Pictured: Amy Lefebvre (middle) with the Wyloo team.
The University of Western Ontario Environmental Science student Amy Lefebvre’s dedication to her studies has paid off, earning her the Women in Mining Canada Indigenous Student Trailblazer Award, with Wyloo one of the proud sponsors.
The Indigenous Student Trailblazer Award is one of five annual awards presented by Women in Mining Canada that recognizes the achievements, leadership and ‘trailblazing spirit’ of women in the Canadian mining industry.
Currently completing her bachelor’s thesis in geology as part of her fourth year of studies, Amy has always been curious about the world and the environment having grown up in Timmins, a small city surrounded by lakes and forests in the heart of the mineral-rich area of Northern Ontario.
Amy’s passion for geology has seen her embrace a variety of opportunities through her studies, including internships, research, mentorship roles and a leadership position at the University’s earth science association, with her achievements making Amy a well-deserving winner of the prestigious award.
Métis, French and Italian by background, Amy said it was special to receive such an acknowledgement so early in her career.
“Winning the Indigenous Student Trailblazer Award validates my accomplishments and contributions to the mining industry so far,” she said.
“I’m proud of my achievement and I hope it will encourage other Métis citizens to embrace their heritage and pursue their passions as well.
“It’s an accomplishment that reflects positively on me, my family, and my community, and I am so proud that everyone who has supported my journey is reflected in this award.”
Amy said the award had provided motivation to pursue more opportunities in the mining industry and continue making meaningful contributions to the field into the future.
“The award enables me to continue my passion for discovering more about the earth, how humans influence it, the possible long-term consequences of our activities and the sustainable practices we can implement to hopefully prevent the worst of these consequences from occurring,” she said.
“As a passionate academic, I’m looking forward to continuing my education in geology through research and new initiatives before entering the workforce, which will give me time to learn more about the mining industry and the many career opportunities on offer through geology.”
Amy believes the award helps promote participation of women in mining, and other fields that have been male-dominated in the past.
“I feel empowered to be in a position where I am able to excel in this field and be recognized for my accomplishments,” she said.
“Uplifting women through awards like this is a good step in the right direction to promote the face of positive female role models in the industry. Continuing to do so over a long period of time will hopefully aggregate more attention from young women looking to enter the field and give them the confidence to do so.
“Moreover, continuing to work towards equality in the workforce and addressing the barriers that women in mining face is very important to keep women in this field once they have entered their careers.
“I am confident the future is bright for me and my colleagues with organizations like Wyloo and Women in Mining Canada as vocal supporters of diversity and equity.”
Wyloo CEO, Canada Kristan Straub said it was a pleasure to sponsor Amy’s travel and attendance at the awards ceremony held at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto on March 5, 2024.
“We congratulate Amy on her exceptional achievements in her studies and career so far, which we are very proud to support,” Kristan said.
“Amy is a well-deserving candidate of the Indigenous Student Trailblazer Award. We look forward to watching Amy’s career flourish as she paves the way for future generations.”
Amy said Wyloo’s sponsorship enabled her to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the awards ceremony.
“Without Wyloo’s sponsorship, I wouldn’t have been able to attend the award ceremony due to the financial burden of travel. It was a privilege to meet the Women in Mining Canada team, Wyloo and the supporters that came to the award ceremony,” she said.
“Thank you for your support.”
