The Mining Association of Manitoba has elected a woman as its new president—a first for the organization since it was established in 1940.
Stacy Kennedy, who works as manager of health, safety and operational risk at Vale Manitoba Operations in Thompson, Man., joined the Mining Association of Manitoba (MAMI) four years ago under the mentorship of other members.
“I am excited and humbled to serve in this new role,” she says. “In my family, I have one older brother. We were both raised equal, and if you work hard, everything is possible.”
A professional geologist originally from Newfoundland, Kennedy moved to Manitoba in 2007 and was excited for the province’s world class ore deposits. An ore deposit is a portion of the Earth’s crust from which industrial raw material can be extracted economically. Ore is extracted from the earth through mining.
“I was mainly focused on finding metals as opposed to understanding the extraction of them. Once I became part of the mining industry, I realized there was no going back,” she says.
With more than 15 years of experience in the mining industry, Kennedy previously worked for the government of Newfoundland Department of Natural Resources prior to joining Vale in 2007. She has progressed through several geology positions, serving as chief mine geologist and then moving to the operating side as mine manager and interim general manager.
As the Mining Association of Manitoba’s new president, Kennedy says part of the mandate will focus on reshaping perspectives about mining.
“Mining has come a long way and the innovations in our work environments are much different than what I saw on television as a child,” she says. “We’re a modern, safe, ethical and both socially and environmentally conscious industry. We’re a large employer and have a positive impact on communities as well as local and provincial economies.”
Kennedy says mining plays a critical role in providing materials for the provincial economy. According to the Government of Manitoba, the 2019 value of mining and petroleum production totalled $2.5 billion. The mining and petroleum industries make up the third-largest primary resource industry of the province’s economy.
“The mining sector has a major impact on the provincial economy, employment, taxes and revenue,” Kennedy says. “In terms of the materials mined in the province, the products are in our everyday lives, from the roadbed that makes our highways, the cars that drive on them, the foods we eat and the medical treatments we receive. If we look around, it’s a struggle to find something our society depends on that is possible without mining.”
This fall, Kennedy will preside over her first MAMI board meeting—the first time the organization’s board and members will meet in-person in nearly three years.
“I am proud to be part of MAMI and to now lead the team,” Kennedy says. “I look forward to working together with industry partners and contributing to building a significant future for mining in Manitoba.”
