Gr. 12 Environment Students Engage in Mining Simulation
Students in the Gr. 12 Environment and Resource Management course have worked in small groups to purchase a mine site and pay a reclamation bond. They mined their site over a series of 15 "years" making choices about exploration, investment in equipment, and the management of tailings, water sources, wildlife, and human settlement. They kept detailed accounting sheets which allowed them to chart profitability of their mine over time, explore the effectiveness of their investments, and examine how they used other resources once the most valuable minerals were depleted. Fines were issued for environmental damage and human rights violations. In the end, all mines turned a profit, all waterways were irreparably damaged, several fines were issued, and most sites were reclaimed effectively.
This activity gave students real world insights into some of the steps in mining, the roles of regulation, the importance of mining, and the balance of caring for people, profitability, and the environment in resource management. We began this unit looking at the Ontario government's proposed Building More Mines Act, 2023 to amend the Mining Act. We will return to the Building More Mines Act to determine the possible impacts of this Act. What will the impact of mining critical minerals look like as we switch to a greener, tech driven economy in the future?
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Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
