About Us

Mining Matters Brochure

Mining Matters is a national charitable organization dedicated to educating young people to develop knowledge and awareness of Earth sciences, the minerals industry and their roles in society. We provide current information about rocks, minerals, metals, mining and the diverse career opportunities available in the minerals industry. Mining Matters offers exceptional educational resources that meet provincial curriculum expectations, created by educators and Earth science experts.

Mining Matters has reached an estimated 860,000 teachers, students and members of the public since inception in 1994.

• Involve youth in exploring Earth science and the minerals industry through meaningful learning activities and innovative STEM education programs.
• Provide engaging hands-on mineral resources programming and practical mining educational opportunities for Indigenous youth.
• Equip teachers with curriculum-linked classroom resources and offer professional development training to effectively teach curricula related to mineral resources, exploration, mining, and Earth science.
• Inform youth about career opportunities in mining and mineral exploration industries.

Indigenous Communities Education and Outreach Programs

• We work with community, corporate and government partners to support our Mining Rocks Earth Science Programs and facilitate future employment in the minerals resource sector.
• Our program engages Indigenous youth and educators in hands-on Earth science activities and field trips, providing the opportunity to develop skills, competencies and knowledge while promoting awareness of careers.
• We organize and participate in Indigenous community events, career fairs and relevant conferences and festivals.

Teacher Training and School Programs

• We work with teachers and students at all levels promoting the importance of rocks, metals, minerals and mining and Canada’s geology.
• Students experience STEM activities and hands-on learning, investigate Earth science careers and engage with industry experts and partners from mineral exploration and mining industries..
• Teachers receive Earth science resources developed by teachers for teachers that meet provincial curricula guidelines and the training to successfully implement the classroom activities.

Outreach Programs

• We build awareness and knowledge with the public and promote careers at gem and minerals shows, industry trade shows, educational events and career fairs across Canada.
• At the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange, we showcase our achievements.
• We present the WHERE Challenge, a national competition that asks students ages 9 to 14 “What on Earth is in your stuff and WHERE on Earth does it come from?"

Mining Matters was established based on the model developed by MineralsEd, formerly known as the Mineral Resources Education Program of British Columbia. In 1990, the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) was confronted by industry surveys that the public perception of the mineral industry was extremely negative or there was no perception at all. At the same time, the province’s teachers were telling MABC officials that most of the information on the province’s mining sector was 20-30 years out of date. These problems sparked a formal partnership in 1991 between MABC, the Ministry of Education and the B.C. Teachers' Federation. The result was the formation of the Mineral Resources Education Program of British Columbia. The innovative partnership allowed the teachers to produce mining related classroom resources aligned with curriculum requirements. Industry representatives, government officials, and environmental groups were all consulted. In addition, a vital component of the program was teacher workshops that provided in-depth instruction on how to use these resources in the classroom.

In 1994, the Chair of the Education Committee of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada established the goal to provide children with balanced information on mining to enable them to make informed decisions in the future regarding the minerals industry.

It was noted that the success of the MABC education initiative was due to development of the resources by active classroom teachers with technical input from the industry.

“Mining Matters” was conceived on this model – by teachers for teachers

Over that summer, three teachers were hired to design a bilingual unit for Ontario schools. Between 1994 and 1996 over 2,000 resource kits were assembled and distributed though teacher workshops focused on the urban areas of Toronto and Ottawa.

In 1997 Mining Matters registered as an independent charitable organization, that is driven by a dedicated volunteer board of directors and a passionate team. In recognition of the important roles of Indigenous people in the industry, we introduced programs for Indigenous youth in partnership with communities in 2001. Expansion across Canada was enabled with the implementation of a robust fund development strategy in 2005.

Since inception, Mining Matters has brought balanced and accurate information to classrooms, camps and communities all over Canada, reaching an estimated 825,000 students, teachers and members of the public to date.

Our long-standing collaborative educational partnership with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada has been critical to our success. We are grateful for the ongoing confidence they have placed in our mission to raise young people’s awareness of Earth science, the Canadian mineral exploration, and mining industries, and the role they play in our lives.