Nova Scotia miners to hand cash to kids who can prove industry ‘rocks’

Make a 1-3 minute video OR a 30 second commercial about any aspect of mining or quarrying and have a chance to win C$750. (Image courtesy of MANS.)

The Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS) is once again calling junior high and high school students of the Atlantic Canadian province to participate in a video contest that aims to highlight why mining works.

Now in its sixth year, the Mining Rocks! competition encourages young Nova Scotians to produce short videos about mining and quarrying and gives them the chance of winning C$750 in five different categories, with C$500 going to the runner-up.

Mi’kmaq students living anywhere in Nova Scotia can enter a new category this year: Best Mi’kmaq video. Just like in the others, videos in this group can be about anything related to mining, minerals and geology that students find interesting. Entries can be in English or Mi’kmaq (with English subtitles).

Students can upload their videos to the MANS website until February 28 at 11:59pm. A panel of judges, who are mainly independent of the industry, will pick the winners for the Best Junior High School Video, Best High School Video, Best Comedy, Best Mi’kmaq and Best 30-Second Commercial.

The judging panel includes Derek Mombourquette, MLA for Sydney-Whitney Pier, Minister of Energy and Mines; Kevin Skillin, United States Consul General; Steve Parsons, general manager at Eskasoni First Nations; and MINING.COM editor Cecilia Jamasmie, among other community representatives.

“We are delighted to have such an impressive and diverse group of people serving as judges in this year’s contest,” said Sean Kirby, MANS’ executive director. “We really hope students will take advantage of this opportunity to learn about mining and put their creative efforts before this accomplished panel.”

Public voting for the People’s Choice Award runs from March 1 to April 1.