For most students, a co-op term is a chance to gain hands-on experience and apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. For Ryan Donck, a Geological Engineering student at the University of Waterloo, it became much more: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a rare and ambitious mining project in Canada.
Currently in the Class of 2028, Ryan extended his studies by a year to take on a 16-month co-op term at the Island Gold District near Dubreuilville, Ontario. This decision was made due to a rare opportunity to be part of a new mine shaft construction, something that typically happens only once in a mine’s life. He even referred to this as “A once in a lifetime opportunity”.
“The main part of the Phase 3+ expansion is sinking a new mine shaft,” Ryan explains.
It’s very rare. I only know of a handful of other projects in Canada doing this right now.
Alamos Gold is a Canadian mining company that operates several sites across Ontario, including the Young-Davidson Mine and Island Gold District. Ryan is stationed at the latter, working on the Phase 3+ Expansion Project. This includes not only the new shaft but also a warehouse, an administrative building, roads, backfill plant and mill expansion.
“I joined midway through the project,” he says. “I might not see the very end, but I’ll see the beginning of the end.”
Ryan works on a fly-in, fly-out rotation. He spends two weeks on-site followed by one week off. He flies from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, on a private charter that stops in Sudbury before continuing to Wawa.
“The planes are small, about 15 seats, and I’ve actually been the only person on the plane twice,” he laughs.
On-site, he lives in dorm-style accommodations and works 11-hour days. “It’s like living in a university dorm,” he says. “You work with people and then go back to camp and get to live with them too.” In their downtime, they unwind together by playing ping pong in the recreation room and, this past year, gathering to watch the Super Bowl as a group.
Ryan Donck standing outside of the Alamos Gold facilities in Dubreuilville.
Team members outside the Alamos Gold facilities on Canada Day 2025.
Ryan’s day starts at 6 a.m. with a 20-minute drive to the site. After a morning meeting, where he takes minutes and shares updates, he spends the day in the engineering trailer working on various tasks.
“One of the really cool things I get to do is calculate concrete volumes for the mine shaft using LIDAR scans and CAD software,” he says. “You can see how the rock is shaped after blasting and even identify faults and structures.”
He also monitors water levels in the site’s tanks to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Ryan uses a range of tools and software, including:
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Microsoft Excel for data tracking
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Maptek for estimating concrete volumes
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AutoCAD, which he learned through Waterloo’s Geological Engineering program
“It’s great that I get to use experience from Waterloo, as in our program we learn Civil 3D”, which is extremely similar to the programs he is using now.
He has also developed soft skills like communication, time management, and adaptability. These are skills he believes are just as important as technical knowledge.
Ryan’s experience has not only broadened his technical skills but also clarified his career goals.
“I’d one hundred percent consider working for Alamos Gold after graduation,” he says. “They operate a mine just an hour from my hometown, and it’s great to work with people from my community.”
He appreciates the interdisciplinary nature of his position, which touches on civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental fields.
“It’s impressive how broad everything is,” he says. “You don’t realize it until you’re tasked with something outside your core discipline.”
“Don’t limit yourself to jobs close to home or with big-name companies,” he advises. “I’ve worked in Alberta which led me to my current position at Alamos Gold”.
From flying solo to a remote mine site to helping build infrastructure that will shape the future of Canadian mining, Ryan’s co-op journey is a testament to the power of experiential learning.
It really feels like everything, my education, my past jobs, has led to this,” he reflects. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.
To read more about Alamos Gold visit their website here: https://alamosgold.com/
To explore The University of Waterloo’s Co-op program, visit our website here: https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/
