Mark Pitseolak started working for Agnico Eagle in 2020, shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and caused significant disruptions to the mining company鈥檚 Nunavut operations, including sending Nunavummiut miners home for lengthy periods for the safety of the communities.

鈥淚t was a very interesting time to start. My career was uncertain,鈥� said Pitseolak. 鈥淚t was pretty hard. I have three kids and a common law back home (in Ottawa) and it was pretty hard to leave them for a period of time 鈥� at that time we were doing longer rotations than normal.鈥�

During part of the pandemic, workers were putting in 28 days at the mine site, followed by 28 days off, up from the usual two weeks in/two weeks out, because the company wanted to reduce travel due to the risk of Covid.

鈥淚t was very difficult for my family,鈥� Pitseolak recalled.

While at the mine site, he stays in contact with his loved ones through FaceTime after his 12-hour shifts are over.

鈥淢y kids, if they鈥檙e still awake, I get to talk to them almost every day,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t helps a lot.鈥�

Pitseolak draws an analogy of a hunter.

鈥淎 long time ago, the Inuit would go hunting for up to a month at a time and come back with food. Like a modern Inuk, I go to work for two weeks and come back with a pay cheque,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he first thing (when I get home), I hug my kids. They鈥檙e so happy. Everyone鈥檚 happy that I鈥檓 home. My other half, I can almost see her shoulders drop when I get home, from joy. I can take over the parenting.鈥�

Despite the additional challenges posed by the pandemic, Pitseolak persevered. He started out as a fuel truck operator at the Meliadine gold mine, north of Rankin Inlet, and he was taught to operate other equipment, such as a telehandler, which has a telescopic boom and a service loader for snow removal and transporting materials.

鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 operated any heavy equipment until I came here,鈥� said Pitseolak, who was in the construction industry 鈥� primarily roofing 鈥� for several years in Ottawa prior to starting with Agnico Eagle.

One day a little over a year ago, his boss in the environment and infrastructure department announced that he would soon be retiring. He said he was looking for someone to step up and take his job. Pitseolak considered the possibility, but first he wanted to ensure he wasn鈥檛 stepping on anyone鈥檚 toes. Nobody immediately jumped at the opportunity.

鈥淪o I decided to take the role on,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y supervisor at the time took me under his wing.鈥�

He admitted that taking the promotion took him out of his 鈥渃omfort zone.鈥� Addressing a group of workers during meetings, for example, is not something he had done previously, so he practised his public speaking skills in church.

He started learning his new duties and responsibilities in 2022 but he anticipates that he will continue absorbing knowledge for a long time to come.

鈥淚 think the training will be a lifetime. There鈥檚 many things to learn working with other departments. You never stop learning,鈥� he said.

Pitseolak said safety is always at the forefront in the mining industry and it鈥檚 his primary concern. He puts emphasis on operating equipment properly and following established procedures. He oversees heavy equipment operation on the surface at Meliadine, such as maintaining the road, haul trucks carrying tailings and loaders removing snow. He leads a crew ranging from 12 to 19 workers.

Josh Bazar, Pitseolak鈥檚 boss, said Pitseolak is fit to be a supervisor due to his 鈥渄edication, professionalism and personal drive.鈥�

鈥淗is leadership and promotion of the company鈥檚 values will be influential to future employees as they grow within the department and company,鈥� said Bazar. 鈥淲e are excited and proud to be part of Mark鈥檚 development and will continue to give him the tools and mentorship required to realize his full potential.鈥�

Pitseolak envisions himself continuing to grow in the job.

鈥淗opefully I鈥檒l be here for many years,鈥� he said.

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