Every summer, a new group of students join the team at New Afton Mine, bringing with them fresh perspectives, energy, and a desire to learn.
Brooklyn Hendry, Human Resources Summer Student, admitted she wasn’t sure what to expect stepping into a role she had never done before.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and welcoming everyone was,” she said. “People encouraged me to make mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward. That kind of support made me feel comfortable and part of the team right away.”
Emily Savoia worked as part of the Health and Safety department, contributing her skills to a company-wide poster campaign. In addition, her experience as a summer student exposed her to many different aspects of work done at the mine—some of which she never imagined when she signed up for a position.
“One of the highlights for me was being the ‘patient’ during Fire & Mine Rescue competition training,” explained Emily. “I never expected to be strapped to a gurney and carried up a shaft in a mock explosion scenario. It was fascinating to watch the team at work and see how they handled everything so efficiently. It was also reassuring because it showed me firsthand how prepared they are to respond if something ever happened on site.”
Mathew Desmond, Innovation & Technology Summer Student, worked with site professionals across departments to support service delivery and the overall management of IT infrastructure, including projects that had significant impact on production.
“I was the main person responsible for creating the map for our underground tracking system,” recalled Matthew. “That’s the map we’ll now use to track our machines underground, and I can already see it live on the platform. It’s a great feeling to know that my work will continue to be useful after I leave.”
Together, these reflections highlight the career possibilities at New Afton—a workplace where people feel welcomed, where safety is both practiced and lived, and where contributions make a lasting difference. This year’s summer students have not only gained valuable experience, but they’ve made an impact that will last beyond their time with New Afton.
Summer student positions are posted in March each year. To learn more and stay updated on these and other career opportunities, visit www.newgold.com/careers.
