Wealth of mineral and leadership assets helping Sudbury thrive
Enhancing diversity in the workforce, including welcoming women, can help to create better outcomes for the mining sector and associated industries. istock.com
From infrastructure and machinery to technology and health, many of the fundamentals of our modern life rely on metals and minerals.
Canada has long been recognized as a leading mining nation and host to a minerals sector that continuously advances exploration, mining and related support activities. In producing 60 minerals and metals, the industry continues to drive job creation and economic activity in every region, yet it has also been subject to a number of changes over the past decade.
“We’ve seen some ups and downs in the industry due to changing conditions – for example, in supply and demand and economic trends,” says Alex Christopher, president of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community. “However, there are exciting efforts in research, development and innovation that are making the sector stronger, and Canada is also leading the world in exploration and development financing.”
“We used to point to stainless steel sinks as examples of what comes out of Sudbury. How cool is it to be able to tell your kids that nifty tools like phones and cars also rely on local materials? ”
As a third-generation family member working in mining, Lori Martin is happy to report that her daughter will potentially follow in her footsteps.
Not only does the mining industry offer a wealth of rewarding career choices, especially in her home base of Greater Sudbury, it will grow even stronger when more women are involved, believes Ms. Martin, president of Women in Mining Sudbury, a non-profit organization with the mission to educate, elevate and empower women in mining and affiliated industries.
“I take a lot of pride in teaching my kids about the business of mining,” she says. “I tell them that the metals in their phone and the batteries in our Tesla all come from the ground, and that the women and men working in the field are committed to extracting these metals safely.
“It’s important to know where the metals in our lives come from, and many of them come from here, from Sudbury.”
Sudbury’s connections to mining have created a “strong culture where you can have good conversations about what’s going on in the industry,” and Ms. Martin sees such conditions as a perfect launching pad for making the sector “more diverse and reflective of our community.” She is counting on Sudbury’s reputation for attracting forward-thinking industry professionals, some of whom come to join the local workforce while others come to learn.
“We regularly invite and host delegations from Canada and abroad who are interested in our robust ecosystem,” says Meredith Armstrong, director of economic development, Greater Sudbury. “They want to learn about best practices, technologies and achievements, and they come away admiring how all the parts fit together.”
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Leading the green economy transition
A recent conference about electric vehicles (EVs) generated great interest in Sudbury as “the epicentre of battery electric vehicles and new green technology,” says Ms. Armstrong. “We used to point to stainless steel sinks as examples of what comes out of Sudbury. How cool is it to be able to tell your kids that nifty tools like phones and cars also rely on local materials?”
As captured in the phrase “mines to mobility,” the local infrastructure supports the transition to a clean economy with “everything you need, from minerals like nickel, copper, lithium and cobalt, to expertise and brain power,” she explains. “There is a strong demand for ethically sourced EVs, and this puts us in a great position for the future.”
This evolution builds on Sudbury’s long-standing commitment to improve the environmental performance of the industry. Re-greening efforts that started in 1978, for example, have led to a remarkable ecological recovery through liming 2,435 hectares of soil and planting over 10 million seedlings.
The next step? “Reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which is part of our ambitious energy and emissions plan,” says Ms. Armstrong, who adds that leaders are working with a variety of companies and organizations to ensure alignment on these targets, “which also call for increasing the number of electric vehicles, both for consumer and industrial uses, over the next couple of decades.”
ESG champions
Sudbury has long been at the forefront of “improving the industry’s performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) parameters,” says Ms. Armstrong. “We have good and safe practices; we have clean technologies. And we have partners like Vale and Glencore, who have pledged high ESG standards. That’s very important to shareholders across the world.”
This focus has helped to elevate the reputation of Canadian miners for being dedicated to ESG excellence; it has also brought international attention to the city, she says. “We’re up there with the global superstars of mining, especially for our contribution to safe and clean mining.”
The commitment to acting in a socially and environmentally responsible manner may also enhance the appeal of the sector for potential employees. “We’re working hard with our local mining as well as supply and service organizations to attract staffing resources with a variety of backgrounds, from skilled trades to professional credentials,” notes Ms. Armstrong. “We need lots of people, so of course we want to encourage more women to enter the field.”
The power of diversity
Women bring different sets of skills and perspectives that can help to enhance outcomes, says Ms. Martin. “There’s a business case to be made for having a balanced workforce, one that is representative of the community.”
For example, studies show that companies with a diverse workforce outperform their counterparts on financial, safety and innovation parameters. They also boast a more goal-oriented workplace culture, she explains. “The number of women in mining is still pretty low, so we want to facilitate a conversation about diversity and inclusion, and enhance access to mentorship, scholarships and networking opportunities.”
Women in Mining is working with industry and community partners as well as educational institutions to raise the profile of the sector “as a safe and welcoming place for everyone,” she says. “We see so much innovation, automation and ergonomic improvement that mining is no longer such a physical job.”
Ms. Armstrong adds that career opportunities also extend to the mining supply and service industries “that offer excellent jobs and transferable skills.”
Fertile ground for growth
Consider the rich ecosystem of economic potential in conjunction with a discussion about safety, equity and sustainability, and it’s no wonder that Sudbury, with a population of 165,000, is a desirable place to live and work.
“According to recent census data, we’re the only city in Northern Ontario that is growing,” says Ms. Armstrong. “That’s because of our strong combination of assets: great jobs, an accessible housing market and many amenities, including about 330 lakes, which all add up to a high quality of life.”
Ms. Martin, who has grown up and obtained her education locally, agrees. “Pursuing my career in Sudbury has allowed me to travel internationally for work while having a home base that has a strong culture, identity and beauty.”
The City of Greater Sudbury and Women in Mining will join the June 15 celebration of the International Day of Women in Mining at the PDAC 2022 Convention.
More information at pdac.ca, wimcanada.org and investsudbury.ca.
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To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition: Investing in Mining