Timmins mining expo showcases trends, offers chance to hire new staff

Timmins readies for mining expo The Canadian Mining Expo is coming up in Timmins next week, showcasing new trends and gives job seekers a chance to connect with employers.

For more than 30 years, the Canadian Mining Expo in Timmins has been promoting the mining industry.

It showcases new trends in technology, provides investment and educational opportunities and gives job seekers a chance to connect with employers.

At the Hollinger Lookout on Wednesday, Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau proclaimed June 4-6 as Mining Week in the city, showing support for the 31st expo.

What started out as a one-arena trade show, the current mining expo now boasts 400 exhibitors — inside and outside — at the McIntyre Community Centre.

“I'm second-generation, family-owned business and I have my third generation,” said Glenn Dredhart of the Canadian Mining Expo.

“So my children are stepping up next. And yeah, it's really rewarding. Timmins has been good to us.”

New this year will be an opportunity for companies to learn how to employ more newcomers.

“It's a one-hour series … this is something very new,” Dredhart said.

“And we have our federal and provincial governments that will be attending and will be explaining to businesses how they can tap into those markets and help them to achieve their goals in maintaining a profitable business for themselves.”

Newmont is one of the event’s many partners and company officials said they will be onsite with two different booths: one for exhibiting its operations, the second for recruitment.

“We are for sale, as we all know, and we are for divestment,” said Newmont’s Dawid Pretorius.

“But the mine life is still pretty healthy. We just started a new Palmer pit that's going to add 10 years of life to our mine. The pit right behind us here finishes (at) the end of this year.”

The job fair will begin June 5 and more than 90 companies are accepting resumes.

Other highlights include a conference on June 6 with Canada’s largest gold producers; an indigenous partnerships forum; and, the jackleg drilling competition.

Everyone who registers is entered in a draw to win a free ounce of gold.