Our Greenstone Campus, the first stop in the eastern leg of my journey is located in the high school, near the centre of the town of Geraldton ...

This article is part of a series entitled "Know Your Regional Campuses" (KYRC) - Greenstone Campus ... an opportunity to become more familiar with our Regional Campuses, some of the people who work there and the unique communities in which they reside, along with a little history of the area.

As you arrive in this community, one of the first tourist attractions that catches your eye is a "mining head frame" (a building containing the mechanisms for the mine elevator shaft) a reminder of this area's strong historical connection to mining. Juxtaposed directly across the highway and up a hill is the discoverGeraldton Interpretive Centre. The distinctive architecture of this building is in the form of a modern, stylized mining "head frame."

As you drive into Geraldton, you notice a "Ring of Fire - 350km ahead" sign. This highly-publicized chromite extraction and smelting project (used in the manufacture of stainless steel), is currently in its exploratory stages, and has the potential to revitalize this community ... a community that thas been clearly hit hard by the downturns in the forestry industry. The main vein of chromite discovered to date (black in colour) is 40 feet wide and runs 2 km long. Apparently, there is enough chromite in the region to support 100 years of mining! This level of new activity could certainly revitalize this community in major ways. In addition, gold mining is also starting to make a come back in the area.

The Campus Director is Michael Cameron (who is also the Campus Director for the Northshore Campus (Marathon) and the new Wawa Campus). The Administrative Assistant is long-term employee Anita Timmermans who was on a leave when I arrived. In her spare time, Anita is secretary and poppy chairperson for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #133 of Geraldton, secretary/treasurer for the Greenstone Métis Council, and an avid reader.  She has one grown son, Tom, who also lives and works in Geraldton.

Faculty & Staff

I was met by Classroom Assistant Tyler Fucile. For Thunder Bay campus employees, the name Fucile should ring a bell ... Tyler is actually Melanie Fucile's nephew ("Print Shop Melanie")! In his spare time, Tyler enjoys working out, watching football, music and reading.

Art Santala is a piano/sax/clarinet enthusiast and Master of Education graduate who teaches Literacy & Basic Skills (LBS) courses. Laura Betts is the other new LBS faculty member. 

Learning at the Greenstone Campus

The LBS curriculum used throughout the college is comprised of a series of self-paced tutorial booklets/modules that students work through and then review their answers with their instructor, before moving onto the next module.

Sophie - student taking Literacy & Basic Skills (LBS) program

Tracy - Literacy & Basic Skills (LBS) with faculty Art Santala

I also met students, Nola and Chelsie in the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program and Lisa and Destiny in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, who are learning via Contact North facilities (Terry Mykula is Site Coordinator) which provides a live, two-way video hook-up to a live classroom, or instructor.

Centra software is also used extensively by students in the region, as well as in Thunder Bay, to tie into live classroom discussion from any Internet-connected computer. Use of these Internet technologies enables students in remote communities a choice of much wider range of programs and courses that would otherwise be possible. Learning and teaching at a distance certainly does have its unique challenges for both the student and the instructor, but students do appreciate the opportunity to learn in their own communities.

Recreation in the Greenstone Area 

Curling, hockey and golf are popular recreational activities in Geraldton.

The Greenstone area is reknowned for fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling, etc. They cater to both Canadian and American outdoor enthusiasts. But if you are not into the great outdoors, there currently aren't many other recreational opportunities or jobs available with which a young person can become involved. Community members are hopeful that this will change in the near future with new mining development in the area. Young people tend to feel a little trapped here and look forward to the periodic three-hour treks to Thunder Bay to shop, or to see a movie, etc.

Training & Projects

Community Visability/Signage

Medium-Rez Photo Web Galleries - Greenstone Campus & Greenstone/Geraldton Communities:

Visit the Greenstone Campus Website ...

Story & photography by:
Murray Metcalf
Photographer/Webmaster
Confederation College
(807) 475-6275