| Inside AME BC - Special Memorandum about Mineral Tenure in B.C.
- WE NEED YOUR HELP - Discourage the passage of Bill C-300
- Provincial and Federal Government Announce Flow-Through Extensions
- AME BC Congratulates Distinguished Service Award Winner Nick Carter
- Follow AME BC on Twitter!
- AME BC Sponsorship Opportunities
- AME BC Golf Committee - Call for Sponsorship Chair
- Sponsorship Opportunities - AME BC Invitational Golf Tournament and Fundraiser
- AME BC Speaker Series Event Date and Speakers Confirmed
- 7th Annual AME BC Photo Contest is now Open!
Health & Safety - AME BC Introduction to Exploration Safety Workshop - Last Chance to Register! Deadline is Today
- Complete the Canadian Mineral Exploration Health & Safety Survey Today!
- 5th Annual Provincial Mining Community Blood Donor Challenge
- Safety Alert: Unusual Winter Conditions
Mineral Exploration News - Minerals North 2010: Opportunity Rocks! Register Now – Conference is Just Over a Month Away!
AME BC Announces New & Renewed Corporate Members - AME BC Welcomes New Corporate Member
- Thank You to all Renewed Corporate Members
Employment Opportunities
Courses & Education
Upcoming Events and Conferences
Sponsored By: 
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| Inside AME BC |
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| Special Memorandum about Mineral Tenure in B.C. |
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| In these times of rising government costs and debt, there is growing concern that government will significantly raise mineral title fees, retain all revenues, and continue to earmark them for non-mineral exploration-related expenditures. AME BC has expressed strong concerns that if a portion of the proposed mineral title fee increases are not redirected back to industry, any fee increases would simply go to government's general revenue and provide no direct benefit to the mineral exploration industry. In response to this concern, AME BC began examining ways, including some sort of an industry-controlled levy, to direct a portion of mineral title fees back into mineral exploration priorities, such as sustainable funding for GeoscienceBC and some form of a Prospectors' program. It has come to our attention that a document, "Draft Proposal for a Mineral Tenure Levy Board," has been circulated and caused concern among some members, mineral explorers, and prospectors who hold mineral title in B.C. We can understand and appreciate the concern, given that there was very little context or background information accompanying that draft document. In fact, there is no levy board, and there may never be a levy board. And most importantly, it was just a draft document, not approved by the AME BC Board of Directors but circulated as a proposal for further consideration. The primary intent of this memorandum is to clarify some misconceptions and inaccurate information so that an informed and responsible discussion may take place about the modernization of the B.C. mineral titles system. The industry-controlled levy idea is, at this time, conceptual. We recognize that a levy is considered quite a drastic change of thinking to some, but we ask that you consider this as an opportunity to direct monies paid by the mineral exploration industry into initiatives that will enhance and improve geoscience and exploration activities in the province of B.C. Be assured, we have time to explore the concept over the next 6 months as AME BC intends to hold a number of consultation sessions on the concept of an industry-controlled levy and funding priorities before making any formal proposal to the government. As many may recall, amid some controversy, Mineral Titles Online (MTO) was launched by the B.C. government in 2005. The launch of MTO resulted in no more physical staking and the end of its associated higher costs (then ranging from $2 to $6 per hectare) to stake claims. Clearly, this had both positive and negative consequences, such as: - Following the introduction of MTO, annual claims being staked jumped to over 4 million hectares per year. Claims held jumped from a range of 4 to 6 million hectares prior to MTO to over 16 million hectares. Despite the increase in tenure held, the Mineral Titles Branch has reportedly not seen any significant or corresponding increase in actual exploration work being done on these claims.
- The ease and low cost ($0.40 per hectare) of MTO staking has created situations where large, or in some cases very small, tracts of prospective tenure are held with little work being completed or solely for the purpose of impeding mineral exploration. In 2008, for example, approximately 75% of the claims acquired in B.C. lapsed without having any work done on them.
In response to the Mineral Titles fee and work obligation review that was initiated by government in 2008, AME BC has attempted to balance a huge range of members' and non-members' opinions. The driving force behind AME BC's approach to date has been to ensure that all explorers (prospectors, juniors and majors) in B.C. can successfully operate under the government's proposed higher front-end cost mineral tenure system. For example, AME BC is advocating for the re-introduction of some form of a Prospectors' program and possible tax credits or capital gains exemption for prospectors. Furthermore, one of AME BC's top priorities is to see that both the B.C. Geological Survey and Geoscience BC are well funded in this province for the ongoing success of our industry. Finally, in addition to your feedback on this memorandum and the five attachments, we recommend that you review the attached letter that we recently sent to Premier Campbell on February 24, 2010, shortly after the government's decision to ban mining in the Flathead Valley. This letter outlines the many other incentives that the government could choose to implement now to help regain investor confidence in B.C.'s mineral exploration and mine development sector. Your thoughts are always welcomed and appreciated. Please feel free to email them to us at info@amebc.ca or call 604.689.5271. Sincerely,
Gavin C. Dirom President & Chief Executive Officer Lena Brommeland, Chair, AME BC Additional Information Click here to view the following documents. - AME BC's considerations about the proposed Mineral Tenure changes in B.C.
- Highlights of the B.C. Government's proposed Mineral Titles fee changes
- Submission to the B.C. Legislature Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
- News Release‐B.C. Budget 2010 Fiscally Prudent in the Short Term - B.C. Needs to Re-Invest in Mineral Exploration & Development to Ensure Long Term Revenue Generation, March 2, 2010
- Letter to Premier Campbell, Regaining Investor Confidence in B.C.’s Mineral Exploration & Mine Development Sector, February 24, 2010
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| WE NEED YOUR HELP - Discourage the passage of Bill C-300 |
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| AME BC continues to work with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and other industry associations to discourage the passage of Bill C-300, An Act Respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries. Shortly before the federal government launched its corporate social responsibility initiative for the extractives sector in March of 2009, Liberal member of Parliament, John McKay tabled a private members bill – C-300 – to penalize Canadian companies operating overseas for failure to comply with certain unspecified standards of practice. See our position paper and other information about Bill C-300 and its potential to harm our sector. Click here for the PDAC submission to the federal government and an informational email to their members. We are fully committed to responsible exploration and mining development, and are contributing to a number of local, national and international projects and initiatives to enhance the value that our sector can offer to communities while minimizing impacts to them and the environment. Please act now!! Here, you will find helpful materials and suggestions for contacting Members of Parliament to explain the serious harm this Bill would do to our sector - and importantly to our ability to continue to work in partnership with government, host countries and willing non-profit organizations. For more information, contact Laureen Whyte, Vice President, Sustainability & Operations 604.630.3928 or lwhyte@amebc.ca |
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| Provincial and Federal Government Announce Flow-Through Extensions |
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| On March 2, 2010, the province of British Columbia introduced legislation to extend the mining flow-through share tax credit (MFTS) to the end of 2013.
Please see the BC Ministry of Finance bulletin Bulletin PIT 001, British Columbia Mining Flow-Through Share Tax Credit, for details. On March 4, the federal government introduced a similar provision to extend the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for flow-through investors through March 31, 2011. British Columbia’s tax incentives for mineral exploration are targeted at both individual investors and corporations alike. AME BC is working on a brochure outlining tax incentives for mineral exploration in B.C. If you have any suggestions for material that would be helpful, please contact Jonathan Buchanan, Manager, Communications & Public Affairs, AME BC, at jbuchanan@amebc.ca. |
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| AME BC Congratulates Distinguished Service Award Winner Nick Carter |
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| AME BC congratulates Past President Dr. Nick Carter on receiving the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s prestigious Distinguished Service Award. The award was presented to Nick at the 2010 PDAC International Convention Awards Dinner on March 8. This award recognizes Nick for fostering mineral exploration and mining in Canada through his active role in a number of associations and professional societies. Nick has always been a great supporter of the mineral exploration and mining community; this is seen through his involvement with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum; the PDAC; the Geological Association of Canada; and other organizations. For a full citation visit www.republicofmining.com/2010/03/15/the-2010-pdac-distinguished-service-award-%E2%80%93-nicholas-c-carter/. The 78th PDAC International Convention broke record delegate registration with 21,600 prospectors, miners, investors, and many others in attendance. It was also a high point for industry to have over 900 student delegates registered and participating. |
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| AME BC Sponsorship Opportunities |
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| Each year AME BC presents an exclusive annual sponsorship package that offers diverse sponsorship opportunities. Sponsoring an AME BC initiative or event helps to reach the mineral exploration and mining sector and enhance corporate profiles in unique and positive ways both in British Columbia and throughout the world. Opportunities include the AME BC Calendar, AME BC News, AME BC Speaker Series, Health and Safety Workshops, and various opportunities during Mineral Exploration Roundup. For more information on Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011 sponsorship opportunities, visit www.amebc.ca/roundup/sponsorship.aspx. For more information on general AME BC sponsorship opportunities, visit www.amebc.ca/news-and-events/sponsorship.aspx. Or contact: Reesa Meltzer
Director, Member Services and Events, AME BC
Ph: 604.630.3924
Email: rmeltzer@amebc.ca |
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| Follow AME BC on Twitter! |
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| You can now follow AME BC on Twitter at @AME_BC. Our twitter feed features news, events, announcements, and is a great way of keeping up to date with our activities. AME BC’s twitter feed is another one of the many ways that AME BC is striving to keep members informed and engaged. |
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| AME BC Golf Committee - Call for Sponsorship Chair |
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| The 18th Annual AME BC Invitational Golf Tournament and Fundraiser will take place on Tuesday, May 18 at Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club in Richmond. For further details, please click here. We are currently seeking a Sponsorship Chair to lead the fundraising effort! Sponsorship proceeds will be donated to the Mineral Resources Education Program of BC. The structure of the fundraising program has been established; the Chair would be responsible for leading the follow up with potential sponsors. Other Golf Committee members include Gary Giroux, Chair; Reesa Meltzer, staff support (Director, Member Services and Events, AME BC), and Shannon Norris, staff support (Manager, Special Events, AME BC). If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please contact Shannon Norris at snorris@amebc.ca. |
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| 18th Annual AME BC Invitational Golf Tournament and Fundraiser – Sponsorship Opportunities |
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| Sponsor the annual AME BC Invitational Golf Tournament and Fundraiser, and have the opportunity to pre-register your golfers before non-sponsor golfer registration opens at the beginning of April! This popular tournament always sells out at 144 players; sponsorship allow you the opportunity to support a great organization and register your golfers early. Sponsorship proceeds will be donated to the Mineral Resources Education Program of BC (MREP BC). MREP BC is a partnership program between teachers and the minerals industry in B.C. It was created to assist teachers in their development of educational materials to support teaching about minerals, mining and geoscience in the classroom. MREP BC's goals are to foster a well-informed public through school education based on accurate and balanced minerals information, and to stimulate young peoples' interest in minerals industry careers. Last year we were able to donate $17,000 to MREP BC through our Golf Tournament sponsorship program. For a list of sponsorship opportunities including costs and benefits, please click here. If you choose to sponsor the tournament, you will receive a copy of the golfer registration form. The fee to play in the tournament is $175. This fee includes GST, the round of golf, post-round dinner, pull cart, tee gift, range balls and full use of the practice facility. The 18th Annual AME BC Invitational Golf Tournament and Fundraiser will take place on Tuesday, May 18, at Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club in Richmond. The golfer registration form will be posted to the AME BC website at the beginning of April. If you have any questions on the Golf Tournament, contact Shannon Norris at snorris@amebc.ca. |
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| Mark your calendar – Next AME BC Speaker Series Event Date and Speakers Confirmed |
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| The third instalment of the 2009/2010 AME BC Speaker Series will take place on Friday, April 30 over lunch in Vancouver from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (venue to be confirmed shortly). Our guest speakers will include the Honourable George Abbott, BC Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation; and Beverly Clifton Percival, Member and Negotiator, Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs as well as Chair, BC All Chief’s Task Force. Further event details, including the venue and registration form, will be posted to the Speaker Series page of our website once they are confirmed / available. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Shannon Norris at snorris@amebc.ca. |
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| 7th Annual AME BC Photo Contest is now Open! |
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The 7th Annual AME BC Photo Contest is now open. The categories have changed slightly this year and are as follows:
- People at Work
- Exploration Scenery
- Animals, Minerals, Harmony
- Health & Safety
To increase you chances of winning, get more details on each category at www.amebc.ca/media/photo-contest-2010.aspx $100 prizes will be awarded for each category winner. A top prize of $500 will be awarded for the overal best photo, along with an appearance in the 2011 AME BC Photo Calendar and on the cover of Mineral Exploration Magazine. The following rules apply for all photos. Entries must: - Include the photographer’s name and contact info, along with a brief description of the image, location and, if applicable, who is in the photograph. For photos of scenery, people and animals in particular, please also include how the image is relevant to mineral exploration (e.g. activity conducted, name of property, nearby geological feature).
- Be original and previously unpublished.
- Be digital with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (high resolution .jpeg is preferred).
- Note that photos submitted will not be returned. All photos submitted become the property of AME BC and may be used in future publications.
Submission deadline is September 30, 2011.
Please submit your photos to Mary Hughes, Coordinator, New Media & Creative, AME BC at mhughes@amebc.ca. View our past photo contest winners in our photo gallery! |
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| Health & Safety |
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AME BC Introduction to Exploration Safety Workshop, Saturday, March 27
Last Chance to Register! Deadline is Today |
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| Presented annually by the AME BC Health and Safety Committee, this one-day workshop is designed to draw attention to safety awareness (particularly with respect to young employees), and to eliminate incidents. Who Should Attend? - Recently graduated geoscientists
- Field assistants
- Project geologists or managers interested in a refresher
Why Attend? - An awareness of the hazards and risks we encounter in exploration is imperative. Each person on the crew should be thinking about risk management and should take appropriate precautions to reduce risk.
- One day spent learning about exploration risks may save an individual and company lost time and costs resulting from injuries.
- Years of attendance at universities and colleges are required for many jobs in the bush, but little is taught in classes about how people can look after themselves and their co-workers in the bush environment. We aim to remedy this.
- Increasingly young people are raised in urban environments with limited exposure to living and working in the bush. This means that many new employees need to be taught how to explore safely.
- For those with experience, and who may be responsible for less experienced personnel, this course will serve as a timely refresher.
Course Outline - Interactive field safety scenarios and strategies for dealing with them
- Regulatory environment and what to expect of your employer
- Health and safety trends in the mineral exploration sector
- Helicopter safety
- Recommended traversing equipment for mountain and bush environments
- 4x4 and ATV driving awareness
- Emergency awareness preparedness
- Safety around drills
- How to avoid bear problems
- Hypothermia and ice water survival
- Safety issues in uranium exploration
This workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Simon Fraser University Downtown Campus, located at 515 West Hastings Street in Vancouver. Click here for further information, including a list of presenters, and the event registration form. The registration deadline is Thursday, March 18. |
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| Complete the Canadian Mineral Exploration Health & Safety Survey Today! |
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| AME BC and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) are conducting the Canadian Mineral Exploration Health & Safety Survey for exploration work conducted in 2009. We are seeking your input to help plan safety programs and work toward a goal of zero fatalities and incidents with lost time. The survey aims to capture all work carried out by mineral exploration companies, mining companies with exploration projects, government geological surveys, and diamond drilling companies in Canada. The survey is strictly confidential and will be solely used by AME BC and the PDAC to develop our fifth annual Canadian Mineral Exploration Health & Safety Report. View the 2008 report here. Companies who report no lost workdays will be eligible for the Safe Day Everyday Award. However, no individual company information will accompany incident reports. We respectfully request that you take the estimated 5 to 10 minutes to complete the confidential survey at http://64.114.94.36/survey.aspx?survey=1&RD=1. To review the questions before filling out the survey, or to fill out a paper version of the survey, visit www.amebc.ca/policy/health-and-safety/health-safety-survey.aspx. If you have any questions regarding the survey please contact Jonathan Buchanan at 604.630.3923 or jbuchanan@amebc.ca. |
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| 5th Annual Provincial Mining Community Blood Donor Challenge |
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| AME BC has joined forces with Canadian Blood Services to deliver the 5th Annual Provincial Mining Community Blood Donor Challenge. Over the past three years, the mineral exploration and mining community has donated 313 units during the month of April. For 2010, our target is 100 donations. Rescan and Starcore will be defending their titles this year. Of course all participating organizations are winners, helping to make sure that blood is available for all British Columbians who need it. The need for blood is ongoing and can affect all Canadians at some point in their lives. Your participation and involvement in the Mining Community Challenge will help Canadian Blood Services ensure that the critical needs of British Columbians are met. For more information, view the Mining Community Blood Donor Challenge flyer or contact Ariella Eini at Canadian Blood Services at 604.707.3441 or via email at ariella.eini@blood.ca. Join us for some friendly competition to help save lives! |
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Safety Alert: Unusual Winter Conditions
Bill Mercer, chair of the PDAC’s health and safety committee, is issuing special safety warnings to mineral exploration companies operating in northern Canada |
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| Many parts of the country have encountered unusually mild winter conditions. As a consequence, lake ice conditions are not typical, and breakup may occur unseasonably early. There is an increased risk of ice that is thinner than normal and ice thinning caused by erosion under frozen lakes or moving water. Exploration groups are urged to take extra precautions when operating on or travelling over ice. If you have any doubts about conditions, consult an expert on ice conditions. Do not take unreasonable risks to transport equipment over ice. As an early spring is possible, bears may be a hazard sooner than anticipated. In 2006, a field worker was killed by a bear at a time when animals were thought to be in hibernation. Companies and project managers are advised to arrange for field personnel to be equipped with suitable bear deterrents if temperatures are higher than average. For more information on these topics, please consult the PDAC’s health and safety information in e3 Plus: A Framework for Responsible Exploration at www.pdac.ca/e3plus or the AME BC/PDAC Health & Safety Annual Report. |
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| Mineral Exploration News |
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| Minerals North 2010: Opportunity Rocks! Register Now – Conference is Just Over a Month Away! |
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| Minerals North 2010: Opportunity Rocks! will take place in Prince George at the Prince George Civic Centre Wednesday, April 21 to Friday, April 23. Minerals North is an annual northern B.C. minerals industry conference that seeks to establish contacts and build working relationships, inform communities about mining and mineral exploration projects and issues, and hold a dialogue on the impacts and benefits of mining. Minerals North is celebrating over two successful decades of brining the minerals industry together with a broad spectrum of representation from the private and public sectors and all levels of government. The warm hospitality that derives from community involvement ensures that Minerals North is distinct from any other mining conference in B.C. 2010 conference highlights: - Pre-conference sessions
- Keynote speakers
- Exploration activities
- Trade show
- Outdoor display area
- Live entertainment by the Barkerville Players
For more information on Minerals North visit www.mineralsnorth.ca; to register, visit www.initiativespg.com/minerals_north_registration.php. |
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| AME BC Announces New & Renewed Corporate Members |
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| AME BC Welcomes the Following New Corporate Member |
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| Diagnos Inc. Copper Mountain Mining Corporation Tenorex GeoServices - is a B.C. based mineral exploration and mapping services company. We provide a broad range of support services including tenure management, permitting, research, technical work for assessment purposes, encumbrance reports/maps, and more. Visit our website for more details. *Don't see your 50 word company description? email it to info@amebc.ca. |
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| AME BC Thanks All Recently Renewed Corporate Members! |
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| Acme Labs
APEGBC
Commerce Resources Corp.
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation
Diagnos Inc.
Fronteer Development Group
Hawkair Aviation
Indian & Northern Affairs Canada Nunavut Regional Office
Inspectorate America Corporation
Knight Piesold Ltd
KPMG LLP
Northern Trailer, a Division of Horizon North Camp and Catering Partnership
Pottinger Gaherty Environmental Consultants
Riverside Resources Inc.
Silver Standard Resources Inc.
Society of Economic Geologists
SRK Consulting
Tufport Industries
Tyhee Development Corp. For more information on AME BC Membership or to become a member, visit www.amebc.ca/membership/overview.aspx. |
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| Employment Opportunities |
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| Want to Post an Ad on the AME BC Job Board? If you are an employer and would like to post a job, use the post a job function here. The cost for each posting is $200, which will remain active for 45 days. AME BC corporate members receive one free posting with a yearly membership or renewal, with all subsequent postings at a 50% member discounted rate. To use your free posting, please email the complete job posting information to mhughes@amebc.ca. To use your subsequent 50% discount, simply make sure you are logged in and let the payment calculator do the rest. |
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| Courses & Education |
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| AME BC’s tradition of education for the mineral exploration sector dates back to 1918, when it held its first prospecting seminar. Since then, thousands of students have received training in prospecting, mineral exploration, health and safety, and aboriginal engagement through AME BC. Click here to view AME BC’s Education and Professional Development section. Other Professional Development Opportunities Several of AME BC’s Corporate Members have professional development programs geared toward our diverse membership. Current offerings are available here. |
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| Mining Exploration Field Assistant (MEFA) Course |
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| Planning is well underway for the 2010 exploration field season. If you are considering training potential employees for your exploration program this year, Northwest Community College School of Exploration & Mining is offering the Mining Exploration Field Assistant (MEFA) course. The Mining Exploration Field Assistant course will take place in a remote bush-camp near Smithers. This 8 day course will cover basic employable skills to work as an exploration field assistant. The cost of the course is $750, which includes food and accommodation while in camp.
Dates: - April 20-27, 2010 (first offering)
- April 29-May 6, 2010 (second offering)
For more information on the MEFA program, please contact: Rob Maurer , Industry Liaison & Employment Advisor
Northwest Community College
School of Exploration and Mining
Ph. 250.847.4461 x5831
cell. 250.877.1146
www.nwcc.bc.ca |
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| Upcoming Events & Conferences |
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| AME BC Events Calendar
External Event Calendar AME BC helps to facilitate and promote external events that benefit our members. Use this calendar to see what events are on the horizon and get detailed information. |