Innovation Institute boosting diversity efforts
The Saskatchewan mining industry understands that diversity and inclusion are a long-term challenge.
Al Shpyth, executive director of the Saskatoonbased International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII), says that while progress has been made, more can be done.
“While Saskatchewan mining is known for being among the best Indigenous employers in the country, there is room to improve career progression opportunities,” says Shpyth.
“A 2015 report we cosponsored showed that in 2011, Indigenous peoples made up 10 per cent of the Saskatchewan labour force and 10 per cent of Saskatchewan’s mining labour force. It’s a good starting point, but increasing the number of Indigenous employees in technical, professional and supervisory roles remains essential.”
Education and training are currently a big focus for the institute. According to Shpyth, studies have shown females tend to drop out of the mining industry at specific transition points: from high school to college/ university, from college/ university to entering the workforce, and then again when returning to work after starting a family.
“The Saskatchewan mining industry knows that we need to do more — and can do more — with respect to the under-representation of women. Young women need to think of mining as a possible career path earlier.”
The Innovation Institute supports initiatives that promote mining careers to young women by connecting with them earlier.
Young women need to be encouraged to work in “key occupations that define the mining sector,” says Shpyth. “It’s beneficial for employees, for companies and for society at large to increase the number of women in technical, professional and supervisory roles.”
Because diversity and inclusion initiatives are fairly recent, during layoffs and economic downturns a last-in, first-out policy can leave female and Aboriginal employees more vulnerable due to less seniority and years of service.
To boost efforts to increase women and Indigenous people in the mining workforce, the institute created the $1-million Diversity & Inclusion Challenge. The winners, announced this past January, included Women in Mining/Women in Nuclear Saskatchewan’s Mine Your Potential mentorship program, the University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering’s Indigenous Student Success Program, and programs for youth led by the Saskatchewan Mining Association.
Leanne Bellegarde, Nutrien’s director of strategic inclusion, is pleased that the Challenge focused on both female- and Aboriginal-focused programming.
Finally, Shpyth looks forward to “the mine of the future.” With more automated and digital functions, he is hopeful that this type of mine will attract more diverse individuals as employees.