Real Life Stories
Jim Morin, Ph.D., P. Geol.
Aboriginal Minerals Training, Mining Technology Program. School of Construction and the Environment, British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Métis
Jim Morin fell in love one hot, prairie summer day, back when he was thirteen. With rocks. And ever since then, they’ve been his passion.
“Every day I walked along the railway tracks,” says Morin, “and then one day, I actually looked at what I was walking on, and realised that beneath my feet lay treasure. Each stone was unique, told a story, had a history and marked time in some way. I was hooked by the mystery of rocks!”
So, when his grade eight science teacher skipped the chapter about geology, Jim’s disappointment turned to curiosity and he began his own quest to find out everything he could about rocks. By the end of high school he had read every book about geology he could in the local library, and there was no question about what he would study the next year in university.
By 1975, Jim had a Ph.D. in Geology and was on his way to Whitehorse to work with Indian and Northern Affairs. In the mid-1980s, Jim headed back to Vancouver, where he worked for the nickel company, Inco Limited (now Vale Inco); in that job, he travelled all over North America working on mineral exploration projects. During a trip to Alaska, Jim was visiting an exploration site discovered by Inuit prospectors and quickly realised they could have used some training to make their prospecting more successful.
While he didn’t make it back to Alaska to train the Inuit he met on that project, fast forward to today, and Jim Morin is putting his idea into action at BCIT, as head of the Aboriginal Minerals Training program. In his job, Jim travels to Aboriginal communities across the province, training people about minerals and exploration.
There are several different courses available and Jim is quick to point out something very important: “The entry level requirement for our 15-week program is Grade 10. Often in the mineral exploration and mining industry, Grade 12 is a minimum requirement for jobs and training programs. Many people in Aboriginal communities do not complete high school and this becomes a huge barrier for them to overcome. Our program offers everyone an opportunity, from teenagers to people in their 60s!”
One of the most rewarding things about teaching comes when Jim reconnects with former students: “There’s nothing better than running into people I’ve taught when I’m on a field trip to a working mine, or a mineral exploration project. When the students I’m teaching at the time listen to former graduates of the program share their experiences, it’s so inspiring for all of us. These people are real life examples of Aboriginal people working in mineral exploration and mining and they become role models for what is possible.”
What about Jim’s advice to Aboriginal students and people thinking about what to do next?
“Finish high school, if you can. It’s free education, available to everyone, and there are many different ways you can get it done.” He continues, “After that, try to find something you are passionate about. I was lucky; I knew early on I wanted to work with rocks. But I didn’t think about teaching for many years. I worked really hard, stuck at things (even when the going was tough) and today, I have a rewarding career, sharing something I love with Aboriginal people across BC.”