Brian Olive never expected to share his mining career with his daughter.

Yet, Peyton – one of four daughters in the Olive family – followed in his footsteps with enthusiasm and passion, pursuing an electrical engineering apprenticeship at Garson Mine.

“I never even considered it,” Bryan, a Vale employee since 2001, recalls of the prospect of working side by side with his daughter.

Craig Tracey – who began his career at Garson 30 years ago and whose daughter Madison is now a Production Miner – shares this sentiment

“Even though Madison’s grandfather was a miner, and I’m in the industry, I never once looked at Madison when she was a baby and thought we’d be working together one day,” he said.

The notion didn’t occur to him until 2020, when Vale launched its first Miners-in-Training program specifically for women.

Madison, however, always considered mining a part of her blood.

“Mining, and working for Vale in particular, was such a big part of my life growing up - my dad and my friend’s dads all worked at Vale, so I had lots of exposure to the industry,” she said.

“When I first heard about the MIT program, I thought it was a great opportunity.”

Pat Levac, who began his career at Garson in 2006, encouraged his daughter Lexina to enroll in the Miners-in-Training program as well.

“Lexina and I have always been very similar, and when we started talking a potential career path for her, I brought her underground for a tour and said ‘maybe you should look into this as a career for you. It’s in our blood, after all.’ ”

“I never realized I was part of a legacy,” Lexina confirms.

Lexina, who has worked at Garson as a Miner-In-Training since September 2023, is the fourth generation of Levacs to don a hard hat; the third to do so at Garson.

Alyssa Charsley, an Engineer-in-Training, also has a Garson legacy. Her dad, Andy, began his career as an Engineer in 2000, but Garson was a special place for him even before then.

“My dad passed away about 30 years ago, but he worked here in the 1950s on the 2200 level,” Andy said.

“He would be so honoured to see his granddaughter working here, at the same mine he was so proud to work at.”

“I never got the chance to meet my grandpa,” Alyssa said. “Sometimes, when I’m up on the upper levels, it reminds me of him. I think to myself, grandpa could have been here.It’s such a unique opportunity that not many people have.”

Beyond Bloodlines

At Garson Mine, 'family' means more than just blood relatives. It includes everyone in the mine, creating a culture of camaraderie and care. That's why Craig was thrilled when Madison chose to work with him at Garson.

“I’ve worked here since 1995, and I’ve always felt like this place and the people who work here are my family,” he said. “When Madison joined, it wasn't just me looking out for her – it was all of us, every single person here.

"She gained a family of 200 uncles, all dedicated to her safety and success.”

Echoing Craig, Andy highlights Garson's ingrained culture of mutual care and respect.

“I’ve known many of my colleagues for decades, long before Alyssa was born,” Andy said. “They've watched her grow up, and now, they watch over her down here, ensuring she's safe."

Andy continued, “the priority for us isn't just about getting the job done; it's ensuring that every one of us goes home safe to our families."

Forging the Future

The industry's evolution towards inclusivity and safety is a change observed and welcomed by Pat.

"Ten years ago, I would not have recommended mining as a career path for Lexina,” he admits. "But now, with how much safer it is, and the way mines have evolved, it's easier for everyone to come in and be able to succeed. Everything has changed for the better.”

This sentiment is echoed by Craig, who marvels at the progress he’s seen within his own career span.

“When I started my career here at Garson Mine in the 1990s, there was one woman working underground. Now, there's 15-20 women on the crews here. It's remarkable and a sign the industry is moving in the right direction," he said.

Among the group of eight, everyone shares a vision of continued progress, where the barriers of yesterday are merely footnotes in the history of tomorrow.

A second-generation female in the industry, Peyton looks forward to a future where gender does not dictate one’s career path in mining.

"If I ever have a daughter, and she wants to work in the mining industry, I hope it will be normal for her,” she said. “I hope she won’t have to second guess her career choice.”

Optimistically, Andy muses about what the workforce will look like in 30 more years.

“I often imagine it will be a 50/50 workforce – men and women equally.”

It’s in this forward-looking spirit that Alyssa encapsulates their vision of the future.

“Maybe in 20 years, I’ll be sitting here with my daughter, telling our story. Maybe by then, the idea of women in mining won’t be a topic of discussion - it’ll just be the norm.”

The Miner-in-Training position is an entry level role into Vale Base Metals’ underground mines. Individuals hired in this role receive on the job training to acquire the necessary skills, knowledge and ability to operate safely within our underground mines.