By Brett
Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022
Due to the significant inclement weather forecast for the next 24 hours, there is the potential that some NNDSB schools and NNDSB board offices may be closed on Friday, Dec. 23.
NNDSB staff will continue to monitor the weather so please keep an eye on board communication and be prepared for cancellations and/or closures.
Sincerely,
Near North District School Board
By Brett
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022
Land of Lakes Public School in Burk’s Falls wants all gamers to put their thumbs to good use for a great cause. The school is participating in a unique fundraiser to support the purchase of accessible playground items including a wheelchair swing.
Fundraisers like this are an important tool to help support schools’ efforts to acquire additional equipment for its students.
In partnership with the I Have Resolve Foundation and Wawos charity, Land of Lakes is inviting gamers of all ages and abilities to participate in the Gaming for a Cause video game marathon on Dec. 27.
Entrants can play the video game of their choice and will sign up for 6-, 12- or 18-hour marathon gaming sessions. Participants then collect pledges and donations in support of Land of Lakes’ accessible playground equipment. Students can even earn volunteer hours for their gaming time!
Marathon entrants are invited to form teams to help them stay in the game for the long haul and donors who pledge more than $25 are eligible for a tax receipt.
Visit the Wawos Gaming for a Cause website to sign up, donate, and for more information.
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For more information, please contact:
Brett Hanson
Communications Coordinator
Near North District School Board
By Brett
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022
The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022.
Targeted tutoring supports announced
NNDSB unveiled its tutoring supports programs that are funded through the Ministry of Education’s Plan to Catch Up. Three approaches have been developed that prioritize math, literacy and other foundational learning skills.
Students in NNDSB have access to before- and after-school tutoring, LEARNstyle corrective reading program and small group tutoring that takes place during the school day. More details may be found in this media release.
Enrolment tops 10,000 students
The number of students attending NNDSB schools has topped 10,000 students, higher than pre-pandemic enrolment levels.
Preliminary projections for the 2023-2024 school year indicate the board will see 10,086 students, up from 10,010 this school year. Enrolment dipped a little in 2019 and 2020, then increased in 2021 and 2022.
Improvements made to school trip guidelines
The administrative guideline that oversees the organization of school trips has been improved, with updates regarding the building of quinzees and increased safety measures regarding swimming and water safety.
An extensive package of information, including the safety guidelines, waivers and preparation needed for school outings and activities was included in the Board agenda package.
The update includes a principal/superintendent information and approval form, used to ensure that all safety precautions and Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) guidelines are in place.
This administrative guideline was one of three presented to the Board following a 30-day public consultation process. This process demonstrates the board’s commitment to excellence in communication. Once the public has the opportunity to provide input, staff bring them forward as information items to trustees.
Director provides lengthy report
Director of Education Craig Myles provides a lengthy report to the Board, including students’ participation in various awareness weeks and information sessions provided to NNSDB families.
Students participated in Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. The Director relayed that students engage in various activities and educators are provided resources to create safer spaces for all students. In tandem with the week, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) hosted a webinar about avoiding online sexual exploitation of children. The board’s Parent Involvement Committee hosted Part 1 of its speaker series with an overview of NNDSB’s mental health supports including the SNAP Schools pilot.
The teacher/coach of the hockey skills program that is running in Parry Sound has been working with a teacher coach in Mattawa. The program is to expand there in 2023.
Data that supports positive movement in the area of the board’s multi-year strategic plan (MYSP) in the area of excellence in teaching and learning include that more than 260 staff have completed or are nearing completion of the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation cultural competency training course that has been offered to all staff. Additionally, the board has positioned itself well to address the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read report. The board has taken a proactive approach to systemic learning, with significant investment made in evidence-based reading assessments and instructional resources.
Two new administrative guidelines are posted on the website for public consultation. The first is about gender identity and gender expression, the second is about Theatre Outreach on Stage (TOROS).
Post-consolidation renaming of Chippewa
Trustees received a report about the next phase of the 3:2 consolidation of secondary schools in North Bay, which involves renaming and rebranding.
There is an equity issue that is putting a priority on the renaming and rebranding of Chippewa Secondary School. It has been understood that the former Chippewa mascot is no longer appropriate, yet the school community needs an identity and mascot.
Next steps will follow NNDSB’s administrative guideline on school openings, closures and consolidations; the Director of Education through the Superintendent of Education will establish a naming committee and make a recommendation of a new name.
Multi-year strategic plan update provided
An update from the MYSP committee was included in the agenda package. The committee met Dec. 1, its first since the new Board took office. The update provided data to support program in relation to the four pillars of the MYSP with further information forthcoming next money as part of the committee’s semi-annual report.
Indicators of excellence in teaching and learning include that 2,364 assessments of SK to Grade 2 students for reading have been completed, 91 per cent of Grade 9 students in NNDSB are on track to earn their Grade 9 English credit and 86 per cent of Grade 9 students are on track to earn their Grade 9 math credit.
Indicators of excellence in innovation include 100 per cent employment rate and 33 per cent expansion of the personal support worker (PSW) program, exploration for three more schools across the region to participate in the new hockey skills program, EMHWare program to better track mental health referrals and expanded use of reading and math digital screening tools and learning supports.
Indicators of excellence in relationships include five new partnerships and eight new programs with built-in partnerships including childcare programs, Unlearning Bias and newcomer welcoming.
Indicators of excellence in communication include that NNDSB had 41 good news stories in local and national media outlets since Sept. 1 and a significant increase in page views and engagement on the board’s website and social media platforms.
Update about steps since shaptotuan vandalized
Following an October notice of motion and resolution, a report was presented to trustees that outlined the steps that have been taken since the shaptotuan was vandalized at Parry Sound High School (PSHS) last spring.
Administration is committed to building relationships with First Nation communities.
Since the vandalism occurred, a healing circle has been held and a Knowledge Keeper led a sharing circle for students affected by the vandalism. Actions to support Indigenous student well-being include: the creation of a principal of student achievement and well-being position with an Indigenous education portfolio; a mandatory Grade 11 course, Understanding Contemporary First Nation, Métis and Inuit Voices, was implemented board-wide; a new Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) in arts and culture with an Indigenous studies focus was offered at PSHS; equity lead were implemented in all schools; the Indigenous Youth Circle gathered in person to talk about priorities of its members and a second Indigenous Education Lead Teacher Coordinator was hired.
On-going plans include the provision of culturally safe/appropriate spaces for Indigenous students at PSHS; encouraging youth voice; weekly drop-in sessions for secondary teachers with Indigenous Leads, continued development and nurturing of community partners, the hiring of a west region Indigenous Student Support. Worker and the development of several Indigenous Education administrative guidelines including cultural protocols, Indigenous language and appropriation.
National anthem notice of motion voted down
Trustee Jeanie Fuscaldo filed a notice of motion that requested the playing of the national anthem before all Board meetings. The motion was seconded by Trustee Louise Sargent, which allowed the topic to proceed to discussion.
Trustee Fuscaldo said the national anthem expresses pride in the heritage of people who settled and built Canada, and thought it was an expression of unity. Indigenous Trustee Ashley Ste. Pierre said she was taken aback when she saw the notice of motion; from an Indigenous perspective, the national anthem represents cultural genocide and the requirement that Indigenous people assimilate to what the settlers wanted. She added that playing the national anthem is not the way for the board to move forward, in truth and reconciliation. Indigenous Education Lead Amanda Mathias Mizzi said it may be unifying from a Canadian perspective but fails to acknowledge the nation-to-nation relationship between Canada and First Nations. Director Myles noted that part of his job was to protect NNDSB from being brought into disrepute, and asked trustees to consider the ramifications of their decisions. He said there are ripple effects, including how the decision would be seen by Indigenous students and staff.
After emotional discussion, the question was called, and the motion was voted down.
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Note: the full agenda package is posted on the website prior to meetings, and official minutes are posted after they are approved at the next Board meeting.
For more information, please contact:
Deb Bartlett (she/her)
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
By Brett
Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022
West Ferris students mentored their younger peers at E.T. Carmichael Public School for STEAM Day. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) is a cross-curricular and cross-panel program with a focus on project-based learning using a variety of computer-based technologies.
West Ferris is an Apple Distinguished School, and part of the STEAM program curriculum focuses on running outreach events in-house, and at other schools in the local educational community and across the province.
About 90 STEAM students in Grades 9 and 10 and select senior STEAM students from the Grade 11/12 iCoach course led E.T. Carmichael students in workshops focusing on integrating science, English, math and art with video production, robotics and coding and help to promote 21st-century digital literacy skills.
The iCoach course is designed to leverage the knowledge and skills that STEAM students have cultivated during Grades 9 and 10. Students enrolled in this course help to support the educational community by preparing and facilitating educational technology-related workshops, assisting teachers in planning lessons, and helping students to improve their use of educational technology to enhance their learning.
Brent Yacoback, STEAM Coordinator at West Ferris said, “Outreach events like this help our students to hone their leadership skills while demonstrating their mastery of educational technology. This also gives our students the opportunity to give back to the greater educational community and spread awareness of the importance of learning 21st-century digital literacy skills, like learning to code.”
One of the workshops had E.T. Carmichael students learning a new coding app called Swift Playgrounds. Students started by learning the various functions of the app and progressed to creating characters, instructions and functions with a partner. Finally, students using their coding knowledge to progress their character through a 3D world.
Grade 6 student Trey said, “I liked it, it was really fun. We used strips of paper with commands and put them in an order for our sculpture to follow on the map we had.”
Nichole, also in Grade 6 said “We used Swift Playgrounds and made the character teleport and move to the other side of the map to get the crystal. I thought the
STEAM students made the lesson more fun. I forgot I was learning to code it was so fun.”
The Grade 4/5 class participated in an art/technology project using stop motion animation. The project introduced students to an early film concept that is still used today. Students created their own plasticine or LEGO characters and pieces and a stop motion set. They then used the characters and set to create and film their own storyline.
Grade 4/5 student Floyd said, “Doing stop motion with the STEAM students was a lot of fun. We used the iPad to take pictures and the computer to turn those pictures into a movie. Our movie was about saving animals with our superhero.”
“As a part of the modernizing of the science curriculum, where STEM is emphasized, we actively look for these opportunities to bring enriching experiences to our students here at E.T. Carmichael,” said Principal Jamey Byers. “Developing student 21st century literacy skills, including coding, which I would consider is a means of approaching mathematics across all areas of the curriculum, is also at the forefront of the outreach event. Coding provides students with immediate feedback, is often hands-on, and can be tailored to students’ interests. All of what is being done with this event helps with aligning our goals from school to board to ministry. We are lucky to have this event here for our students and staff, I know the West Ferris STEAM staff have worked hard to organize it.”
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For more information, please contact:
Brett Hanson
Communications Coordinator
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5083
Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca
By Brett
Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022
Trustees of Near North District School Board (NNDSB) approved the initiation of the next phase of the 3:2 North Bay consolidation – the renaming and rebranding of Chippewa Secondary School.
Chippewa will begin the process in order to address the social justice and equity challenges associated with the current name.
Current students and staff understand that the school was named without consultation with or consideration for the Indigenous community. The renaming and rebranding process is not intended to erase the school’s history but to face it and do better in the future.
The Raider mascot has led to students feeling undervalued and underrepresented and has not been used for several years, leaving the school without a mascot or identity. At a recent school council meeting, members agreed that the conversation about a new name and mascot is in order.
Board Chair Erika Lougheed notes that prioritizing Chippewa for renaming and rebranding indicates that NNDSB understands the issue and is working to remedy a situation that has been difficult for generations of Indigenous students and staff.
NNDSB’s Indigenous Lead has advised that they will assist in the valued community engagement to move forward in a positive way.
Director of Education Craig Myles says the process demonstrates the board’s commitment to truth and reconciliation. He hopes that the process will entail meaningful discussion that acknowledges the past and forges a positive road forward.
Following the approval of the motion Myles, through the Superintendent of Education, will establish a naming committee. Stakeholders and rightsholders will have the opportunity to provide input, and the committee will eventually recommend a new name to the Board of Trustees. The report may be found here.
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Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca
By Deb
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022
At their meeting last night, trustees of Near North District School Board (NNDSB) heard that the board is using provincial funding to initiate small group and individual tutoring supports for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12.
The funding is part of the Plan to Catch Up, a Ministry of Education initiative to close gaps caused by the disruptions of COVID-19. Funding will be in place until March 31, 2023. All NNDSB schools have been invited to access funding to either initiate or extend opportunities to engage students impacted by learning disruptions.
Board Chair Erika Lougheed says the three-pronged approach to tutoring means support can be provided to students in both panels all across the district. “This funding will enable staff to support even the youngest learners if they need extra help,” says the Chair.
Three approaches have been developed that will prioritize math, literacy and other foundational learning skills:
The approaches support the board’s multi-year strategic plan pillar of excellence in teaching and learning, and NNDSB’s commitment to student achievement and well-being.
Director of Education Craig Myles says recruiting and training Nipissing students will provide valuable support to students while they’re at school supplementing the work of classroom teachers.
Board Vice-Chair Howard Wesley says the plan ensures that NNDSB students, regardless of geography, have access to tutoring supports to aid student success.
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Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca
By Deb
Friday, Dec. 9, 2022
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Ministry of Education has updated the School and Childcare Screening Tool to align with recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Please familiarize yourself with the new tool, and ensure that questions are answered before going to school or childcare every morning.
Anyone feeling sick or with any symptom of illness (even if not listed in the tool) should stay home that day.
Sincerely,
Near North District School Board
By Deb
Monday, Dec. 5, 2022
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This school year is moving along quickly, and this is the final monthly Letter to Families for the 2022 calendar year.
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There have been a few occurrences this school year of schools being placed on hold and secure and lockdown. It is vital that all stakeholders understand that these occurrences are placed in order to keep all safe; i.e. the plan is preventative, it is not necessarily a response to an imminent threat. Families are urged to familiarize themselves with school emergency procedures to understand when they are placed and why they are called.
Student and staff safety is a top priority and NNDSB will always take any and all precautions to ensure safety. The board’s Administrative Guideline Health and Safety: Emergency Response Plan outlines exactly what steps are to be taken to keep students and staff safe. This includes ongoing collaboration with community partners that includes reviewing and debriefing incidents, reviewing and revising current response plans and determining next steps to ensure the ongoing safety of students and staff at NNDSB schools.
Please understand that when an incident is underway or unfolding, the safety of your children is the top priority. We also want to be responsible and work with our community partners to make sure that the news we are sharing with families is accurate. NNDSB does not want to contribute to misinformation in the community.
Please speak with your child’s principal if you have questions or to receive more information about emergency preparedness plans for your school. Families that do not receive notifications from their schools and/or NNDSB may not have signed their Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) form that comes home with students every fall. Because CASL applies to school boards, NNDSB is prevented from communicating with families without their written consent. Once schools receive a signed CASL form, a family’s contact information will be added to a database to receive email and/or telephone communications.
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We have been fortunate with only one inclement weather day so far this fall, but there will soon be more frequent weather-related cancellations of school transportation. Families whose children take the bus to school should have plans in place for days when there is no transportation to school.
Transportation for Near North District School Board (NNDSB) students is provided by Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS), whose staff monitor the weather and make the decision whether to cancel buses. Cancellations are always made with safety as the top priority.
When buses are cancelled because of inclement weather, schools usually remain open. If schools remain open, students are encouraged to attend school using alternate transportation where possible; families are responsible for transportation to and from school if buses are not operating.
If weather or another event forces the closure of a school, there will not be transportation, nor will students be allowed in the building. In such cases, individual schools will be communicating directly with families.
When transportation is cancelled or schools are closed, families should look for communication from the school(s) regarding at-home work.
NPSSTS announces the cancellations of routes or corridors early in the morning. Families will find up-to-date information on NPSSTS’s delays/cancellations page, on NNDSB’s Facebook page and local radio stations announce cancellations.
For more information about transportation and inclement weather, visit NNDSB’s transportation page.
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The program team is happy to provide the following information and resources to NNDSB families:
Passport to Learning: We would like to ensure that all families are aware that a student’s @nearnorthschools.ca account is a passport to learning. When students or staff login to our board website using their NNDSB username and password, they have access to digital tools that enable productivity, communication, collaboration and creativity. The NNDSB Passport to Learning features many learning resources to enhance learning at school and at home including, hundreds of educational resources, free downloadable Microsoft 365 software, online subscriptions, encyclopedias, research archives and links to Ministry of education resources.
DreamBox Learning – Grade 1-3 Math: NNDSB is pleased to share that all students in Grades 1-3 classrooms have access to DreamBox Learning (DBL). DreamBox is a digital math program that combines a fun and engaging math learning environment with curriculum-focused outcomes. DreamBox lessons are interactive experiences that promote active learning and independent critical thinking and respond to each student’s strategies and decisions in the moment. Because DreamBox dynamically adapts lessons and learning paths based on the needs of each learner, students always have just the right level of support when and where they need it. Students are encouraged to continue their learning with this resource at home. To access DBL at home, students simply login to Clever (using their NNDSB username and password). Click here to access additional information to support the use of DBL at home.
TVO Mathify – FREE 1:1 Grade 4-12 math tutoring with Ontario Certified Teachers! Families of students in Grades 4-12 have access to free online math tutoring with Ontario Certified Teachers in a safe and secure environment. Supports include interactive math lessons and activities, personalized learning, an interactive whiteboard and an online portfolio for saved work and tutoring sessions. Mathify tutors are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m Monday to Friday and3:30 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
To register students, click the link on the Mathify page of the NNDSB site or select Mathify from the LMS. A link is also available in Edsby’s Launchpad. Students create a username, password and select their grade, course and school board. After registration, students can access Mathify from these same locations. The LMS uses students’ NNDSB login and saves having to remember another username/password.
Literacy Learning: There is much to celebrate in literacy learning in NNDSB. The board has invested in exciting new resources like Acadience screening tools, the Flyleaf reading program and Lexia PowerUP, plus a variety of skill development resources. Acadience screenings ensure educators know what core literacy skills a student has mastered and what skills are still being developed.
Flyleaf decodable books and instructional resources support the development of core literacy skills in K-3 classrooms. Lexia PowerUp provides literacy instruction and activities for students in Grades 7-10 through a focus on word study, grammar and comprehension skill building.
Students are engaged in literacy activities that are based in skill building from recognizing letter sounds to word building in a myriad of ways.
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The Medical Officer of Health of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, Dr. James Chirico, has provided a letter of support to Near North District School Board (NNDSB) and requested that it be shared with our school families.
The letter includes attachments from the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario, in which the use of masks indoors is strongly encouraged. Dr. Chirico notes the local health unit is seeing emergency department visits for flu-like illnesses at twice the pre-pandemic three-year average for this time of year.
Dr. Chirico is urging NNDSB families to practice the following infection control measures to fight the respiratory illnesses of COVID-19, influenza and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that are resulting in emergency department visits:
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Director of Education Craig Myles extends holiday greetings to all students, staff and families.
As we head into the final weeks of 2022, Director Myles thanks all students, staff and families for their perseverance over the past years of the pandemic, and appreciates their efforts in keeping NNDSB schools safe and members of our school communities healthy.
The Director hopes students, staff and families take time to enjoy what is important to them over the break, and wishes all a safe and happy holiday.
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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Sincerely,
Near North District School Board
By Brett
For Immediate Release
Monday, Dec. 5, 2022
“Literacy is everywhere” is the lesson that Silver Birches Grade 6 teacher Shannon Falconi hopes students learn. As part of a recent six-week learning cycle, Falconi’s students have been learning the building blocks of good storytelling by writing personal narratives.
After learning about the features of a short story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution, students were tasked with writing a true event that happened to them that they could confidently share as a personal read-aloud with their class and other members of the Silver Birches community.
“Powerful stories make for engaging and exciting read-alouds; the students’ goal was to hook and engage the reader using descriptive details to help visualize what was being read based on a true story about a problem they faced and how they persevered,” Falconi said.
From a teacher’s perspective, this also helped Falconi build a rapport with students by understanding what their interests and hobbies were. It gives insight into how to engage students in their own learning, and selecting reading, writing, and speaking activities that interest them.
“I was so proud to see the growth within the six weeks. They really showed their progress in becoming great authors,” Falconi said. Among the titles were The Day I Hit a Stop Sign, Weight-Lifting Challenge Leading to a Toe Injury, My Bike Accident and The Day My Friends Played a Trick on Me.
The Grade 6 students were asked to share their stories at an “Open Mic for the Spartan Writing Wizards” event. This provided students with the opportunity to be proud of their writing and see themselves as growing authors.
“We discussed their strengths and next steps as authors together as a class. This helped students learn from each other, be inspired, and accept constructive feedback with growth at the heart of it all,” Falconi said. “I’m certain that in the months to come, they will continue to grow and develop their literacy skills.”
Falconi was impressed with all the narratives but one that stood out was entitled A Bad Day at the Pool about a student’s experience at a water park with their family. The student stayed in a hot tub too long, against their parents’ wishes, and began feeling unwell. The student then needed to cool down next to an air conditioner for several hours, all the while being comforted by the family cat. After relaxing and cuddling their cat, they felt so much better.
The student went on to say, “I truly believe that Austin my cat healed me and that he really is a magical cat. Sadly, he passed away…but I know that he will always be in my heart and soul, healing me spiritually.” Falconi said she thought that was an insightful perspective and a great way to conclude the narrative.
Falconi wants students to learn that literacy and public speaking are applicable to the real world. Students will use public speaking skills in presenting their ideas in groups or discussions, in job interviews and advocating for their own unique needs and rights within their learning environment and community.
“Having strong verbal communication skills will help the youth connect with others, improving their self-esteem and demonstrating their knowledge and expertise,” Falconi said. “Being literate will help these students achieve great success in their future; especially once they learn how it’s applicable to their lives and helpful in allowing them to be productive and contributing members of society.”
Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) is built around the focus on student achievement and well-being. To evaluate progress, staff are working in six-week cycles of planning, acting, observing and reflecting. This process will ensure that student achievement and well-being remain the focus of work at NNDSB.
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By Brett
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022
“We got to look at cool rocks!” is just one of the highlights for Grade 4 students at M.T. Davidson Public School who participated in the recent Mining Matters virtual workshop.
Mining Matters is a charitable organization dedicated to educating young people to develop knowledge and awareness of Earth sciences, the minerals industry and their roles in society. In partnership with the Canadian Institute for Mining (CIM), Near North District School Board (NNDSB) and other area school boards, the workshop was delivered to 30 NNDSB classrooms and more than 580 students.
During the workshop, students learned about rocks, minerals, metals, mining and the diverse career opportunities available in the mining industry. The class was also provided with kits which included activity books, rock and mineral samples and a penlight to explore the unique features and transparencies of the different rock types.
Grade 4 teacher Maggie Preston-Coles said her class will continue to use the Mining Matters kits as they further explore rocks, minerals, and geological processes, as well as Earth and space systems as part of the science curriculum.
“The workshop was an excellent ‘hook’ to engage the students and introduce the topic of rocks and minerals. It’s important to study this subject matter because of the environmental considerations that we all need to be aware of and responsible for,” Preston-Coles said. “People of all ages need to know how they can conserve energy and care for the environment. We all need to know how serious the climate change crisis is and that we still have time to do something about it.”
Mark Wagner, incoming chair of the Northern Gateway branch of the Canadian Institute of Mining attended the workshop in the M.T. Davidson classroom.
“The Mining Matters program is something that CIM has been sponsoring for several years. It’s something that originated in the Northern Gateway branch, we were the first ones to participate in this sort of event,” Wagner said.
Wagner pointed out that there is a skills shortage in the mining industry. These types of events help to get young people exposed to the opportunities available in mining and helps to close the labour gap.
“There are so many different opportunities available in mining, from automation to geology, mining engineering and metallurgical engineering. There are over 60 mining suppliers in the North Bay area and it’s a huge economic force for the city and the region,” Wagner said.
The Grade 4 students had a great time learning about the importance of natural resources and mining. When asked what they liked about the workshop, one student said it was “good to learn about future occupations and how we use natural resources in so many products in our everyday lives.”
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For more information, please contact:
Brett Hanson
Communications Coordinator
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5083
E. Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca
Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)
