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Saint Mary's University to Launch Mining and Renewable Energy Engineering Programs in Nova Scotia
Saint Mary's University in Halifax plans to start a bachelor of engineering in resource engineering program this fall, with streams in mining and renewable energy. The initiative aligns with recent approvals for gold mining operations in the province, including the restart at Touquoy mine.
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Development and Industry Input Proponents from Nova Scotia's natural resource development and mining industries contributed to the program's creation. The degree includes a co-op component that will provide work placements for students entering the field.
Industrial approval was granted on Friday to Atlantic Mining NS, a subsidiary of Australia-based St Barbara, to resume processing operations at the Touquoy gold mine in Moose River, Nova Scotia.
The company will extract gold from three million tonnes of stockpiled ore. Operations at the mine ran from 2019 to 2023 before ceasing. This marks the second gold mine project approved in Nova Scotia in the past year. Construction is expected to begin this year on the open-pit Goldboro mine, owned by Toronto-based Anfield Gold Mining Corp.
Atlantic Mining NS is also seeking permits for gold mining at the Fifteen Mile Stream site, located 95 kilometres northeast of Halifax.
Mining Context in Nova Scotia Most mining operations in Nova Scotia in recent years have involved non-metals such as peat, sand, and gravel. The province issued 961 exploration licences in 2025, the highest number in 10 years, up from 422 in 2024 and 714 in 2022.
In 2025, the provincial government repealed legislation banning uranium exploration and mining, though a subsequent call for proposals received no responses from companies.
