Connecting communities and careers

Working with local communities near our mines and projects means collaborating on both current and future opportunities for personal and career development.

In early June, Grade 8 and Grade 12 students from Attawapiskat First Nation, a remote fly-in/fly-out in northern Ontario dropped by the De Beers corporate office during the annual elementary and high school Graduating Class trips to Toronto.

The students took part in a presentation and Question & Answer session with several De Beers senior staff, including External & Corporate Affairs Director Tom Ormsby. The main presentation highlighted the possible careers available to the students in the mining industry, with an additional focus on opportunities at the De Beers Victor Mine, which is a remote mine 90kms away from the community. Discussion also included education paths lead to the various careers. During his presentation, Ormsby encouraged the students and their teachers to learn more about the Impact Benefit Agreement with Attawapiskat, (one of four the company has with local First Nation communities in the James Bay region), as it contains a wide variety of initiatives offered through De Beers including apprenticeship programs, scholarships, business contracts, job shadowing and other education opportunities.

“Understanding the importance of education to career success is critical for students, especially in the critical years when they are about to enter high or post-secondary institutions,” said Ormsby. “The mining industry offers a range of career paths, from positions such as miners, heavy equipment operators, specific skilled trades and professional pursuits like engineers, geologists and accountants.”

In addition to welcoming the students into the corporate office, De Beers also hosted the Grade 8 students to a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game at the Rogers Centre in downtown – a first-time experience for most of those attending.