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Since 2013, 64 members of Indigenous communities in the James Bay region of Ontario have been able to experience a variety of career opportunities thanks to De Beers Victor Mine’s training pipeline.

The program is designed to have 10 community trainees at the mine at all times. The contracts last six months, but are frequently extended and often result in full-time permanent positions at the mine. It’s meant as a way for community residents to see experience first-hand careers in mining and if it’s a match for their skills and interests.

Over the past year, 17 trainees have been recruited and a posting for two additional trainees has just gone out. Of the trainees hired this year, three have been promoted to full-time permanent positions and four were hired into temp/seasonal roles – which are higher paying positions and puts them in line for potential full-time positions that open up. The positions are only available to members of Attawapiskat, Kashechewan, Moose Cree and Fort Albany First Nations.

The pipeline has proven beneficial for Amanda Friday, a member of the Kashechewan First Nation, who took up a training position in the process plant in 2014 following a summer job at the mine.

“When I first walked in I was intimidated – I saw pipes, conveyors, screens … and there was lots of noise,” she said. “Now I’m going into the recovery section of the process which is the final step in learning all the circuits of the plant. I’m really comfortable in the plant and training people in the plant as well.”

Amanda said she had never imagined herself working at a mine site. Since being hired on, she has worked her way up through five levels of process plant training.