Mining SREDA

SASKATOONEXPRESS.COM - April 23-30, 2012 - Page A13

Business ExcellenceRegional Economic

Development Authority

The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) is very proud of the community it serves. SREDA’s three main goals are to re-tain and expand local business in targeted sectors, to attract new investment in focus areas, and to ensure the Saskatoon Region is the place to live, work, invest and prosper. We are “Celebrating Growth” through past successes and the new opportunities that now lay ahead.

sreda.com

MA70314.D23Meagan

The mining industry is one of the top pri-orities for the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA). Why? In 2010, mining and petroleum made up 13.3 per cent of the province’s $41.5 billion total gross domestic product (GDP). This means, in that year, the industry invested over $5.5 bil-lion back into Saskatchewan’s economy.

Saskatchewan is blessed with a wealth of natural resources that are desired by others around the globe. This is driving the econo-mies of both Saskatoon and the province more than ever before. “Mining is an industry that has and will continue to transform the city and the economy,” says Bernie Ness, SREDA’s Director of Business Development.

Mining could be considered the ‘life blood’ for Saskatoon and area considering the number of head offices in Saskatoon; the large number of direct and indirect jobs connected to the industry, as well as the number of sup-ply companies that serve the industry.

A recent supply chain analysis project that SREDA collaborated on with SpringBoard West Innovations Inc. helped to shine a light on the mining industries extensive reach into the economy. It looked at potash mining specifically, as well as other industries that are connected, such as metal fabrication and food processing in the manufacturing sector, indus-trial and commercial construction, and the life

sciences. There were interviews with compa-nies and associations within each industry.

Ness explains the goal of the project was to map out the industries’ supply chains and put them together to identify where the gaps and opportunities exist in each sector.

The reoccurring theme, and fast becoming a serious issue, is the availability of a trained workforce – an issue across all sectors. Ness emphasizes that to reach the magic number of trained employees, it will require a multi-pronged approach over several years. SREDA and industry continue to investigate and col-laborate with its partners on how to tackle this skills shortage, which includes addressing the issue of education training capacity. “Unfor-tunately, it is not a quick or easy problem to solve.”

The supply chain analysis project is com-plete. According to Ness, SREDA is working on an action plan and hopes to have that fi-nalized in the near future. Potential next steps may include strategies to attract new players in various sectors, encourage new start-ups and link local businesses to opportunity in the industries.

SREDA is currently working on a major project to help meet the needs of employ-ers recruiting to the City of Saskatoon from outside Saskatchewan. “We are developing an on-line hub – LivingSaskatoon.ca that will an-

swer the questions about Saskatoon typically asked by prospective employees. Information about schools, culture and recreation, job opportunities, home buying and renting, and most importantly, climate will all be included. “Our goal is to make it the best comprehen-

sive tool that will promote the city as a great place to work and live, for employees and their families.”

You can find detailed economic informa-tion and data on the Saskatoon Region at www.sreda.com/business.

Mining driving economy like never before

Bernie Ness, Director of Business Development for the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority

Page A14 - SASKATOONEXPRESS.COM - April 23-30, 2012

Regional Economic Development Authority

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www.northatlanticpotash.comPart of the Acron Group

North Atlantic Potash is a growing company focused on developing potash production in Saskatchewan.

The key to global food security is right here in our own backyard. As a global fertilizer company and one of the province’s largest potash leaseholders, we take our responsibility seriously. That’s why we’re committed to sustainability and investing in Saskatchewan.

Sustainability starts here

A new mining program is be-ing offered at the Kelsey campus of Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) this fall.

Applications are already be-ing accepted for the Mining En-gineering Technology program, which is a two-year diploma program that came directly out of industry needs.

Karen Coates is the Program Head of Mining Engineering Technology at SIAST in Saska-toon. She says this program has been a long time coming and will hopefully address the skills shortage and specific shortage of mine engineers and technolo-gists. She notes the Saskatch-ewan Mining Association and the Mining Industry Human Resources Council partnered on a report that indicated the need for technologically trained people is “dire.”

The process to bring about the new program began a couple of years ago when a consultant began meeting with industry leaders to determine the mining industry’s needs.

Once those needs were determined, a focus group was formed that included industry,

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and it looked at what classes and learning out-comes would be desirable. From there, Coates was hired and she began developing curriculum, which was then validated by industry, which went through each learning outcome and gave it a mark.

Coates says during the process, industry players would ask things like, “’Are we spending enough time on certain subjects?’ It was developed by industry for industry.”

So far, the 25 available spots for September’s start have been mostly filled, but Coates says people can still apply and be placed in an appli-cant pool. She says that will increase your chances of getting in next year.

A wide variety of topics are covered in the two-year program, including: underground and surface surveying; geology; ground control; mine ventila-tion, safety and surface planning; project manage-ment; and mining software applications. Students will learn about hard and soft rock mining such as uranium and potash, as well as surface and open

pit mining such as coal.During the course, students will be

taken on mine tours, but all of the study-ing will be done at SIAST, where both indoor and outdoor laboratories are being developed.

“The mining industry is booming in Saskatchewan. Trained technical and trades people are needed, so the more people we can get trained for the indus-try, the better,” explains Coates.

There is program intake each year, and eventually the program will open up to international students on top of the 25 current spots. She says while industry needs must be met, it is also important to maintain the highest quality of education.

Coates says having this program will be very helpful to the industry.

“I envision our graduates being employed at all the different mines in Saskatchewan.”





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Vanscoy Potash OperationsVanscoy, Saskatchewan S0L 3J0Phone: (306) 668-4343Fax: (306) 668-2003

www.agriumwholesale.com

I helped feed theworld today Growth is a top priority for Agrium Wholesale and it doesn’t just apply to the nutrients we make or the size of our Company.

To achieve growth and remain healthy we need talented, diverse employees to support our initiatives.

As PotashCorp embarked on expanding its operations, it became clear it needed an overall recruitment strategy. The com-pany would be adding hundreds of new jobs at a time when increasing numbers of workers would be eligible for retirement.

The company turned to the fastest-growing population in the province, First Nations and Métis people, as an untapped demographic that could help fill those jobs.

Leanne Bellegarde, Director, Aboriginal Strategy, says the company also realized it hadn’t done as good of a job as it could have in the past when it came to recruiting and retaining Aboriginal workers.

Bellegarde was hired to review and make recommendations for an Aboriginal Strategy, which is three-pronged: make sure First Nations and Métis people know about employment and business oppor-tunities at PotashCorp; support education and opportunities in those communities; and get the current workforce ready.

To do that, last year from February until November, all 2,300 employees, managers and executive at PotashCorp went through an introduction to First Nations and Métis contributions to Saskatchewan and also looked at contemporary history. Bellegarde isn’t aware of another Canadian company that has done something to this scale.

“There are still lots of misconceptions about First Nations and Métis contribu-tions,” and, explains Bellegarde, “we wanted to provide people with a learn-ing opportunity they otherwise might not have.” She notes many of the employees’

children would be learning this through curriculum that wasn’t in place when the workforce was in school. She says there was a clear interest in some topics and so this type of training will continue to be made available.

As part of its strategy, PotashCorp works directly with many First Nations and Métis communities, particularly the Saskatoon Tribal Council because of its strong rural and urban infrastructure and members’ proximity to PotashCorp mines. The two parties signed an agreement last October to make it known they have been and will continue to work together.

Bellegarde says part of the reason the Aboriginal Strategy was kept simple was to engage communities and hear what they needed.

“How can we make a difference? How can we make sure people are aware of the job opportunities? How can we make sure youth coming out of school are ready? How do we engage potential business suppliers?”

PotashCorp has done a series of presen-tations and career fairs, and Bellegarde says those will continue, since the company hasn’t visited every Aboriginal community.

She says there has been success. One hundred-twenty applications came out of a couple of job fairs with STC, and last year 15 per cent of hires in labour and trades identified as First Nations and Métis through the partnership. Bellegarde says the actual numbers would be higher, as that doesn’t include direct hires, those

who don’t self-identify, and other positions PotashCorp would have hired for.

PotashCorp continues to invest in education and training, too; it is investing $750,000 for a Student Success Centre at Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Tech-nologies to provide a space for students to study. PotashCorp also supports youth entrepreneurship opportunities, the White Buffalo Youth Lodge, as well as helping youth obtain their driver’s licenses on reserve.

Moving forward, the company contin-ues its recruitment efforts but also looks at business supply opportunities, whether it is with new suppliers or those that already exist, and seeing if that business could be a possible fit for PotashCorp.

The opportunities are seemingly endless, as suppliers provide anything incidental to potash production. That’s a very wide spec-trum of items like drill bits and nuts and bolts to concrete, fuel, as well as building and equipment supply and maintenance.

PotashCorp’s Aboriginal Strategy a huge success

Mosaic K1 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, Canada.





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AREVA’s McClean Lake mill is uniquely designed to process high-grade ore.800,000+ trees

planted at Cluff Lake, SK reclamation site.

AREVA's share of SK uranium production in 2011 was 6 million lbs.

$150M being invested to upgrade McClean Lake Mill.

Creating 100+ jobs over the next 2 years.

McClean Lake Mill

BUILDING A STRONGER SASKATCHEWAN FROM THE GROUND UPFor more than 45 years, AREVA has been investing in the future of mining in Saskatchewan. AREVA is helping tap the world’s largest high-grade ore deposits right here in Saskatchewan, and operates the only mill specifically designed to process high-grade ore – McClean Lake. From environmental stewardship to Aboriginal employment to technological advancement, AREVA is helping our province thrive.

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MA70300.D23Meagan

As the world’s most abundant fossil fuel – more plentiful than oil and natural gas – each year Canada produces enough coal to fill Toronto’s Rogers Centre every week for an entire year. Saskatchewan is currently the third largest producer of coal in Canada.

Westcore Energy Ltd. does more than just explore for coal in Saskatchewan. It has a vision for the future of energy in the province and across the Prairies: aligning newly discov-ered coal resources with a clean and profit-able method to extract energy from coal.

“Our vision for use of coal has remained the same since the very early days of the company,” says Colin Taylor, Westcore Energy Ltd.’s Saskatoon-based Vice-President of Corporate Development. “Our goal has never been to use coal conventionally, such as in coal-fired plants.”

It’s with this forward-thinking mission in mind that Westcore Energy Ltd recently entered into a ground-breaking partnership with Quantex Research Corporation, in order to access that company’s innovative Coal-To-Liquids (CTL) technology. The bottom line, - Westcore Energy’s vision is to not just mine coal, but to convert that coal to synthetic

crude oil and other elevated carbon products using Quantex’s fascinating and innovative CTL technology.

“It’s about taking an old-world resource like coal– historically considered a ‘dirty’ way to produce energy, and developing advanced products while leaving a comparatively small carbon footprint. Liquified coal is well posi-tioned to make a valuable contribution to the energy needs of a fossil fuel hungry world.” continues Taylor. “The entire concept is so new – it’s not been done on a commercial scale anywhere on the globe. We’re beyond excited about the possibilities.”

When it comes to the exploration side of coal, Westcore Energy Ltd is not lagging behind either. “Westcore is extremely excited for our near, medium and long term prospects, says Shane Shircliff, Chief Operating Officer. “In the near future, we plan to release a maid-en resource based on work completed to date on our coal exploration properties, including results from our highly successful winter drill-ing program. We are also looking forward to completing additional drill programs to define and expand the resource.”

Most importantly, the CTL process is ultra-

Westcore Energy has a vision for the future of energy

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clean and environmentally friendly.The company’s head office is in Saskatoon.“It seems almost too good to be true –

except it’s very real, and we’re very excited about it,” says Taylor. “Our goal is to bring

this into reality for Saskatchewan, shedding much positive light on our province’s energy potential, and the innovation and forward thinking that causes Saskatchewan to con-tinue to shine.”





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PC_SKE_1_3_ClearDay_0423_ESaskatoon ExpressInsertion Dates: April 23, 2012 (1/3 Page) 5.08"w x 10"d

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OUTPUT FROM HIRES PDF – FINAL PASS – APRIL 18, 2012

On a clear day we can see

the year 2050. We’re more than just a global company that’s helping feed a

future that will be home to 9 billion people by the year 2050.

We’re a local company that’s investing in communities, like ours,

to help feed a future with smarter schools, healthier hospitals

and a better way of life, for everyone. Simply put, the harder

we work underground, the brighter Saskatchewan’s future

looks above it. To learn more about what we’re doing in our

community, and around the world, visit us at potashcorp.com.

ML40566.D23Mary

Opportunity on a big scale?

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For Saskatoon’s family-owned Indus-trial Machine & Mfg. Inc., there is no job too big or too small. From tiny plastic musical instruments to 39,000-pound farm and mining equipment, the work done at IMM is customized.

IMM specializes in offering innova-tive solutions to customers that come from a variety of different sectors and trades.

IMM Human Resources Manager Lina Foster says the difference between custom manufacturing and produc-tion manufacturing is that the custom manufacturing done at IMM is “different each and every time. Repeat work for us might be that we would see it once ev-ery two years or once a year, as opposed to the same thing within your work day.

“In production manufacturing, any-one that produces something, say a car, it goes through a line and you are going to make 5,000 of this and 5,000 of that. You will have 5,000 identical cars at the end of it.’’

She says it is quite different at IMM.“Customers will come in and say they

need you to make the large scoop for a front-end loader or a bucket scoop the size a man could easily stand inside. The next day it might be ‘we need you to make a centrifuge for a potash mine.’ The work is highly specialized.”

IMM has been in existence since 1956, with the Foster family taking ownership of the company in the 1970s, when it was purchased by Perry Foster.

Perry’s son, Tom Foster, is the current president. Tom’s brother Craig recently retired from the company. Lina Foster is the manager of human resources.

The company currently employs ap-proximately 80 people, mainly in skilled trades. Individuals that specialize in computer numerical controlled machin-ing are always in high demand, Lina Foster said.

She said IMM’s main customers come from a number of different sectors, including mining, oil and gas, power generation and agriculture equipment producers.

IMM’s work is not limited to custom production for these industries, and also includes a job-shop approach, as well as service and repair.

Foster says that “(IMM) has always been around to provide service work. We also do a large component of ser-vice and repair work for the big indus-tries, the mines and oil and gas, as well as being able to assist with all of the expansions that are happening.”

Foster said the job-shop experience may include customers coming in with a specific part and asking for IMM to duplicate it. This often is a farmer whose equipment has broken down.

“One of the things we recognize is that a farmer is a manufacturer just as we are. If one of our machines goes down, we know what that does to our internal work and it’s the same thing with the farmer. If a piece of equipment

for him goes down, it causes delays and loss, so we take a serious look at it.”

Assessing and responding to the spe-cific needs of the customer is essential to IMM.

“That’s the whole point of custom,’’ Foster said. “We try to have the special-

ized individual who can take a look at whatever comes in front of him and can produce it as efficiently as possible. Then, our job is to pull back and look at the whole system process and how we can incorporate it into our current work flow.”

Tom Foster (centre) is the president of Industrial Machine & Mfg. Inc. (photo supplied)

IMM specializes in offering innovative solutions





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MA70311.D23Meagan

Saskatchewan is becoming known around the globe as a growing miner-als and mining powerhouse — and that means bright job prospects for those with the right skills, knowledge and training.

“Demand for highly trained workers for Saskatchewan’s mining and miner-als industry is growing by leaps and bounds,” said Ernie Barber, U of S dean of engineering. “And the University of Saskatchewan is gearing up to be ready to help meet those critical needs for training, research and innovation.”

The province’s minerals industry is ex-pected to invest more than $43 billion in the setup or expansion of mines over the next 20 years, he noted.

Forecasts are that the industry will need 15,100 trained people by 2021, according to the 2011 Mining Industry Human Resources Council report on Saskatchewan mining industry needs. Of these, 975 people will be needed in the professions and physical sciences, including 745 engineers, of which 145 will be mining engineers. At present, some mining companies have had to recruit mining engineer graduates from other provinces to meet their needs.

“Industry growth will result in a high demand for workers at all levels of employment in a wide range of fields,” said Barber. “To address this need, the

U of S is investing in Saskatchewan’s future by working with other educational institutions in the province to define our capacity to develop graduates in a full range of disciplines.”

The college has struck a task force to look at ways that its academic program-ming and research can better prepare students for careers in the mining sector. The first area of focus is a mining op-tion consisting of undergraduate classes targetted at geological engineering students. This initiative may be expanded to create similar mining options in other engineering undergraduate programs such as mechanical, chemical, and elec-trical engineering. A full degree program may be considered over the next few years.

While the proposed option in geo-

logical engineering still needs academic approval, six courses are being created for the first mining option — two already exist in the geological sciences and four will be new. Third-year geological engineering students could then decide either to take this mining option or the traditional program stream, graduating with a geological engineering degree in

either case.The process of re-thinking how best

to integrate mining options into the curriculum began back in 2008, says Jim Kells, U of S department head of civil and geological engineering, who is currently developing the first mining programming option.

U of S trains engineers for a bright future

U of S geological engineering researcher Chris Hawkes puts rocks under intense

pressure to simulate conditions deep un-derground to help predict how rock masses respond to mining activities. (Photo: U of S)

University of Saskatchewan geological en-gineering students pause for a group photo

on their way to a mine near Golden, B.C., as part of their field school training.

(Photo: University of Saskatchewan.)

“Some representatives from the Sas-katchewan Mining Association (SMA) came to the department,” explains Kells. “They said, ‘Business is so in demand, and we’d like to see the training for geological engineering students tweaked a bit so students better fit into the indus-try.’”

Kells and a colleague prepared a proposal in the summer of 2009, and the SMA and industry welcomed it.

Two of the new courses in the geo-logical engineering mining option have been developed, with the first offered beginning in January 2010: Introduc-tion to Mining and Mineral Processing. Kells says the response has been very positive, with geological, chemical, and mechanical engineering students taking the course. In each of its three offerings to date, more than 30 students have been enrolled.

“The first time we offered it, we made 25 spots available and those were filled in 10 minutes after registration opened,” Kells recalls. “We then expanded the enrollment limit to 40 students and the remaining seats were taken up in another 10 minutes. It was a fantastic response!”

Kells began working this past fall on a second new course, Mine Ventilation, which he says is attracting geological and mechanical engineering students. The course was launched this past November,

Grassland Environ-mental Inc. has been providing practical and effective environmental consulting services to the oil and gas industry in Saskatchewan for 10 years. They offer technical expertise in a range of environmental consulting services to provide innovative solu-tions for their mining clients’ unique environ-mental and regulatory requirements, maintaining excellent relationships within the industry and government.

With a brand new office in Saskatoon, as well as a home office in Kindersley, Saskatch-ewan and in strategic locations throughout Western Canada, Grassland’s regional expertise and the balanced perspective with which they approach projects is sharply focused on their clients’ unique needs.

“We’re about balancing environmental, and social responsibilities while achieving and exceeding your business goals,” says company president Trent Klarenbach. “Simply put, at Grassland, what we do is who we are – be-cause it’s where we came from.” Klarenbach’s own extensive experience managing projects, specializing in oil and gas projects requiring en-vironmental approval and environmental moni-

toring of projects located on the AESB (PFRA) Community Pastures, drives his success leading the company.

Grassland En-vironmental Inc.’s corporate vision is to offer leading, top-quality environmen-tal solutions for the

upstream oil and gas industry while demonstrat-ing sound corporate ethics, excellence in safety, and commitment to environmental responsibil-ity. The company offers cost-effective environ-mental services for a variety of clients through-out Alberta and Saskatchewan.

“Successful exploration and development de-mands a balanced, productive partnership of in-dustry and government,” continues Klarenbach. “Grassland combines professional, scientific knowledge of the environmental regulations to grow these partnerships and developments.”

Grassland Environmental Inc. routinely provides a wide variety of planning services, including environmental impact assessments, environmental oil and gas proposals, site and route selection consultations, site Assessments and remediation, and construction and reclama-tion plans. The also provide crucial regulatory compliance services such as federal and provin-

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(continued on A19)





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MA70302.D23Meagan

Engineers shape the future.

Studio

Ambitio

Prestigio

Curio

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us

us

usus

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usAdventuroENGINEERING

100 YEARS

Whether it’s developing safer mining methods, designing a new motor or manufacturing a faster computer system, engineers make discoveries and turn them into real-world applications.

The U of S College of Engineering is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year. For more information visit engr.usask.ca.

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Now Hiring Journeymen Tradesmen with Industrial Experience for Saskatchewan Based Projects

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Monad Industrial Constructors Inc. is a diversified general industrial construction company serving the oil and gas, petrochemical, and mining industries. Our strong track record is built on our builders: the men and women in the field. We take great pride in providing our employees with career opportunities unmatched by our competitors. Monad has a strong and proven history of recruiting, training, and growing the best builders in Western Canada.

MA70319.D23Meagan

taught by a sessional lecturer from potash com-pany Mosaic. On the first day of registration, the class was again filled within minutes, surpassing the 25-seat limit.

“The mining industry is happy we’re address-ing their needs,” he says.

An exciting part of the mining option is the opportunity to col-laborate with other in-stitutions. The college is exploring a partner-ship with Queen’s University, in part because Queen’s has a drilling and blasting test facility. Kells isn’t sure what that partner-ship will look like, but it could involve U of S students taking the course at Queen’s or going to Queen’s for the practicum portion.

The U of S is also working with the Saskatche-wan government and partners in the private and post-secondary sectors to develop a proposed provincial institute for innovative training and research related to mining, said dean Barber.

“With our state-of-the art research facilities and broad expertise, the University of Saskatch-

ewan is uniquely positioned to contribute the innovative thinking and partnership building required to pursue opportunities related to en-ergy and minerals — a signature area of U of S research,” he said.

Research is critical to the mining industry’s future success, said Barber. “Our U of S re-search community has a long history of con-tributions relevant to the minerals industry, including advanced analytical techniques such as synchrotron-based tools; develop-ing standard models of precious metal deposit formation; toxicology research to mitigate environmental effects of mining activity; and public policy research to inform socially responsible business practices,” he said.

With all the excite-ment around the industry, Kells says there have never been more opportunities for engineering students than in the last five years.

“It’s fun to teach the students, and it’s really exciting to know they have great job opportuni-ties right outside the door here in Saskatchewan when they have finished their studies.”

University of Saskatchewan geological engineering students visit an under-

ground mine site near Revelstoke, B.C. as part of their field school training.

(photo: University of Saskatchewan.)

(continued from A18)

U of S trains engineers for a bright future

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