Growing up, I’ve always loved the outdoors. In high school, I had a teacher, a former geologist, who kept recounting stories of flying into remote regions, camping in the bush, and exploring wild terrain. That did it for me. What I love about geology is that it’s not a perfect science. It forces you to think creatively, question what you’re seeing, and constantly adapt.

I started my career in Northern Quebec and gradually made my way west, eventually settling in British Columbia, partly for fewer mosquitoes. One of the highlights was working near Stewart, where I helped restart work at the Red Mountain project, a site in a high alpine setting nestled between the Bromley Glacier and the Cambria Icefield. Operating there nearly year-round, including through winter, meant managing a significant amount of logistical detail, dealing with harsh weather and, at times, questioning your sanity. That’s where I thrive: solving problems, building teams, and showing that with the right approach, even the most challenging environments can be worked effectively.

At the core of it, I believe mineral exploration matters because it underpins so much of modern life. Everything from electronics to infrastructure depends on the resources we find. Today, there’s a clear shift toward doing things responsibly, working with communities, protecting the environment, and finding more sustainable ways forward. To skeptics, I’d say the industry has evolved. The people doing this work live here too, and we care about protecting the land.

I was in school for geology and was drawn to fieldwork as a student. It didn’t take long before I realized I really liked working directly with the rocks, so when I graduated and had the opportunity to stay on, it felt like a natural decision. Getting hired right out of school and having that sense of job security was a great feeling, and it confirmed I was on the right track.

A lot of my day is spent logging drill core in detail, identifying rock types, alterations, minerals present, structures or veins running through them. Over time, each piece begins to reveal its own history. You can see where the rock has been, what’s happened to it, and the forces that shaped it over time. It’s like reading a story that doesn’t use words.

Technology is expanding what we can do here even further. We can now get data almost immediately and sometimes analyze rocks on-site without having to wait for lab results. That’s made the exploration process faster and more dynamic; it’s exciting to be part of that shift while learning from some of the best in the field.

For me, mineral exploration provides more than just deposits. It creates jobs, supports communities, and offers an experience you just can’t get in a classroom. That’s what keeps me coming back every day.

I didn’t set out to become a geologist. In fact, I found it almost by accident.

Through my passion for environmental studies and sciences, I stumbled upon geology and it just clicked: it’s a combination of science, the outdoors, and a sense of discovery in a way I hadn’t experienced before. From that point on, I never looked back.

Today, my job at Tripoint Geological Services takes me into the field collecting rock and soil samples, mapping geological terrains, and prospecting new areas. That sense of exploration is what drives me, but so does the impact on a more sustainable future. The minerals we’re searching for are essential to clean energy technologies and the infrastructure that supports modern life.

I believe Canada has a real responsibility here. We have the resources, the expertise and the opportunity to lead, not just in supplying critical minerals but also in doing it better. That means continuing to innovate, improving systems, and investing in the people and technologies that make mineral exploration more sustainable.

At the end of the day, every big mine was once a small project. It starts with people like me, out in the field, collecting samples and analyzing the data.

I’m a born-and-raised Prairie kid who never outgrew an obsession with big machines and even bigger landscapes. I lead greenfield mineral exploration for Finning Canada. After 25 years in the energy industry, I switched to minerals because exploration now sits at the heart of Canada’s economic independence, and the clean-tech and security supply chains we need for the future.   

 My job is pretty straight forward. I help early-stage projects across Western Canada get the gear and guidance they need to go from rocks in the ground to fully fledged mining programs. The best part is seeing the talent and optimism on site and knowing the work we do today helps turn tiny red dots on the map into long-term economic engines for communities. Exploration is a team sport, and we get the best outcomes when we pair strong operations with responsible relationships on the ground.   

 A moment I’ll never forget was flying into a gold prospect in B.C.’s Golden Triangle last year. The pilot skimmed over a glacier and dropped into a sun-lit valley. Beauty like that keeps me hooked and focused on building a mineral future that keeps opportunity and ownership here at home.   

I’m a proud Vancouverite, and I spend my days supporting mineral exploration at every level with SLR Consulting. For over 20 years, minerals have been my passport, taking me from Vancouver geology labs to field camps across North and South America, and deep into the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. I’ve led teams that turn promising copper, gold, silver, and lithium showings into the deposits our phones, homes, and EVs depend on. Deposits that Canada needs to stay competitive in a world racing toward electrification.  

 Today, I focus on the big picture, guiding teams on projects as they assist clients to shape growth strategies, earn community trust, and move discoveries toward production in a way that’s responsible, transparent, and sustainable over the long term. A highlight of my career has been helping transform a discovery into an operating mine that strengthened the economic health of its community. To me, it’s proof that smart geology and strong partnerships can reshape lives and move mountains.  

 What excites me is the mix of impact and people that drive our industry. Every meter we drill moves progress forward. It creates space for new talent to grow, strengthens opportunities for meaningful engagement, and contributes to the economic engine that keeps our country competitive. Whether I’m reviewing samples or working alongside Indigenous and local partners, I’m reminded that the most successful projects are the ones built together.  

I grew up in northern B.C. not quite sure what I wanted to do, until a structural-engineering co-op introduced me to the scale, problem-solving, and possibility of minerals. When I moved to Vancouver, I pivoted into mineral exploration and haven’t looked back.  

For 25 years, I’ve paired exploration teams with the tools, partners, and services they need to thrive. I started by supporting junior companies searching for diamonds, uranium, and silver, then moved to the provider side, helping teams adopt new technologies across the Americas to improve the way we mineral exploration. Along the way, I earned an MBA in Leading Innovation and Change and completed MIT’s Approach to Design Thinking program, so I could turn complex challenges into practical solutions that work in the field.  

Today, as Vice-President of Growth at Capital Limited, my focus is simple: help clients work smarter, faster, and cleaner, while building trust with communities and partners. Mineral exploration is a major industry in B.C., and when it’s supported and done well, it strengthens jobs, local businesses, and long-term economic resilience across the province.   

Market cycles come and go, but our tight-knit exploration community is the constant that keeps projects moving, keeps innovation rolling and creates future opportunity for our country.