While underground miner is the most commonly thought of a career in mining, the industry has over a hundred different career paths. From hoistman to mill manager to community relations officers, every position is imperative for a successful mine.
Early on, only a few mining jobs required extensive post-secondary training. The majority of the positions were trades that required apprenticeships or on the job training. The mine was a hands-on learning environment, with new employees (especially miners) learning the needed skills from a more experienced worker. The Red Lake mines also hired high school students during the summer to help with general labour and miscellaneous tasks around the mine. Miner's children often filled the summer positions, which served as an introduction to the mining industry. Many of the miners featured in the videos throughout the exhibition started out working these summer jobs.
As the mining industry changed and technology and practices advanced, the mines provided more training employees. Today, almost all of the positions in the mining industry require some external education. Examples include university or college degrees or specialized programs like Red Lake Gold Mines’ Stope School.
Early on, only a few mining jobs required extensive post-secondary training. The majority of the positions were trades that required apprenticeships or on the job training. The mine was a hands-on learning environment, with new employees (especially miners) learning the needed skills from a more experienced worker. The Red Lake mines also hired high school students during the summer to help with general labour and miscellaneous tasks around the mine. Miner's children often filled the summer positions, which served as an introduction to the mining industry. Many of the miners featured in the videos throughout the exhibition started out working these summer jobs.
As the mining industry changed and technology and practices advanced, the mines provided more training employees. Today, almost all of the positions in the mining industry require some external education. Examples include university or college degrees or specialized programs like Red Lake Gold Mines’ Stope School.
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Listed below are some common departments/divisions and occupations in the mining industry.
Underground (equipment operators)
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Alex Kostynuk (left) and co-workers working the crusher at Howey Gold Mines, 1937
Jim Cook standing by the disc filters that he operated at the Howey Gold Mines mill, 1930
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Maintenance worker at Red Lake Gold Mines - Photo courtesy of Goldcorp
Environmental testing at Balmer Lake - Photo courtesy of Goldcorp
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Maintenance
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From the File Room...
1947 Hasaga Gold Mines wage rates - Miners' pay would be supplemented by a bonus system based off of how many feet they drilled.
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1950 Starratt-Olsen Gold Mines wage rates
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