Why Modern Mining Matters: Insights from “This Is Mining: The Podcast” for Students, Parents, and Educators

When most people think about a field trip, they imagine museums, historic sites, or science centres. But for our President & CEO at Teachers on Call, Joanne Sallay, her most memorable field trip took her into Northern Ontario, straight into the heart of one of Canada’s most advanced mining operations. It was an experience that not only shifted her understanding of modern mining but also opened her eyes to the powerful learning opportunities – and career paths - it can offer students across the country. The experience was so impactful that she was invited on the award-winning This Is Mining: The Podcast, hosted by Canadian media personality Amber Mac, presented by the Ontario Mining Association and Employment Ontario. Keep reading to learn more about the episode and the full podcast series, and why modern mining should be on your radar as a powerful way to help set youth up for future success.

On season 5 of This Is Mining: The Podcast, our President & CEO Joanne Sallay joins award-winning podcast host Amber Mac for an eye-opening conversation: “From City to Mine Site: An Educator’s Wake-Up Call.” In episode 2, Joanne reflects on her experience touring IAMGOLD’s Côté Gold Mine and how it transformed her understanding of modern mining. What began as professional curiosity quickly became a personal mission to help educators, parents, and students see mining for what it truly is today: high tech, safe, innovative, and foundational to the future of work. The in-person and online tutoring team from Teachers on Call are passionate about bringing real-world learning into classrooms and homes. Keep reading for a recap of the episode and series highlights — and to learn why she believes mining deserves a much bigger place in conversations and classrooms across Ontario and the country.

A Look at Season 5 of This Is Mining: Origin Stories

Season 5 of This Is Mining: The Podcast explores how people discover their connection to mining, through classrooms, community experiences, early mentorship, or a surprising first encounter on a mine site. Joanne’s conversation appears in the second episode of a five- episode podcast season that explores mining through the voices of educators, students, industry experts, and government leaders. 

Episode one: Understanding Mining Through Cookies and Curiosity

Featuring Chelsea Renaud (Mining Matters), this episode shows how hands-on classroom activities help students understand what mining is and how it touches almost every part of daily life.

Episode two: City to Mine Site: An Educator’s Wake-Up Call

Teachers on Call President and CEO Joanne Sallay shares her first visit to a mine site, the misconceptions she challenged, and how the experience now informs how she guides students, families, and educators.

Episode three: Mining Lessons from the Field

Rob Millard, an Ontario Certified Teacher with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, demonstrates how he brings real-world mining examples into his classroom. Joanne and Rob attended the same Mining & Mineral Resources Educator Tour, and Joanne joked that Rob became her "go-to tutor" for mining. 

Episode four: Next Gen Miners: Journeys Just Beginning

Early-career professionals Hassan Yousif (Mining Engineer in Training) and Alika Maharaj (Geologist in Training) share their stories of mentorship, exploration programs, and what sparked their interest in mining.

Episode five: Mines, Minds, and Minister Stephen Lecce

The season concludes with an episode featuring the Honourable Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, who reflects on how his understanding of mining has evolved and why the province is committed to supporting young talent, critical minerals development, and modern mining innovation.

An Extraordinary Field Trip That Changed Everything

Before stepping onto a mine site, Joanne admits she knew little about modern mining. That is an experience shared by many Canadians. Joining 20 other educators on a northern tour changed her perspective. From the moment the group arrived, they encountered a level of sophistication and technology that challenged every preconceived idea of mining.

“It felt like stepping into the future.”

One of Joanne’s strongest memories is watching autonomous haul trucks and AI-driven machinery in action. At Côté Gold in Gogama, Ontario, located between Timmins and Sudbury, heavy equipment operates with technological precision and is supported by digital monitoring systems and remote control centres. For Joanne, this was not an incremental update to traditional mining. It was a leap into a new era.

The control room, she recalls, felt “like something straight out of a Netflix series.” It was a central hub where staff operated machinery remotely, monitored safety, and communicated seamlessly across the site. As she described in the episode, the experience reminded her more of The Jetsons than anything resembling historical portrayals of mining.

Safety, Inclusion, and the Human Side of Mining

A major takeaway for Joanne was the industry’s deep commitment to safety. Before the site tour, leaders delivered an in-depth briefing on protocols, communication, and protective equipment.

During her episode, Joanne wore orange PPE designed specifically for women by Covergalls, which became a discussion point with Amber. Inclusive workwear signals a broader commitment to diversity and belonging.

A far cry from the stereotypes.

Beyond cutting-edge operations and strict safety measures, Joanne was surprised by the vibrancy of the work-camp community. Staying overnight at the mine gave her a glimpse into life for workers who rotate on and off multi-day shifts.

What she found was camaraderie. “It reminded me of being back in university,” she said, “everyone eating together, laughing, connecting.”

The living amenities also defied expectations:

• high quality meals, closer to cruise ship dining than cafeteria food
• recreation spaces
• games rooms
• comfortable accommodations for workers who spend long stretches on site

This is a side of mining rarely shown in classrooms or curriculum.

Mining as a Classroom Conversation Starter

As an “accidental mining advocate”, Joanne naturally returned from the trip thinking about students.

• Why do young people hear so little about mining?
• Why are educators not talking about it?
• And how could schools better reflect the reality of modern Canadian industries?

Joanne explained that mining simply is not on the radar for most teachers or parents. When students do encounter mining, it is often through outdated imagery. They may picture coal miners with pickaxes or video game graphics that do not resemble real operations.

Her own children reacted with curiosity and excitement when she shared videos from the site. “Now, when my son sees a toy truck commercial on YouTube, he yells, ‘Mom, it’s mining.’”

This moment reinforced something important. Students cannot aspire to careers they do not know exist. Bringing mining into everyday conversations, even casually, can spark curiosity and broaden career imagination.

Connecting Mining to Everyday Life

One of the easiest entry points for educators and parents is helping students make connections between mining and the objects they use daily. Joanne often shares that when she told people she was visiting a gold mine, most responded by referencing jewellery. In reality, gold is essential to:

• medical devices
• smartphones
• computers
• renewable energy systems
• aerospace technologies

Similarly, critical minerals like nickel, copper, and cobalt are central to electric vehicles, batteries, and global clean energy strategies.

For students interested in geopolitics, business, engineering, environmental science, or technology, mining is deeply connected to the global conversations shaping their future.

Expanding Career Possibilities for Students

One of the most striking points Joanne emphasizes is that mining is not only for geologists or engineers. There are countless direct and indirect career opportunities in the skilled trades, STEM, and well beyond.

Mining needs everyone.

Modern mining operations employ:

• tradespeople
• software developers
• data analysts
• environmental scientists
• chefs
• nurses
• safety specialists
• logistics and business professionals
• HR teams
• community and communications experts

In a time when youth unemployment is making major headlines and many families worry about career uncertainty, mining offers meaningful and well-paid jobs across many disciplines. Through her work as President & CEO of Teachers on Call, Joanne sees firsthand how strong academic foundations in STEM, literacy, and critical thinking can open doors to diverse pathways, including careers students may not even know exist.

A Community You Would Not Expect

Throughout the podcast episode, Amber and Joanne discussed something less tangible but equally powerful. They spoke about the sense of community that defines the mining sector.

It is a community marked by collaboration, shared purpose, and a commitment to innovation. Joanne’s “accidental advocate” journey highlights how unexpected experiences can become transformative learning moments.

Why Learn More About Mining?

Joanne ends the episode with a simple question.
“Why not?”

Mining powers the technology we rely on, drives our economy, and offers diverse career paths for the next generation. Understanding mining helps students and families understand a major sector influencing their future.

For educators, parents, and students, learning about mining is not only about exploring a potential career option, it’s about understanding a major driver of our economy that impacts daily life in ways we often overlook. Want to dive deeper into Joanne’s experience on the mining tour? Check out our blog Uncovering Modern Mining: The Future Careers for Students You Didn’t Know Existed and explore the full This Is Mining podcast series to learn more.