Inclusivity, opportunity and partnership examined as CIM 2014 Convention explores "Mining 4 Everyone"

VANCOUVER, May 6, 2014 /CNW/ - "Mining 4 Everyone" will be a hot topic of discussion and debate at the upcoming CIM 2014 Convention taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre from May 11 to 14. The convention, put on by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), is expected to attract over 6,000 mining industry participants from Canada and around the globe.  

"A staggering 140,000 new workers will be required in the minerals industry by the year 2020," said CIM President Robert Schafer, Executive Vice-President, Business Development at Hunter Dickinson Inc. "We hope that the opportunities uncovered and the discussions sparked during the Convention will give mining practitioners and stakeholders the inspiration and the tools to successfully engage and enlist a highly qualified and diverse workforce to our industry."

CIM 2014's three-day, six-stream technical program will kick off with a provocative Plenary session examining the convention's theme, moderated by Gemini Award-winning CBC journalist Mark Kelley, and will be opened by the Honourable Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women. "Our Government is creating jobs and long-term prosperity for Canadians through programs such as the new Canada Job Grant, the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy and the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities," said Minister Leitch. "Through such programs, we have a tremendous opportunity to fill our skills and labour shortages and improve the economic future for all Canadians."

The distinguished panel will also include a diverse lineup of industry leaders including Eira Thompson, CEO at Kaminak Gold Corporation; Oumar Toguyeni, Regional Vice-President, West Africa, IAMGOLD; Edward (Ted) Thomas, Senior Advisor, Policy, Innovation and Partnerships, CARE and Senior Advisor at the Devonshire Initiative; and Alice Wong, Senior Vice-President and Chief Corporate Officer, CAMECO.

The Technical Program will feature six streams including: Global Dimensions of Mining; Innovations; Harnessing our Diverse World; Managing Operations: Mine to Mill; Rock Engineering and Mine Design; a Management and Finance Day; and, for the first time, the Ethics in Mining Symposium, held in partnership with the Canadian Business Ethics Research Network (CBERN).

The EXPO!: Held in conjunction with the event the 31^st instalment of The EXPO! – Canada's mining marketplace will host 490+ exhibiting companies featuring the latest in mining equipment, tools, technologies and services.

M4S: Once again this year CIM will also welcome an anticipated 4,000 students, teachers and members of the general public to the ever-popular M4S (Mining 4 Society) educational show on mining, minerals, metals and materials, which will be officially opened on Sunday, May 11. M4S showcases the variety of careers directly and indirectly available in the mining industry and endeavours to increase participants' knowledge of the entire mining cycle utilizing interactive activities featured at a variety of thematic pavilions. Members of the general public are invited to attend the opening day event free of charge, which will take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Sunday, May 11 from 10:00 to 4:00.

BC Mining Week is also happening concurrently with the CIM Convention in Vancouver. Karina Briño, president and CEO of the Mining Association of B.C., will take part in the opening of the convention and give a short statement about Mining Week, which will run from May 11 to 17.

There will be a Press Room available on site at the CIM Convention for registered press representatives. Press interested in attending the event are invited to register online at CIM 2014 Convention – Media Centre

SOURCE: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)

Zoe Koulouris, CIM Communications Coordinator, [email protected], [phone]