Selkirk College and Teck are pleased to announce the establishment of two new Teck Diversity Entrance Awards, each valued at $4,000, for students who identify as women in the six-month Plant Operator Program.
Teck Trail Operations will give four bursaries each year, totalling $16,000 annually two $4,000 bursaries per intake, offered each spring and fall. These awards help remove financial and experience-based barriers to pursuing a rewarding career in a traditionally male-dominated industry, supporting women to learn, lead and shape the future of resource innovation.
Selkirk College graduate Heidi Miracle is now an operator at Teck's Trail Operations.
Heidi Miracle, a Selkirk College graduate and now an operator at Teck's Trail Operations one of the world's largest fully integrated zinc and lead smelting and refining complexes found the program both challenging and rewarding.
"The Plant Operator Program was intimidating at first with its fast pace, but I was determined to make it work," says Miracle. "Balancing school and work was challenging especially as a single adult with bills but support from family and friends encouraged me to keep going. Working part-time allowed me to continue, and I loved learning and trying new things. The program challenged me as a mature student and opened doors to diverse career opportunities."
A Proven Pathway
At Teck's Trail Operations, 68% of female operators are graduates of the Plant Operator Program. Through a blend of in-class instruction and hands-on experience, the program equips students with the technical skills and knowledge to operate, monitor and troubleshoot control equipment in heavy industrial environments.
"Teck is proud to support women through the Plant Operator Program at Selkirk College through these new awards," says Teck's Superintendent of HR Planning & Talent Management Scott Calvin. "Together, we're helping more women access the training they need to build successful careers as a process operator." The company is committed to gender equity, with a goal to increase women's representation across their organization to 30% by 2030.
"Teck provides constant training and opportunities to reach for higher goals," says Miracle. "All while understanding that not everyone will learn at the same pace. They provide a safe environment for any questions or concerns that may come up."
Apply for the Award
To be eligible for this award, applicants must:
- Identify as a woman
- Apply to the Plant Operator Program and be conditionally accepted before November 21, 2025
- Apply for the Diversity in Teck award by November 30, 2025
- Demonstrate a strong motivation to pursue a career in plant operations
- Show a commitment to meeting the demands of the program
The next program intake starts on March 9, 2026.
