While the industry may have its share of controversy, a mining exhibition aims to show just how important it is to day-to-day life.
Rockex Mining Corporation vice-president of corporate affairs Tammy Lehtinen said mining day is a way to educate youth in Thunder Bay about the role mining plays in everyday life.
“Iron in particular is the fabric of our society. We need iron in structures to build bridges, buildings and automobiles,” Lehtinen said.
“It’s important that kids understand that mining is an industry that sometimes has controversy over destruction of the environment but we need to find a balance and teach kids that it’s an important part of our society.”
The fourth annual Mining Day hosted 25 exhibitors Saturday with different creative and interactive displays and presentations to encourage youth to participate and learn about mining, minerals and geology at Marina Park.
The Rockex Mining booth offered activity sheets titled iron is everywhere. The children were required to circle everything on the sheet they believed to contain iron.
“What they are learning through the activity is that there is only one item on the sheet that doesn’t contain iron and it’s a plastic toothbrush everything else has iron,” Lehtinen said.
The booth also provided samples of ore, which is a magnet-type deposit, for the kids to learn about magnetism. They had the opportunity to hold a magnet over the ore and watch as the ore remained attached.
Lehtinen said Northwestern Ontario is a resource development region, which means the regions economics rely on extracting resources whether it be in forestry, mining or geology.
“I think it’s very important that the youth are educated because these are more than likely the industries they will go into if they stay in this area.”
Mining Day Committee chair Bob Chataway said he anticipates that mining day will inspire youth to study mining.
“We hope to encourage the young kids to think about mining, where the metals and the minerals that we use in everyday life come from,” Chataway said.
Chataway said it’s important to encourage youth to look into mining as a future career because soon the industry will need to pass down the torch to the next generation.