December Newsletter
Women in Mining: Chrystal’s Story
Signing an offer with Equinox Gold Greenstone Mines as a Haul Truck Driver was a leap of faith for Chrystal. She knew it would require extensive training, but she also knew she was up for the challenge. It’s a remarkable achievement, and one that shows the power of courage and perseverance.
When Chrystal first came to YES, she was open to any position. She had a diverse background and loved the idea of trying new things. She had worked as a teaching assistant, and she also had experience driving a fuel truck on a mining site.
Chrystal met with Employment Coordinator Annie Pepin, who helped her update her resume and supported her job search. Highly motivated, Chrystal explored every opportunity, using bus tickets provided by YES to drop off applications.
It was Chrystal’s daughter who noticed that Equinox Gold was hiring. Intrigued by the position of Haul Truck Driver, Chrystal decided to pursue it. Annie helped her visit the Equinox Gold site, assisted with the online application, and helped her build a strong cover letter.
When Chrystal received an invitation for a virtual interview, she immediately called Annie with the exciting news. Annie set her up at YES so she could complete the interview in a professional environment. It went very well, and Chrystal was excited about the opportunity.
Within two weeks, Chrystal had a job offer. She now has some solid training under her belt on a Caterpillar 793, a 250 tonne haul truck. It’s an absolute beast of a truck, quite a bit larger than the trucks that Chrystal had driven in her previous position. “It’s almost been 2 months since I’ve been training on the 793 Cat Haul Truck.” Chrystal explains, “What a learning experience it has been. I love the driving, and the training. It’s challenging, but I’m up for the challenge.”
Chrystal’s determination, courage, and willingness to take her career in a bold new direction has put her in the path of an amazing future. Congratulations, Chrystal, on this incredible accomplishment!
Personal assistance to pursue your career goals is free through Employment Ontario programs. Request an appointment online, call or visit to get started.
Community Engagement
Executive Director, Lorna Hunda, and Employer Relations Coordinator, Matthew White, are attended the Ontario Disability Employment Network’s Rethinking Disability Conference from November 3–5. Our team brought back great information about disability-inclusive hiring, building employer confidence, and strategies for fostering belonging and psychological safety in the workplace.
On November 12th, our leadership team welcomed our Employment Service Manager, Jerome Strader to our office from EmployNext. Executive Director, Lorna Hunda, Finance Manager, Kristine Silvaggio, Program Supervisor, Tom Nesti and Service Delivery Manager Stacy-Ann Dyer-McNish appreciated the productive face-to-face time with Jerome. Thank you so much for travelling to Thunder Bay to meet our team!
On November 12th our Leadership Team also generously hosted an appreciation luncheon for the staff. We all feasted on a great meal from Salt & Pepper Catering!
Our IM&M+ team are thrilled to share the success of their recent IM&M+ food and clothing drive. Thanks to the generosity and support of everyone involved, the group was able to collect a significant amount of donations that will make a real difference in our community. During the week of November 17th, they were able to deliver the collected items directly to Shelter House and PACE here in Thunder Bay. Both organizations were incredibly grateful for the contributions, which will help support individuals and families in need throughout the upcoming months.
Read Mike’s full testimonial on our Employer’s page.