The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
North of 60 Mining News - January 17, 2024
The 2023 graduating class of the Tahltan Heavy Equipment Operator training program. Clockwise from left: Tony Bob, Salina Gray, Jazmyn Etzerza, and May Quock.
Click on image for larger image of Golden Triangle mines, mineral exploration projects, and infrastructure.
More Northern British Columbia residents will have the skills needed to work in Golden Triangle mines thanks to a C$600,000 grant from TD Bank Group to support the Tahltan Nation Development Corp.'s Heavy Equipment Operator program.
"At TD, we want to help prepare people for the jobs of tomorrow by investing in organizations that offer skills training geared towards improving income stability," said Doris Bear, vice president of indigenous banking at TD Bank Group.
This is exactly what TNDC's HEO program is designed to do.
Established in 2023, HEO is a multi-faceted program designed to build employment capacity within the Tahltan Territory, which covers 70% of BC's famed Golden Triangle. This mineral-rich region is home to two operating mines and several advanced-stage mineral exploration projects in the pipeline.
In addition to training residents to operate equipment at current and future Northern BC mines, HEO provides Tahltans with training for driver's licenses needed for employment and is focused on elevating current heavy equipment operators into mentors, trainers, and instructors.
This innovative program combines training with on-the-job practical work experience that helps build a bridge between Tahltans and a mining sector facing a labor shortage in Northern BC and beyond.
"By investing in educating and empowering individuals, we can build stronger, more resilient Tahltan communities and create a brighter future for all," said Tahltan Nation Development Corp. Chair Carol Danielson.
Building off the success of the year-one pilot, the Tahltan HEO pilot program is being expanded to increase the impact that comes with enhancing the skills of Tahltan individuals. The grant from TD will help fund the continuation of this program in 2024 and 2025.
"Through this grant, TNDC's HEO program will be able to expand its reach and impact into years two and three of the program, enabling TNDC to provide vital educational support to a larger number of deserving individuals, unlocking their potential and opening doors to brighter futures," said Danielson.
TD's award to the Tahltan is being made through the bank's corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, which has a target of investing C$1 billion by 2030 into four areas that support change, nurture progress, and contribute to making the world a better, more inclusive place.
"We recognize the positive impact and value that programs like the Tahltan HEO program can bring to communities and local economies," said Bear. "That's why, through the TD Ready Commitment, we're proud to support this initiative aimed at helping address skill shortages in the Territory while also providing hands-on work experiences for participants."
Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.
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