RED LAKE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE
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mine jobs

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.

Listed below are some common departments/divisions and occupations in the mining industry.

Underground (equipment operators)
  • Occupations: hard rock miner (drill operator), mucker, crusher, hoistman (hoist operator), cage/skip tender, mechanic, timberman, haul truck drivers, blaster/loader, control room technician, long-hole supervisor
Engineering
  • Occupations: mining engineer, mine technician, civil engineer, mechanical engineer, mineral process engineer, electrical engineer, ventilation technician, surveyor
Exploration
  • Occupations: geologist, surveyor, geo-technician, mining engineer, map technician
Mineral Processing
  • Occupations: mill worker, mill manager, mill clerk, assayer, lab technician, mineral process engineer, mill labourer, refiner, waste manager, control room technician
Picture
Alex Kostynuk (left) and co-workers working the crusher at Howey Gold Mines, 1937
Picture
Jim Cook standing by the disc filters that he operated at the Howey Gold Mines mill, 1930
Picture
Maintenance worker at Red Lake Gold Mines - Photo courtesy of Goldcorp
Picture
Environmental testing at Balmer Lake - Photo courtesy of Goldcorp
Maintenance
  • Occupations: mechanic, mechanical engineer, electrician, electrical engineer, maintenance superintendent, maintenance supervisor, welder, millwright, heavy equipment technician, fire system technician
Operations
  • Occupations: mine manager, mine superintendent, operations manager, mining engineer, vice president, CEO, mine president, instrumentation and control maintenance technician, underground general foreman
Construction
  • Occupations: sawmill operator, shaft sinker, timberman, construction worker, civil engineer
Health and Safety
  • Occupations: industrial hygienist, training officer, health and safety coordinator, health and safety officer
Environmental
  • Occupations: environmental technician, environmental biologist, hydrologist, waste management technician
Office (Administration, Information Technology and Public Relations)
  • Occupations: secretary, accountant, community relations officer, marketing manager, mining technology analyst, IT specialist
Miscellaneous
  • Occupations: general labourer, security guard, facility technician, warehouse operator

From the File Room...
Picture
1947 Hasaga Gold Mines wage rates - Miners' pay would be supplemented by a bonus system based off of how many feet they drilled.
Picture
1950 Starratt-Olsen Gold Mines wage rates


Timeline
Historic Red Lake Mining
Red Lake Geology
The Red Lake Gold Rushes
From Hudson to Headframe
Community Development
Commerce
Education
Medicine
Recreation
Mining Practices
Going Underground
Equipment
Extraction
Milling
The Mill Process
Safety
Refuge Station
Mine Rescue
Health Issues
Jobs
Contemporary Red Lake Mining
Environment
Labour
Innovation
Exploration
Indigenous Rights
Gold Prices
Mining and Exploration Companies
Goldcorp Inc.
Rubicon Minerals
Premier Gold Mines
Pure Gold Mining
Rimini Exploration & Consulting
Other Mining & Exploration Companies
Glossary
Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre
51A Highway 105 P.O. Box 64
Red Lake, ON, Canada
P0V 2M0
807-727-3006
heritage@redlake.ca
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The Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre is a charitable organization, funded by the Municipality of Red Lake, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, and through fundraising activities. Reg # 87315 2714 RR001.

  • Home
  • Heritage Online
    • Puzzles
    • Podcast
    • Online Programming >
      • Bannock
      • Comics: Narratives in Transition
      • Dream Catchers
      • Eco Printing
      • Flower Pounding
      • Fur Trade
      • Mushrooms
      • Pysanky
      • Suncatchers
      • Wild Teas
      • Woodland Art
  • Exhibitions and Events
    • Red Lake Speaker Series
    • Current Exhibits
    • Past Exhibits >
      • SouthPaw Photography
      • EZHI NAMANG: HOW WE SEE IT
      • Red Lake on the Move
      • Fish Stories
      • Red Lake Art Show 2016
      • Red Lake Art Show 2017
      • Red Lake Art Show 2018
      • Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
      • Fire People >
        • Fire 14-1
        • Fire 14-2
  • History
    • Red Lake History
    • Aviation History
    • Immigration
    • Residential Schools
    • Heritage Centre History
    • Red Lake District Souvenir Record
  • Gift Shop
    • Accessories >
      • Jewellery
      • Key Holders
      • Purses, Wallets & Bags
    • Local Artists >
      • Rhonda Beckman
      • Valerie Blab
      • Kaila Erb
      • Lauren Furman
      • Patrick Hunter
      • Aaron LeBlanc
      • Amy Newport
      • Hidehiro Otake
      • Mark Nadjiwan
      • Sara Ramer-Dean
      • Rebecca Saikkonen
      • Wendy Yutzy
    • Books & DVDs
    • Cards
    • Clothing >
      • Scarves & Hats
      • T-Shirts
      • Long Sleeves
      • Socks
    • Home & Kitchen >
      • Glassware
      • Home Décor
      • Kitchen
      • Mugs
    • Glass Ornaments
    • Magnets
    • Miscellaneous
    • Norval Morrisseau Designs
  • Support
    • Volunteering
    • Memberships
    • Donor Wall
  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Services
    • Our Mission
    • Collections Policy
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Staff & Board
  • Mailing List
  • Mining Map
  • Donate Now