An Exploration and Mining Symposium held last week in Burns Lake provided locals with an introduction to the industry.
The symposium was sponsored by the Association of Mineral Exploration of B.C.
Andrea Kosalko, a consultant with Community Relations Workforce Development and Kirby Muldore, with Kirby Muldore and Associates hosted the two day event.
More than 50 locals attended each day.
The Burns Lake symposium is part of a pilot project that was also offered recently in Hazelton and is aimed at Aboriginal and rural communities.
"It is being held to help people understand mining and the employment opportunities that are available in the industry," Kosalko said.
Approximately $220 million was spent in the Skeena Region during 2011 on exploration, which is equal to almost half the amount spent on exploration in the entire province.
"The Skeena Region is the area where most of the mining exploration is taking place," Kosalko said.
As well as job opportunities Kosalko said there is plenty of opportunities offered in training for mine industry employment in the North.
She said both the College of New Caledonia (CNC) and the Northwest Community College are offering educational and training programs in mining related fields.
"It is important for people to know what is going on in their area and important to know what types of jobs there is available. At each stage in exploration there is different job opportunities available," she added.