CIM
The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) is the leading not-for-profit technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries.
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How often have you thought: “I wish the public had a better idea of what our industry is really like.” There is currently a widespread lack of understanding among Canadians about the minerals and metals industry in general as well as the contribution it makes to our economy and the quality of our everyday lives. Too often, the general public’s understanding and perceptions of the industry are based largely on outdated or incorrect information or derived from the way mining is often negatively portrayed in popular media.
Increasing the public’s awareness of the valuable contribution our industry makes to society is one of the key strategic goals of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). Every year, CIM and our Societies and Branches, as well as many other organizations, do a great deal of work to support this goal.
CIM’s traditional Mining for Society (M4S) program, which was exhibited during our national and some regional conferences, welcomed more than 75,000 visitors over a 10-year period. However, this outreach was largely limited to Montréal and Vancouver, the CIM Convention host cities. We feel the reach and impact can and should be greater!
This is why CIM has been working with Science North to evaluate the concept of a travelling exhibit focused on increasing public awareness of the full spectrum of Canada’s minerals, metals and materials sectors. The working title of the exhibit is “Our Earth's Riches” and it is being developed as an interactive, visitor-focused, high-tech experience for children and adults alike that will be hosted at science centres across Canada.
Based on current visitor information from various science centres, it is estimated that this exhibit would be experienced by 300,000 visitors a year. That’s 1,500,000 visitors over the 5-year life of the exhibit. This represents a significant increase in outreach above and beyond the traditional M4S display. Unlike M4S, Our Earth’s Riches will be on display full-time as it travels across Canada.
Located in Sudbury, Ontario, Science North is Canada’s second-largest science centre, and delivers exciting educational experiences to over 250,000 students and visitors annually.
Dynamic Earth, home of the Big Nickel, is a Science North exhibit that offers immersive, hands-on earth science and mining experiences, complete with a guided underground mining tour.
An external fundraising campaign began in late 2019 to help make this project a reality. CIM and Science North are pleased to announce that Don MacLean, founder and chairman of MacLean Engineering, has personally made a $100,000 contribution to this project.
The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum (CIM) has partnered with Science North to develop a mineral literacy program to increase and improve public awareness of the minerals and metals industry.
The exhibit would help promote mineral literacy through an interactive visitor’s experience aimed to be both educational as well as engaging.
Janice Zinck, CIM President, made a $3,000 charitable contribution to the CIM Foundation with proceeds directed to Science North, on behalf of PACE.
