5 Points
Picture of myself standing on the tundra at Agnico Eagle’s Hope Bay Gold Mine. Taken July 14, 2024 in Hope Bay, Nunavut.
Picture of my colleagues (left to right): Mitch, Joe, and Tyson. Taken July 15, 2024 in Hope Bay, Nunavut.
Picture taken from a helicopter of Agnico Eagle’s mining sites. Taken August 10, 2024 in Hope Bay, Nunavut.
During the last couple of summers I have worked with Geotech Drilling as a pad builder and driller helper. This job has allowed me to travel to remote locations across Canada, including northern BC and Nunavut. In 2024 I was stationed in Hope Bay, Nunavut at the Agnico Eagle gold mine. Here, I used global competency to inform my decisions in a professional setting.
While still located in Canada, upon arriving at the site it became immediately clear that things were different. There was 24 hour sunlight, my colleagues spoke different languages, and there was wildlife everywhere. During dinners and other downtimes I had many memorable interactions with the various individuals on site. Tyson, pictured in the first image, was a local who commuted to work every two weeks by boat from Cambridge Bay. He described going to the grocery store by snowmobile and taking his son to hockey practice by boat. We talked about the inukshuk’s scattered across the tundra and he explained the significance of these landmarks for helping hunters find their way. I met helicopter pilots from Australia, drillers from Newfoundland, and geologists from Kamloops.
Together, myself and these individuals from various backgrounds united towards the common goals of maintaining safety and making money. In pursuit of these goals I learned many valuable skills. Using radios to communicate I learned the value of simple and efficient conveyance. During dinner, I was taught expectations of cleanliness that transcend individual upbringing. While trying to sleep during 24 hour sunlight, another local who I do not know by name lent me a sleep mask. This helped me realize the value of local insight and to take advantage of this knowledge by simply asking for help, regardless of my own shyness. While strategizing various objectives to be completed, I learned the value of open-mindness, that others have crucial perspectives to offer. Similarly, I was shown the advantage of adaptability while undertaking these objectives, people got injured and the weather changed and we were expected to work together to resolve these hurdles. Lastly, while conversing about our own lives back home, I improved my own abilities to empathise with others.