Ashton Kadjuk has parlayed his experience in drilling into a supervisory position at Agnico EagleSA国际影视传媒檚 new Meliadine gold mine.

Kadjuk oversees a crew of 19 underground workers, who toil up to 325 metres below the surface. The mine tunnels deeper but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 other supervisors responsible farther down, he noted.

He spends about half of his shift going from worksite to worksite within his zone to ensure duties are executed properly, safe practices are maintained and hazards are understood.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e got to make sure everything is up to standards and everything will be safe for the guys to work in,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Outside of that, he takes care of necessary paperwork and does a great deal of planning for his workers and for the 12-hour shift that follows.

Kadjuk previously worked for a year at Meliadine with a contractor, as a driller on an exploration project near Baker Lake, at another project near Yellowknife and spent a couple of years at the now defunct Snap Lake diamond mine in the NWT.

Agnico Eagle hired him close to a year ago. He said he took the supervisorSA国际影视传媒檚 job for SA国际影视传媒渢he challenge.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e always been interested in mining so it was a good way to learn about it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 just wanted to be an example for Inuit to work underground here.SA国际影视传媒�

HeSA国际影视传媒檚 seeing more and more familiar faces at Meliadine, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淪ince I started working here, ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen a lot of Inuit coming into mining and underground. I know a few guys here that are from Arviat,SA国际影视传媒� said Kadjuk.

He described his crew as SA国际影视传媒渢he bestSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渢he hardest-working people.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 something very special to see,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 remarkable teamwork.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not uncommon in workplaces for a new supervisor to discover that some longer-serving subordinate employees may not be immediately accepting of a new boss, especially one whoSA国际影视传媒檚 younger.

SA国际影视传媒淚 gave them respect and they give me the respect back. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 good on that part,SA国际影视传媒� Kadjuk, 28, said of relations with the employees in his charge.

Although heSA国际影视传媒檚 already reached supervisory status, he aspires to eventually transition to other departments, such as construction and production, to gain a better understanding of the broader picture, he said.

Kadjuk graduated from high school in his hometown of Arviat and then went to Winnipeg to take a university-level computer science program. During a semester off, he returned to Arviat and registered for a diamond-drilling course, getting hired right after.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was my introduction to mining,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Having five years experience in the industry, Kadjuk said heSA国际影视传媒檚 used to the cycles of two weeks at site and two weeks at home.

SA国际影视传媒淚 get to spend two weeks with my family and go hunting. I have my two weeks free to do what I want,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that he also enjoys playing guitar and travelling.

Leaving for work means boarding a plane in Arviat, landing in Rankin Inlet and then taking a 45-minute bus ride to Meliadine.

He said his family and friends have been encouraging of his career choices.

SA国际影视传媒淭here have been a lot of people asking me about mining and how they can get into mining,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淢y family, everybodySA国际影视传媒檚 proud of me for getting a job like this.SA国际影视传媒�