The mining community from Sudbury and abroad came together from Oct. 9 to 11 to talk about soft skills and healthy workplaces at the inaugural Mining Engagement Conference for Advancement (MECA) Symposium.
The event, which was hosted in conjunction with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), aims to create an environment where people could further their personal advancement and contribute to the growth of their organization.
After delegates convened at Science North for a first-day meet-and-greet, the agenda featured interactive workshops, a panel discussion on employee engagement, a keynote speech by Stephen de Jong from Vancouver's VRIFY, field tours to SNOLAB and Creighton Mine, and a guided geological tour of Sudbury.
The symposium comes at an interesting time as many industry professionals are worried about access to key talent in the future.
Opening speaker Ian Pearce, director of Nexa Resources, addressed the massive and profound change that will happen in the mining industry in terms of what kinds of jobs will be available and the pressures of an aging workforce. He advocated for more diversity, leadership and collaboration in the industry.
The event included a celebratory gala on Oct. 10.
