Order of Sancta Barbara - Winner 1999
Maureen LipkewichWest Vancouver, British Columbia
“In recognition of outstanding service to the mining industry by enhancing the industry’s public image through her leadership of the Mining Association of British Columbia’s Mineral Industry Education Program for students.”
Maureen Lipkewich has been an active member of British Columbia’s mining community for over thirty years. Having lived and raised children in Vancouver, Tumbler Ridge and Kamloops, she has first-hand knowledge of the realities and importance of mining to the province. Her community life led her to become an enthusiastic volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society, Miss Teen Canada Committee, Hospital Auxiliary Groups, Community Arts Councils, the Provincial “Festival of the Arts,” and Recreation Centres teaching painting. Her enthusiasm to share this knowledge of and belief in the mining industry with BC’s youth led her, in 1990, to take on the volunteer position of Chairperson of the Education Committee of the Greater Vancouver Mining Women’s Association. She became an instrumental force behind the development of the Mining Week Careers Fair, and in 1991, accepted a position with the Mining Association of British Columbia to spearhead and coordinate their newly initiated education project. Today, as Director of Education Programs for the Mining Association, she and a unique team of teacher partners have successfully realized the development of seven stand alone resources on minerals, mining and geoscience that are matched to curriculum from kindergarten to grade twelve. Through this education project, over 2,500 teachers who teach in 50 of BC’s 59 school districts, and over 250,000 students in 1,000 schools have been learning about the importance of the minerals industry.