Get the theoretical and hands-on experience that will upscale your skills in a short amount of time. These short courses are taught by subject experts and will provide you with an up-to-the minute understanding of current scholarship and practices. Boost your CV and your knowledge of new technologies, cutting-edge systems and problem-solving designs.

Full day short course: Price includes two coffee breaks, lunch and course notes

Regular registration: $375

Student registration: $100

Half day short course: Price includes one coffee break and course notes

Regular registration: $175

Student registration: $50

Short courses are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The organizer reserves the right to cancel a short course if the number of participants does not meet the minimum number required.

• Applied Numerical Modeling in Geomechanics

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  Applied Numerical Modeling in Geomechanics
  Facilitator: Navid Bahrani, Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University

   

  Numerical modeling is widely used for the design and stability analysis of underground excavations. The focus of this short course is on the application of numerical modeling in geomechanics. First, the fundamentals of rock mechanics will be briefly reviewed. Then, numerical modelling will be used to analyze the stresses and displacements around underground excavations. Finally, methodologies for the design of ground support systems using numerical modeling will be presented. The ground support design will be based on a case history of a deep mine shaft in hard rock. This course is recommended to professionals and students with a background in mining engineering, rock mechanics, and geological and geotechnical engineering.

   

  Course outline:

  Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics: Standard rock mechanics laboratory tests, Intact rock failure criteria, Rock mass characterization and classification systems, Estimation of rock mass strength and deformation properties, In situ stress measurement techniques

  Stresses and Displacement Around Underground Openings: Analytical and numerical methods, Constitutive models and material behaviors, elastic stress analysis, factor of safety, stress redistribution due to rock mass yielding, elastic and inelastic deformation

  Ground Support Design: Convergence confinement method, Simulation of 3D excavation advance using 2D numerical models, Excavation wall stability analysis, Model calibration, Support installation timing, Ground support effectiveness.

   

  Target Audience:

  Ground control engineers, rock mechanics engineers, mining engineers, geotechnical engineers, graduate students

   

  About the Instructor:

  Navid Bahrani is an Assistant Professor of mining engineering at Dalhousie University, NS, Canada. Navid teaches and conducts research in the areas of rock mechanics and the application of numerical modeling in mining geomechanics and tunnelling. Prior to joining Dalhousie in 2017, he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Lassonde Institute of Mining for two years. He also worked as a Research Engineer at MIRARCO’s Geomechanics Research Centre (GRC) in Sudbury, ON. At GRC, he was involved in various projects in North America, including in situ stress measurement, rock mass characterization, rock mass deformation monitoring, and ground support design using numerical modeling. Navid is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario.

   

• �Integrated Tailings Management: Focussing on Safety and Effective Standard Compliance (8:30-17:00)

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  Integrated Tailings Management: Focussing on Safety and Effective Standard Compliance
  Facilitator: Alistair Kent, Senior Project Manager, Merit Consultants International

   

  As in previous years ESRS continues to present workshops on the broad issues of mine waste management, and to promote awareness  and balanced perspective of current challenges and leading practices.  The proposed panel will discuss how leading practices are meeting the expectations of both new and well established standards and guidance for safe zero harm facilities.  A summary of the preceding conference workshop entitled “Integrated Tailings Management: Focusing on Safety and Effective Standard Compliance” will be presented, together with position statements by each panelist.  Panelists will include senior accountable executives from industry and senior consultants, with representation from the Mining Association of Canada.  Gaps and challenges will range from technical to social.  This session seeks to inform the general CIM membership as to the state of the union in mine waste management, not only the problems and challenges, but also the successes in protecting the public and the environment.

   

  Target Audience:

  The suggested audience includes the executives of the C-suite, Accountable Engineers, Responsible Tailings Facility Engineers, Engineers of Record, asset managers, consultants, reviewers, and in particular the upcoming younger professionals working in tailings management.

   

  Panelists:

   

  Colleen Crystal, Principal Engineer, SRK Consulting on “Risk Assessment and Risk Informed Decision Making (A Consultant’s Perspective)”

  Michael Davies, Senior Advisor, Teck Resources on: “Is compliance undermining excellence – potential barriers to sound judgement?”

  Charles Dumaresq, Vice President, Science and Environmental Management, Mining Association of Canada Imran Gillani, Principal Advisor, Tailings and Dams, Rio Tinto on “The Inadequacy and Risk of Compliance”

  Michel Julien, VP Environment and Critical Infrastructure, Agnico Eagle Mines on “Capturing the industry’s diversity within different guidances”

  Chad LePoudre, Global Practice Lead Tailings, Resource Centre of Excellence, BHP on “A well reasoned argument for ALARP”

  Greg Puro, Manager Dams – Vale Base Metals on “ The Challenge of multi-jurisdictional compliance”

  Karen Chovan, CEO and Founder, Enviro Integration Strategies Inc. on “Reducing Risk, Layer by layer”

  Imran Gillani, Principal Advisor, Tailings and Dams, Rio Tinto on “GISTM: Implementation and Governance Brief”

   

• Steps in Open Pit Mine Design  

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  Steps in Open Pit Mine Design
  Facilitator: Anoush Ebrahimi, Principal Consultant, SRK Canada

  It is important for the team members of any mining project, particularly the decision makers, to have a clear understanding of the mine design process and the stages of mine development. This course reviews and discusses the principles of open pit mine design, using examples and practice exercises. Some of the most important aspects of mine design are introduced and explained.

   

  COURSE DESCRIPTION

  The course begins by explaining the stages of mining projects and is followed by defining strategic mine planning as a crucial evaluation tool for open pit projects. It demonstrates how, by using strategic mine planning techniques, it is possible to uncover project opportunities and risks.

  Open pit mine design techniques are introduced including the Lerchs-Grossmann (LG) pit optimization algorithm. Design input parameters and constraints for mine design are introduced and explained. The effect of input parameters on the economics of projects is explored. Additional concepts introduced are mill production rate determination, mining dilution, cut-off grade analysis, stockpiling, mine production scheduling, and NPV optimization. Some of the topics include case studies and examples of real-life projects. To further develop a good understanding of the concepts, example exercises will be undertaken in the workshop. So please bring your laptop to class.

   

  OBJECTIVES:

  This course will help you and your team achieve the following objectives:

  • Learn the principles of pit optimization and mine planning for those who are involved in the decision-making process for mining projects.
  • Become familiar with the procedures, terms, conditions, limits, and critical inputs of mine design.
  • Help readers of technical reports and investors better understand and interpret mine design reports.
  • Discuss key mine design terms and concepts (e.g., best case, worst case, base case, cut-off and cut-over grade, strip ratio, metal equivalent, and dilution).
  • Review and discuss certain mine design techniques (e.g., LG algorithm and production scheduling).

   

  WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

  • Engineers and geologists involved in mining projects
  • Managers and directors of exploration and mining companies
  • Bankers, financial professionals, and investors
  • Project managers who are not familiar with mine design

   

  “TAKE-AWAYS”

  • Understanding the steps of open pit mine design
  • Becoming familiar with the procedures, terms, conditions, limits, and critical inputs
  • Grasping a bigger picture of the stages for open pit mine development
  • Gaining a better understanding of fundamental concepts in mine design such as cut-off grade, dilution and optimization
  • An excel file to practice with

   

  ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

  Anoush Ebrahimi is a mining engineer with 30 years of experience in mine planning and design, from conceptual studies through to construction. He has designed small and large open pit mines in Canada and abroad that are in operation now. Anoush specializes in strategic mine planning, mine evaluation, open pit optimization and design, production scheduling, mine layout optimization, mine simulation, and computer modelling. Dr. Anoush Ebrahimi is an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia and an active member of CIM, SME and Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

  Maximum 20 participants

• Mining 101

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  Mining 101
  Facilitator: George McIsaac, General Manager, G-MEC

  This course is an introduction to mining and mineral processing. Basics concepts will be presented along with many pictures, videos, and anecdotes so that the participants will have a better understanding of public information provided by exploration and mining companies.
   
  The course content includes:
  ·        The activities of a mining company
  ·        Geology
  ·        Resources estimation and reporting
  ·        Open pit mining
  ·        Underground mining
  ·        Mineral processing
   
  By the end of the course, the participants will have basics knowledge of
  • how minerals are formed
  • how we explore for them
  • how we estimate how much there is in an orebody
  • how we mine them
  • how we process them
  
  Target Audience:
  This course is designed for people working in sales, HR, accounting, law, investment, and government who deal with geologist and engineers and need to understand the work they do. The knowledge gained here will help you ask the right questions when dealing with technical people.

  About the Instructor:
  George McIsaac is a mining engineer and a mineral economist focused on orebody assessment. He has 35 years’ experience in industry, consulting, research and development, and teaching. He specializes in project economics, combining design, planning, and cash flow estimation, to guide mining executives. George is a member of the Mining Basics Group of Canada.

• NI 43-101; Avoiding Pitfalls and Issues (9:00-15:30)

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  NI 43-101; Avoiding Pitfalls and Issues
  Facilitator: Kirkham Garth, current Co-Chair of CIM’s Mineral Resource - Mineral Reserves Committee

  A half-day introduction and practical application of NI 43-101. This course has been specifically prepared to introduce mining industry executives, finance & legal professionals and other management professionals to the requirements of National Instrument NI 43-101. Garth Kirkham, current Co-Chair of CIM’s Mineral Resource - Mineral Reserves Committee will cover reporting requirements from initial Technical Report through to PEA, PFS & FS development stages.

  Objectives:

  To inform and educate

  Target audience:

  Geologists, Engineers, Execs and Finance and Legal

  About the Instructor:

  Garth Kirkham, current Co-Chair of CIM’s Mineral Resource - Mineral Reserves Committee

• How to Design, Implement, and Sustain an MOS - Management Operating System (Mining Ops / Maintenance)

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  How to Design, Implement, and Sustain an MOS - Management Operating System (Mining Ops / Maintenance)
  Facilitator: David Truchot, President, Veltiosis Consulting LLC

  Management Operating Systems (or MOS) are not well understood, and this course aims to share our expertise and some of the key tools to start identifying gaps that slow your organization’ successes and launch sustainable correction action plans.  We will review with you best practices that are in use at the bottom of pits or in maintenance workshops and share some of this insider knowledge so you can start optimizing your operations.

  Some of the key tools we will review are:  Planning Controls, Short Interval Control, DWOR (Daily Weekly Operating Report), Skills Flex Matrices, Variance Reports, Robust Action Logs, and Root Cause Corrective Action tools & processes (RCCA). 

  We will provide you with a critical approach and a proven suite of tools that are used in daily production meetings, at dispatch, or in maintenance workshops, day in / day out.  We will also share with you some of the pitfalls and strategies to ensure your changes are sustainable.

  The course materials are based on years of analysis, design and sustainable implementation of robust Management Operating Systems at various production facilities or maintenance organizations in many industries across the world (Mining, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Pulp & Paper and Aerospace).

  Presentation objectives

  • Learn what are the key components of a Management Operating System
  • Use tools right away to identify key gaps in your organization
  • Review practical tools that are used in mining / maintenance organizations
  • Identify the limits of IT Systems over behaviors
  • Understand the 3 components of change (process/system/behavior)
  • Learn how to make change sustainable (understand why change fails)

   

  Target audience:

  Mine Managers, Mine Superintendent, Mine Supervisors, Continuous Improvement Managers, Maintenance Managers, Maintenance Superintendents

   

  About the Instructor:

  David Truchot has been in consulting for more than 20 years, he has delivered sustainable management operating systems at more than 30 mines and manufacturing plants worldwide. His specialty is in designing sustainable tools and implementing change that are simple but that yield sustainable operational results, in the field, with your teams. He holds a Six Sigma Green Belt and speaks French, English and Spanish. Member of SME, CIM, and PDAC

• Leading With Emotional Intelligence

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  Leading With Emotional Intelligence
  Facilitators: Eric Kasoyaga, BD Manager, and David Cory, President / Trainer / Coach, The Emotional Intelligence Training Company Inc

  As Miners and Professionals working in the petroleum industry, you required excellent technical skills to get you to where you are now in your professional career. But if you are to progress to the next level in your career or you want to be a more effective leader, what will that require? We now have over 3 decades of research on emotional intelligence (EI). Yale University has its Centre for the Study of EI. Google, Nike, Amazon and Microsoft base their leadership development programs on one specific model of EI. And the World Economic Forum has identified EI as a top employment skill for 2020. And yet, the concept of EI or EQ remains poorly understood by many. What exactly is EI/EQ and why is it so important for professionals in a technical field? Join David Cory, coach and leadership development specialist, as he shares with you what you need to know as someone who works in this field.

   

  By the end of the course participants will be able to:

  1) Explain what we mean by emotional intelligence and how it can help them in their professional career

  2) Describe one of the world’s leading models of emotional intelligence

  3) Take away 5 Keys for Developing Emotional Intelligence Competencies

   

  Target Audience:

  Manager, Directors, VPs, Presidents, CEOs

   

  About the Instructor:

  David Cory is a leadership development coach, trainer, and consultant known for his expertise in applying the concept of emotional intelligence to individual and organizational performance improvement. David founded one of the first companies in North America to focus on the development of leadership based on emotional intelligence in 1998. In the course of his work, David has been an invited guest of the Sultan of Brunei, worked under armed guard in Nigeria, been kicked out of a restricted area in Saudi Arabia, chased by an elephant in Zambia, and sang for royalty in Malaysia. David’s company completed the design of a leadership course based on emotional intelligence for the citizens of the Republic of Botswana. Finally, David was a key-note speaker at an international EQ conference at the Harvard Medical School in 2013 and was the closing Key-Note speaker at the Asia HRD Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in July 2016.