.

Congratulations to Mine Rescue winners

Last month more than 400 mine rescue and first aid competitors gathered in Smithers for the annual Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition. It brings together mine rescue and first aid teams from across British Columbia to test their emergency response and rescue abilities. Teams compete in either surface or underground competitions. 

Congratulations to Huckleberry Mines for winning in two categories:

• Three Person Miners' First Aid Trophy - Huckleberry Mines Ltd.
• Kathy Lofstrom Memorial Trophy (best coach for 3 person first aid) - Huckleberry Mines Ltd. - Dwayne Allen

The results overall were:

John T. Ryan Trophy

• Myra Falls Operations, Nyrstar Myra Falls

Three Person First Aid Competition Winners

• Three Person Miners' First Aid Trophy- Huckleberry Mines Ltd.
• Kathy Lofstrom Memorial Trophy (best coach for 3 person first aid) -Huckleberry Mines Ltd. - Dwayne Allen

Surface & Underground Competition Winners

Mutual Aid Scramble (Mixed 6 person teams in an event to show teamwork and cooperation)- Team 2

Surface Mine Rescue Competition Winners

• Ron Brow Memorial Award (best extrication for surface team) - Gibraltar Mine
• Maurice Boisse memorial trophy (best bench for surface team) - Elkview Operations
• EKMISA Trophy (Best written for surface team): Elkview Operations
• Levitt Safety fire trophy (surface): Highland Valley Copper
• HVC Highest Non-aggregate Points Trophy -Elkview Operations
• Overall surface mine rescue trophy -Elkview Operations

Underground Mine Rescue Competition

• Best Bench Technician Trophy winner: - Jim Parnell, Quinsam Coal
• USWA Mine-mill trophy (best underground coordinator) - Jared Moe, New Afton
• Sullivan Cup (best first aid by underground team) -Nyrstar - Myra Falls
• Barry Abbott memorial trophy (best bench for underground team) - Nyrstar - Myra Falls
• EKMISA trophy (smoke task): - Nyrstar - Myra Falls
• Keith Bracewell Memorial Award (best obstacle and recovery) winner: - Nyrstar - Myra Falls
• Levitt Safety Fire Trophy (underground): - Nyrstar - Myra Falls
• Overall underground mine rescue trophy: - Nyrstar - Myra Falls

 Chief Inspector's Awards

• Doug Flynn
• Stephen Rothman
• Ed Taje
• Phil Pascuzzi

Next year’s 60th Annual Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition will also be held in Smithers, so stay tuned for dates and times sometime next spring.

SEG booth Bulkley Valley Fall Fair August 21 to 24

The SEG booth at the 2014 Bulkley Valley Fall Fair from August 21 to 24 is always an excellent opportunity for the general public to learn about the minerals industry. The annual display features our  "Guess the Gold" contest and the opportunity to talk with local industry people and geologists. Hundreds of people stop by the booth for the information on exploration projects and areas mines, as well SEG's annual directory. Drop by for a chat if you’re at the fair.