Saint Mary’s University to launch mining engineering program this fall

A new mining engineering program set to launch this fall at Saint Mary’s University comes at a pivotal time for Nova Scotia’s resource sector, as gold mining activity in the province begins to regain momentum.

Provincial regulators recently granted industrial approval to Atlantic Mining NS, a subsidiary of Australia’s St Barbara, to resume gold processing operations at the Touquoy site in Moose River, N.S. The approval marks a significant step toward renewed activity in the province’s mining industry.

The development follows another major project in the province, as Toronto-based NexGold Mining Corp. prepares to begin construction this year in the surface (open-pit) Goldboro mine. Together, these projects signal a broader resurgence in Nova Scotia’s gold sector.

Against this backdrop, Saint Mary’s University is introducing a bachelor of engineering in resource engineering, with mining engineering as one of two specialization streams. The second stream will focus on renewable energy engineering, reflecting the province’s growing investment in clean energy.

The new program addresses a gap in local education pathways. Until now, students in Halifax could complete the first three years of engineering at Saint Mary’s before transferring to another institution to specialize. Mineral resource engineering had previously been offered at Dalhousie University but was suspended in 2022.

The university expects an initial cohort of 20 to 25 students and has already accepted applicants from across the province for the fall intake. The program was developed in consultation with industry stakeholders across Nova Scotia and Canada, particularly within mining and natural resource sectors.