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An underground scoop-tram from De Beers’ Snap Lake Mine has found a new life training the next generation of underground miners in the Northwest Territories and is helping keep a successful training program going.

The piece of equipment, valued at over $110,000, is one of three pieces of mining equipment donated this year by NWT diamond mines to support the NWT Mine Training Society’s (MTS) underground miner training program. The scoop was no longer suitable to continue loading kimberlite ore into haul trucks underground at Snap Lake, but is perfect for trainees who met with De Beers Canada Chief Operating Officer Glen Koropchuk at a recent ceremony, pictured above.

“Without the donation of this equipment Aurora College would not have been able to continue the delivery of our underground miner program,” Jane Arychuk, president of Aurora College. “This group of students and our future students would not have been able to get the real life, hands-on training that we’ve been able to offer and has become a trademark of the program.”

The donated equipment means the MTS and Aurora College will no longer have to lease mining equipment for the 12-week program, saving $300,000.

“It’s because of that partnership that everyone comes to the table and says, 'How can we help? How can we make it work for you?'” said Hilary Jones, MTS General Manager.

De Beers Canada is pleased that the equipment has found a new life and will help build the skills needed at for NWT residents to find work at Snap Lake and other mines.

From 2008-2014, De Beers has hired 34 graduates of the MTS underground miner program into training positions at Snap Lake Mine. Of these 13 continue to work at the mine.