To improve mining literacy and awareness among young Canadians, Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) has announced an investment of $22,500 for the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). This grant will help CIM develop a program that will raise awareness of the benefits and importance of mining in a low-carbon economy and drive innovation for the minerals and metals industry.

Part of this program will be the creation of a digital game to teach young Canadians about minerals and encourage future participation in the industry. The second phase of the project will design and develop a pan-Canadian, multi-media mining exhibit called Our Earth’s Riches. CIM is partnering with Science North for the project, and
each organization is contributing an additional $500,000.

According to an NRCAN press release, raising awareness of the importance of minerals and metals is a key initiative of the Communities Strategic Direction of the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan, an ambitious pan-Canadian framework to boost the competitiveness of Canada’s mining sector in a low-carbon, digital economy. Increased knowledge about the diverse and highly skilled careers available in mining will help build the workforce of the future and drive more youth, women, Indigenous people, and visible minorities to participate in natural resource development.

“The success of the mining industry depends on ensuring that communities can participate in the mineral development cycle, from pre-exploration to post-mine closure,” said the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount. “Supporting communities with the knowledge and educational tools they need to make informed decisions and understand the contribution of the mining sector, especially in a low-carbon economy, is critical. We are providing some important tools with the funding announced today.”