Scholarship Programs Providing Unprecedented Support for Students in Mining-Related Post-Secondary Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, ON, December 7, 2023 – To help address drastic enrolment decreases in mining-related post-secondary programs, the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) has invested $2 million in funding from its Mining Sector Skills and Solutions Strategy for the Clean Economy (M4S) project to deliver a one-time Financial Scholarship Support Program for students enrolled in the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 semesters.
Educational and training institutions were able to apply for financial support in the form of scholarships, grants and/or bursaries of up to $10,000 per student – to a maximum of $100,000 per institution. With an overwhelming response from applicants, the program’s $2 million in funding is currently being distributed to support an expected number of over 1000 students on their journeys to rewarding careers in mining.
“The federal government’s funding of M4S through Employment and Social Development Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP) demonstrates the importance of mining to the Government of Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy and recognition that the sector is facing a people crisis,” said MiHR’s Executive Director Ryan Montpellier. “In order for Canada’s mining industry to support the transition to a clean economy, the sector needs a robust pipeline of qualified and skilled workers to support expansion and avoid ongoing labour shortages. Yet, Canada’s mining talent pipeline is shrinking. Post-secondary enrollment declined from 2015 to 2020 in the three types of engineering most closely associated with mining, with materials and metallurgical engineering declining by 7%, mining or mineral engineering by 41% and geological engineering by 29%. The Financial Scholarship Support Program shows students they are supported in mining programs and that they can help Canada be the world leader in safe, sustainable mining.”
MiHR is also pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of its five-year I Chose Mining. Mining Chose Me Scholarship, which was established in 2021 to celebrate MiHR’s 25th anniversary and award a total of 10 $2,500 scholarships to post-secondary students in mining-related programs over five fiscal years.
This year’s recipients are Rebecca Randall, a third year BASC Mining Engineering, Mineral Processing Option student at Queen’s University and Raiyana Umar, a fourth year Chemical Engineering student at Laurentian University.
“I am truly grateful for being awarded MiHR’s 25th Anniversary Scholarship,” said Rebecca Randall. “My sincere thanks extend to the Scholarship Selection Committee and the entire MiHR team for their contributions in making this scholarship possible. I am enthusiastic about being able to put these funds towards bettering my undergraduate experience and enhancing my education and career in the mining industry.”
“I am grateful to have found my passion in the mining industry through which I can pursue my engineering dream and give back to the country that welcomed me with open arms,” said Raiyana Umar. “Thank you to MiHR for recognizing my potential and investing in my education. I hope my story inspires young women to pursue their engineering passion and not be limited by societal stereotypes.”
“We congratulate Rebecca and Raiyana on their well-earned scholarship,” said Montpellier. “There are abundant employment prospects in mining for young individuals, and Rebecca and Raiyana are poised to have successful careers and to greatly contribute to the advancement of Canada’s mining industry.”
More information about Rebecca and Raiyana can be found at MiningNeedsYou.ca.
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About the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR)
MiHR is Canada’s knowledge centre for mining labour market information. An independent, non-profit organization, MiHR leads collaboration among mining and exploration companies, organized labour, contractors, educational institutions, industry associations and Indigenous groups to identify opportunities and address the human resource and labour market challenges facing the Canadian minerals and metals sector.
For more information, please contact:
William Meyer
Director, Marketing and Communications
The Mining Industry Human Resources Council
613.270.9696 x 58
wmeyer@mihr.ca
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