About MiHR

Ryan Montpellier

Executive Director

Ryan has over 15 years of experience in identifying and addressing human resources and labour market challenges in the Canadian mining industry. Appointed as Executive Director in 2008, he leads all of MiHR’s strategic activities and represents the Council on various industry and government committees and advisory panels. Ryan is a past recipient of the Canadian Institute of Mining – Young Leadership Award and the International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill award. He is a regular speaker and panelist at industry conferences and events and was a past Distinguished Lecturer for the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). Prior to joining MiHR, Ryan held various leadership positions with high-tech companies in the Ottawa region. Ryan holds a number of degrees including an MBA and a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation.

Dana Imbeault

Senior Director, Operations and National Occupational Standards

Dana is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient operation of MiHR’s programs and activities. She also leads a team in the development of a suite of National Occupational Standards to be used by industry to help develop the required skills and competencies of its workforce, and leads the implementation of MiHR’s Canadian Mining Certification Program – a national program that recognizes the expertise of the industry workforce. Dana also provides oversight and guidance on the implementation of MiHR’s Mining Essentials Program: An Essential Skills and Work Readiness Program for Aboriginal Peoples.

William Meyer

Director, Marketing and Communications

William Meyer is responsible for planning and providing strategic direction to effectively promote and build awareness of MiHR and its programs, projects and services. A strategic, results-oriented communications professional, William has nearly 15 years’ experience in the non-profit, association and government sectors – and has served as the head of communications for two industry associations. William also leads the development and implementation of marketing and communications activities that support all aspects of MiHR’s strategic plan.

Leslie Woolcott

Director, Inclusion and Career Development

Leslie manages a team of professionals who carry out programs and projects to increase the mining industry’s ability to attract and retain employees from diverse groups and to increase awareness, interest and improve the perception of mining careers. A strategic corporate leader with extensive human resources management, adult education, and stakeholder engagement experience, Leslie has spearheaded large-scale culture change and capacity-building programs focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, workplace harassment and violence in the education and community sectors. Using collaborative, multi-faceted strategies, Leslie and her team are available to support unique sites, diverse stakeholders, and the overall mining sector.

Pascale Larouche

Director, Training and Workforce Development

Pascale develops and distributes tools that help employers effectively engage with Indigenous peoples. She leads the continued expansion of the Mining Essentials Program through engaging partnerships, and her focus is to increase the participation of Indigenous peoples in the mining industry and assist in building a work-ready and safety conscious Indigenous workforce.

Jamie Wolcott

Chief Labour Market Economist

Jamie is responsible for the continuous intellectual development of MiHR’s labour market research and forecasting for Canada’s mining industry. He has collaborated with numerous industry stakeholders across the country and has been a key contributor to several of MiHR’s research projects. His focus is to identify and understand the primary challenges and opportunities facing in the mining labour market in Canada.

Jennifer Trepanier

Senior Manager, Finance and Administration

Jen is responsible for the day-to-day financial management and administrative operations at MiHR. Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Laurentian University and has over 10 years of experience in accounting and finance. Prior to joining MiHR and the not-for-profit sector, Jen held various intermediate and senior financial analyst positions in the professional service, hospitality and manufacturing industries in Ottawa.

Julie Graves

Manager, Communications

Julie manages and contributes to the development of MiHR’s marketing and communications activities, such as social media campaigns, web material, reports and publications. In addition, Julie also leads MiHR participation at events and monitors media hits and opportunities.

Lindsay Coffin

Senior Researcher

Lindsay is responsible for a number of programs designed to address labour market issues in the mining and mineral exploration sector. With over 10 years’ experience working in the natural resources industry as a geologist focused on national and international exploration projects, Lindsay is designated as a professional geologist in Ontario and holds a B.Sc. in Earth Sciences and Chemistry from Carleton University, a Masters in Earth Sciences from the University of Ottawa and a MBA from Carleton University.

Taylor-Faith Blenkarn

Manager, NOS

Taylor manages the development and maintenance of MiHR’s suite of National Occupational Standards (NOS) defined and validated by the Canadian mining industry. Taylor is responsible for the ongoing implementation of MiHR’s Canadian Mining Certification Program (CMCP), working closely with industry stakeholders to ensure a credible process for the assessment and recognition of the skills, knowledge and experience of mine workers. She leads the development, implementation and testing of new programs and initiatives using MiHR’s suite of National Occupational Standard. She contributes to project proposals, maintains budgets, prepares and executes work plans and compiles reports.

Lindsay Kajiura

Manager, Diversity Initiatives

Lindsay is responsible for implementing projects that support the engagement of all potential sources of labour to develop an inclusive and diversified workforce across the mining sector. She works on the business development and proposal activities around inclusion and diversity opportunities. She participates in building awareness in careers in mining to various audiences including newcomers, Indigenous people, women and youth, and manages engagement with MiHR’s inclusion and diversity programming. Lindsay holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Women’s Studies and brings 4 years of Human Resource experience.

Lorry Fortin

Manager, Diversity and Career Initiatives

Lorry is responsible for the delivery of the Gearing Up program, which brings mining employers, service providers, industry associations and post-secondary institutions together to help shape the next generation of Canada’s mining workers through work-integrated learning opportunities, the removal of workplace barriers, career awareness and outreach, data analysis and sustainability measures. She is bilingual with project management experience in the national and international not-for-profit sector.

Louise Briglio

Training Coordinator

Alex Parsons

Communications Coordinator

Alex coordinates with the communications team to write, edit and design market-ready content for the websites, social media pages and other facets of MiHR’s public face. He is also making MiHR.ca easier and more efficient to navigate.

Gustavo Jurado

Labour Market Economist

Gustavo collaborates in the planning and development of MiHR’s labour market research and forecasting for the Canadian mining industry. He brings experience in e-commerce and data science, having worked in both public and private sectors. His previous projects have focused on understanding the potential impact of automation on the labour market.

Jillian Cox

Office Coordinator

Jill is the Office Coordinator at MiHR and is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the office, staff and project support, as well as managing accounts payable, accounts receivable, and processing expense claims. Jill supports the Council staff by planning, leading, coordinating and organizing a wide range of administrative functions. Jill has a solid background in administrative and office support, coming from a similar role in the electrical utility sector within a large Crown corporation. She holds a Business Administration diploma from Okanagan College and is likely who you will speak to when you call MiHR.