Nova Scotia miners to give C$8,000 to those who can prove industry ‘rocks’

The Mining ROCKS! contest, now in its fifth year, hopes to inspire children to learn about the industry, get creative and win big. (Image courtesy of Mining Association of Nova Scotia.)

As a way of raising awareness and interest in the mining industry among junior high and high school students in Nova Scotia, Canada, a provincial industry group is offering over C$8,000 in cash prizes to kids with some basic video skills.

The Mining ROCKS! contest, now in its fifth year, hopes to inspire children to learn about the industry, get creative and win big, Sean Kirby, executive director of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS) said in an emailed statement.

The popular competition is offering C$1,000 to each winner in five different categories, with C$500 going to the runner-up.

Mining Association of Nova Scotia is also offering C$1,000 to each winner in five different categories, with C$500 going to the runner-up.

Students are encouraged to use wide-ranging approaches to explain, illustrate, dramatize and emphasize the many uses of minerals and the mining industry’s importance to Nova Scotia. After all, mining in the Atlantic province dates back to 1672, with a few coal and gold companies recently restarting and opening mines in the area in the past three years.

“The videos can be about virtually any aspect of mining and quarrying, including its economic importance, environment and reclamation, historical facts and beneficial end-uses of mining products,” Kirby said.

The judging panel includes former Minister of Natural Resources and current Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines, Chief Terry Paul of Membertou First Nation and MINING.com’s own Cecilia Jamasmie.

Students will upload their 1-to-3 minute video or a 30 second commercial to the MANS website and 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 and Best 30-Second Commercial.  The public will decide who the winner of the fifth category is by voting online, in what’s known as the People’s Choice award.

See contest details and rules here.