New School The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy is unique educational partnership to serve the needs of northern Manitoba communities
T
he Northern Manitoba Mining
University, University College of the North),
itself in its ability to tailor or create specific
Academy (NMMA) is a
industry (Vale and HudBay), Indigenous
on-demand courses and deliver them locally in
new educational institution
peoples in Manitoba (Manitoba Métis
the North.
located in Flin Flon, Manitoba.
Federation and Manitoba Keewatinowi
It is associated with the
Okimakanak), and government (City of Flin
University College of the
Flon, Government of Manitoba, and Northern
North and is specifically intended to serve the needs of the northern Manitoba communities with regards to job creation by providing training in a variety of mining, construction, and exploration related areas. The NMMA’s mission is to provide innovative and responsible solutions for the creation of a knowledgeable, skilled, and sustainable workforce within a vibrant, mineral-rich resource industry. It facilitates strategic training initiatives and research activities in order to strengthen the social, economic, and environmental benefits of a robust mining and resources sector. The NMMA is founded on the bedrock values of: • Excellence in education and research;
Manitoba Sector Council).
The NMMA is also becoming increasingly involved in health-related training, such as training trauma counsellors and response teams that can be located in northern
A central premise for the location of the
communities and be prepared for timely
NMMA in Flin Flon is proximity to the potential
and effective intervention. This is an area of
students, many of whom come from northern
increasing importance and growth for the
communities and for whom travel and
academy.
accommodation in the south, for instance Winnipeg, is prohibitively expensive. Proximity to the students’ community, but also video conferencing capabilities, accessible through the UCN, are major factors in providing education to those who mostly need it in the best possible conditions. From this point of view, accommodating students at a minimal or no charge is the next challenge that would allow the NMMA to grow and better serve its students. The academy is in the process of
NMMA is hosted in its own building, adjacent to the HudBay Minerals mining complex and next door to the University College of the North, Flin Flon Regional Centre. It boasts several classrooms, chemical and computer labs, sample preparation facilities, underground mining heavy equipment simulator, and an assortment of geological microscopes. A full list of facilities and equipment is available on the NMMA’s website at miningacademy.ca.
securing funding for a modern, comfortable,
The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy also
and friendly accommodation right on its
provides access to its world-class facilities for
premises with a planned opening of the
field-based undergraduate courses, as well
residence in early 2017. The NMMA is actively
as graduate students and researchers doing
reaching to people in the North as they are the
field work. Full sample preparation facilities are
people most aware of their wants and needs
offered to students and scientists in all natural
and of what it takes to live and work in the
and environmental sciences.
north.
The NMMA is a unique educational partnership
In terms of education, NMMA offers its own
with the specific purpose to serve the needs of
programs, mostly short courses in health and
northern Manitoba communities in providing
safety, courses organized by the University
practical trades training in very close proximity
College of the North (wilderness safety,
to where potential students are. The NMMA is
prospecting, and exploration), and courses
actively reaching to the northern communities
organized in association with the Manitoba
and residents and proactively helping them
sustainable workforce within a vibrant,
Heavy Construction Association. However, the
become stronger; it is also paying heed to
mineral-rich resource industry.
• Dedication to finding solutions to real world problems; • Respect, celebration and diversity of our students, communities and services; • Reducing the environmental footprint of all that we do and all that we leave for the future; • Prudent use of financial, capital and human resources; • Maximizing social, economic and ecological benefits in a manner benefiting all; • Providing innovative and responsive solutions; and • Creating a knowledgeable, skilled and
programming is not limited to those courses
the wants and needs of northern Manitoba
The NMMA operates as a wide-ranging
already on the syllabus. The NMMA operates
residents. The academy is growing fast and
partnership between academia (University of
on open-doors policy and welcomes people
is ambitious in its aim to serve northern
Manitoba, University of Winnipeg, Brandon
with their unique and diverse needs; it prides
Manitoba in its job creation endeavours. ® Manitoba Mining Review 2016-2017
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