For most people, seeing a large mining operation means catching a glimpse of it from a highway pullout or through a photograph. For Dawson Civil Business Development Manager Shane Gowans, a recent visit to Gibraltar Mine offered the opportunity to experience Canada’s second-largest open-pit copper mining operation firsthand.
A First-of-Its-Kind Industry Tour
Organized through the Mining Suppliers Association of BC, the tour brought together 24 industry representatives for a rare behind-the-scenes look at Gibraltar Mine. The visit marked the first tour of its kind for the association in British Columbia and could serve as a model for similar tours at other mining operations in the future.
The day began with a classroom session that provided an overview of the mine’s history, operations, and evolution through the decades. Participants learned how Gibraltar Mine has evolved since operations began in the 1970s, from its early years to the modern operation it is today, including advancements in technology, production capabilities, and safety systems.
Experiencing Gibraltar Mine at Scale
While Dawson Civil crews regularly work around large construction equipment, nothing quite compares to the scale of equipment used in modern mining operations.
For many of the attendees, seeing the mine’s trucks up close was one of the most memorable parts of the tour.
“I had seen the haul trucks up close as a kid, but not since then,” said Gowans. “Actually standing beside one and climbing up to the cab gives you a completely different appreciation for just how massive they are.”
The experience reinforced just how difficult it can be to appreciate the size of mining equipment through photographs alone.
Standing beside one of the haul trucks, Gowans estimated it was larger than a two-storey house. The haul roads built to support these massive vehicles are equally impressive, with widths comparable to a six-lane highway.
However, it wasn’t the haul trucks that left the biggest impression.
“My favourite part was seeing the water truck,” said Gowans. “It absolutely blew my mind.”
Built on the same scale as the mine’s haul trucks, the water truck reflects the sheer size of the operation itself. With haul roads stretching as wide as a six-lane highway, enormous volumes of water are required to control dust and maintain safe operating conditions throughout the mine.
Where Mining and Civil Construction Meet
The tour also highlighted the extensive civil infrastructure required to support a mining operation of this scale.
“On a site like Gibraltar, civil construction plays a role in everything from haul roads and access roads to tailings dams, dam raises, water infrastructure, culverts, and dewatering programs,” said Gowans. “When people think of a mine, they often think about the equipment and the extraction process, but there’s an incredible amount of civil infrastructure required to support the operation.”
“The infrastructure itself is also only part of the equation,” said Gowans. “A significant amount of planning goes into environmental considerations and reducing impacts before construction even begins.”
Beyond technical capabilities, Gowans said one of Dawson Civil’s greatest strengths is its ability to identify and reduce operational, safety, and environmental risks during the planning stages of a project.
Lessons from the Gibraltar Mine Tour
For Gowans, the tour was about more than equipment and infrastructure. It was an opportunity to better understand the challenges, technologies, and operational requirements that support one of Canada’s largest open-pit copper mines.
From the classroom presentations to standing beside some of the largest equipment operating in Canada, the experience offered a unique perspective on the scale, complexity, and innovation that drive modern mining in British Columbia.
Photography by Kennedy Edlund