Jack Parker

How did you get your start in the mineral industry?

I started working in the mineral industry when I was 23, shortly after I graduated in 1980. The Northern Miner had an unprecedented 14 pages of job ads in one of their papers that year. I applied for two of those jobs and I had interviews and subsequent job offers from both.

What was the most fulfilling project you ever worked on, and why?

Very early in my career, in the mid-80’s, I was working for the Ontario government in the Resident Geologist office in Kenora. I was responsible for delivering a 3-year project to encourage and promote mineral exploration in the Dryden-Ignace region. It involved everything from geological mapping and documenting mineral properties, giving technical presentations, teaching prospecting courses and providing assistance to prospectors and exploration companies. It was one of the most fulfilling projects I've worked on because I learned so much about my profession, myself, geology and the mineral exploration business. I was also very fortunate to have met and learned from numerous mineral exploration professionals and prospectors. That project helped me build the foundation for my future career.