October 2025

Mining Industry Challenge

Discover Your Future in Mining

From underground operations to cutting-edge technology, the mining industry offers diverse career paths that power our modern world. Join the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) to explore opportunities in one of Canada's most essential industries.

Mining Needs You

Mining is essential to our way of life today and the world we want to create tomorrow. With careers above and underground, in the field, in minerals processing and metallurgy facilities, laboratories, and offices – there's a place for you in mining.

Challenge Overview

Active Submission Period

October 1-31, 2025

Eligibility

Grades 7-12 students across Canada

Total Incentives

$10,000 in micro grants

Individual Awards

20 winners × $500 each

Submission Deadline

October 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST

Challenge Details

The mining industry is at the forefront of technological innovation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable resource development.

This challenge invites students to explore the diverse career pathways in mining, from traditional underground operations to modern data analytics and environmental sciences.

Start by identifying a specific role within the mining industry, for example: Environmental Scientist, Mining Engineer, Data Analyst, Technical Services Specialist, etc. There are MANY to choose from. You can use the MiHR Resources below, and/or do your own research, but you need to be able to cite your sources. Important: Select one specific role. Research it. Then explain what someone in that role is generally responsible for on a day to day basis.

Highlight 2-3 skills or competencies that are required in that role. These could be transferable or durable skills like critical thinking, and/or more specific technical skills that are unique to the role.

Explain the potential post-secondary pathways and training options required to work in that position. For example, does that role require an apprenticeship, college or university level education? Are there specific certifications that are required?

Describe specific actions the mining industry is taking as part of their commitment to sustainability and its importance to reaching Canada's environmental goals. For example, integration of renewable energy and eco-friendly equipment, strategic investments in northern infrastructure, and strong collaboration with Indigenous communities to advance responsible land management and nature-positive goals, etc.

MiHR's research shows 80,000 new workers are needed in the industry by 2030. Explain the outlook for the role you have identified. Where are the jobs in Canada? Is there a higher demand for it in one part of the country than another?

Take the research you have just completed in steps 1-5 and use it to create a 60-90 second video. How you choose to structure your video is up to you. • Vertical vs. horizontal? Up to you. • Talking head vs. all animations? Up to you. • Documentary style vs. tiktok style? Up to you. The only requirements are that it addresses each of the 5 steps above, and we're able to click a link to watch it - everything else is - up to you. Score 75/100 or higher on the rubric, and you'll be entered into the pool of students who will then be randomly selected to earn one of twenty micro grants. Somebody has to win. Why not you? Why not now?

Evaluation Rubric Summary

Total: 100 points

Content & Accuracy

40%

Comprehensive coverage of all 5 required steps with accurate, detailed information

Research & Citations

20%

Quality sources properly cited throughout the video presentation

Engagement & Creativity

20%

Compelling delivery that maintains viewer interest through creative presentation

Communication & Clarity

20%

Clear audio/visuals with logical organization, smooth flow, and meets 60-90 second requirement

View Detailed Evaluation Rubric Here

MiHR Resources

Explore these resources to support your activity research

Take a Quiz

Whatever your education level, find a career that suits you.

Visit

Career Seeker

A central hub designed to help you explore, plan, and advance your future in Canada's mining industry.

Visit

Career Videos

Different videos about mining careers. Like Netflix for mining.

Watch

Workforce Map

This data visualization tool offers you a comprehensive look into evolving workforce needs.

Visit

MiHR Resources

All of MiHR's resources. All in one place.

Visit

Mining Needs You Career Resources

Find out where you can get started, based on your skills and interests.

Visit

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about this activity

Carefully read the Activity Details steps 1-5 to understand what is being asked of you in this activity. You can also watch the How this Works video for a detailed overview.

You're being asked to submit a 60 to 90 second video highlighting the research you did from steps 1 through 5 in this specific activity. It's important that the video you create is shared as a clickable link, not something that we need to download, and that you've made sure that the sharing settings are set up in a way that we have access to view the video. It's a good idea to test this before submitting.

Yes, you can complete the activity multiple times for different roles within the mining industry, though students can only win one micro grant per activity. We'd encourage you to focus on quality, not quantity.

No, it's whatever feels authentic and engaging to you. It can be a Tik Tok style video with lots of different cuts and background music or more documentary style - whatever you will enjoy making more, and clearly communicates the requested information from steps 1-5.

Nope, it doesn't matter at all what tool you use. There are lots of free tools available to make videos today. Check with your school to see what they already have access to. For example, Canva is a great tool to be able to create videos with.

Lots of skills like research, critical thinking, communication, content creation, and many others. It would be a good idea to add the completed video to your myBlueprint portfolio and reflect on what skills you feel like you've developed as part of completing this activity.

Submissions will be reviewed by a team of representatives from myBlueprint. We may, if needed, collaborate with representatives from MiHR.

All videos for this activity will need to be reviewed in English, so if a student wants to submit in French, we ask they include English subtitles in the video.

Depending on the volume of submissions, we plan to have selected, and be able to announce winners by the midpoint of the following month. So for example, with this activity, we hope to be able to announce the October winners by mid-November.

Yeah, that's a great idea, along with a reflection of what you learned from doing this activity and what you found interesting. As a heads up, we'll also be asking students to submit evidence of their completed activities through a myBlueprint portfolio if you plan on applying for one of the Series Completion incentives at the end of the year.

You can absolutely complete this activity on your own. That being said, you should absolutely communicate with your teachers (and parents) that you're doing this and see if you can potentially earn credit for the work that you're doing for this activity.

The October challenge has been designed as an individual activity.

Yes, you can still submit monthly activities after the deadline. However, any activity submitted after the deadline is not eligible for that month's pool of micro grants. It still makes sense to complete them even after the deadline so that you can potentially earn one of the Series Completion incentives. Those only require all activities to be completed, not necessarily completed within the month of the activity.

Teachers won't be able to see through myBlueprint which students have submitted activities or not. However, we will create reports that will be shared with your myBlueprint lead at the school board level who can share specifics with you upon request.

myBlueprint is solely responsible for running the Industry Immersion Series. Meaning that only myBlueprint is collecting any information related to this Series. No personally identifiable information is being shared with any 3rd parties. We will publish de-identified (anonymous summary data) information to provide updates on how the Series is going. For example, the number of activity submissions received for each month, which province they're coming from, and communicate with our school board partners about school-specific participation. Click here to see the questions students are being asked to answer when they submit their completed activity.