What does responsible mining actually look like and is it even possible on Alberta's eastern slopes?
Carlin Lutzer sits down with Amanda Desjardins, a professional mining consultant who has called Okotoks home for 14 years and whose work spans mine projects across Canada and around the world.
Together they unpack one of Alberta's most contentious issues: the push to restart coal mining near the Crowsnest Pass.
Amanda explains the difference between thermal and metallurgical coal, why selenium worries so many people, how land reclamation actually works, and what it could all mean for the Sheep River and the communities downstream.
It's a grounded, refreshingly balanced conversation about mining, land, and life in Okotoks… and a reminder that local voices carry real expertise.
Listen For:
2:30 What is the difference between thermal coal and metallurgical coal?
6:39 Why is selenium the biggest environmental concern in coal mining?
09:00 How does land reclamation restore mined areas in the Rocky Mountains?
20:30 Could Grassy Mountain mining impact the Sheep River near Okotoks?
Guest: Amanda Desjardins, Mining Engineer
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