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Eleven University Teams Compete in Goodman Gold Challenge

Eleven University Teams Compete in Goodman Gold Challenge

Teams from across North America went head-to-head in the mining investment case competition

February 5, 2025 - The 7th Annual Goodman Gold Challenge ran from January 29 to 31, 2025 with eleven teams from across the continent competing for literal gold. In this realistic mining investment case competition, presented by Kinross Gold and organized by the Goodman School of Mines at Laurentian University, teams of undergraduate students act as finance firms looking to invest in a mining company. 

Teams were tasked with evaluating and justifying which of three mining companies would make the best investment. Real CEOs from G Mining Ventures, Meridian Mining, and Omai Gold Mines had 30 minutes to convince teams to invest in their company. Teams then had time to ask the CEOs hard-hitting questions, consider important data, and discuss analytics to help form their decision. The student team that presented the most polished, professional pitch, selecting their mining company of choice, was crowned the winner. 

Ultimately, it was Queen’s University that took home the title. They invested in Meridian Mining, and went home with the cash equivalent of four ounces of gold. 

“All the teams gave impressive pitches,” said Jonathan Goodman, Chair of the Goodman Gold Challenge and Chair and CEO of Dundee Corporation. “The students worked hard to represent their universities, making the most of this opportunity to demonstrate their business acumen and mining industry knowledge while building new skills and relationships. Congratulations to Queen’s University on their well-deserved win.”

Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines, commended the students on demonstrating forward thinking. “Mining is undergoing a big technology transition, and having students understand how to develop new deposits, and build successful mines will be a great asset for the industry as a whole.” 

More than just a competition, the three-day event brought opportunity for students to interact with industry experts. Rick Rule, President and CEO of Rule Investment Media, gave a keynote address at the Closing Gala. Executives from Nuclear Fuels Inc., Dundee Corporation, Kinross Gold, RBC Capital Markets, Technica Mining, Magna Mining, Lakeshore Gold, SCP Resource Finance, and Let’s Roll “Ideation” Consulting made up the judging panel. 

McMaster University and Laurentian University placed second and third place, receiving silver coins and all competitors received Sudbury-made miners’s lunch boxes for their participation. Students from the eleven teams learned invaluable lessons in mining sector investment decision-making and built lasting relationships with peers and industry leaders. 

11 Teams Compete in 6th Annual Goodman Gold Challenge

11 Teams Compete in 6th Annual Goodman Gold Challenge

Teams from universities in Canada, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom competed in the most unique and realistic mining investment case competition

February 5, 2024 - The Critical Minerals Edition of the Goodman Gold Challenge (GGC), a realistic mining investment case competition, ran from January 31st to February 2nd, and included a European team for the first time ever.
 
Teams of university undergraduate students acted as finance firms in this unique annual competition, organized by the Goodman School of Mines at Laurentian University and presented by Kinross Gold as the title sponsor. The teams were tasked with evaluating and justifying which of three companies would be the best to invest in. The investment choices included real mining companies, Canada Nickel Company, Magna Mining, and Talon Metals. CEOs from each company had 30 minutes to convince teams that they should invest with them. Teams then had an opportunity to sit down with each CEO to ask hard hitting questions, consider important data, and discuss analytics to help form their decision.
 
Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines, Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, commended the students on demonstrating forward thinking, “Mining is undergoing a big transition, and having students understand the critical minerals value chain and how to build successful mines will be a great asset for the industry as a whole.”
 
Students interacted with industry experts throughout the event. Theresa Nyabeze, Technical Leader, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Vale Base Metals, gave a keynote address and the competition judging panel consisted of highly experienced executives from Canaccord Genuity, Dundee Corporation, Kinross Gold, Orix Geoscience, RBC Capital Markets, and Technica Mining.
 
The Camborne School of Mines from England and Colorado School of Mines from the USA were international attendees but it was the University of British Columbia that took home the title. The winning team chose to invest in Canada Nickel Co., and went home with the cash equivalent of four ounces of gold. 

“A big congratulations goes to the University of British Columbia, winners of the 6th Annual Goodman Gold Challenge. As someone who has worked in the investment business for a long time, watching these students present their work is always so impressive and gives me great hope for the future of the industry,” said Jonathan Goodman, Chairman of the Goodman Gold Challenge and Chairman and CEO of Dundee Corporation. 
 
Second place, Colorado School of Mines, and third place, University of Manitoba, received silver coins. All participating teams received Sudbury-made miner’s lunchboxes for their participation. Students from the eleven teams learned invaluable lessons in mining investment decision-making and built lasting relationships with peers and industry leaders.

Students go for gold at the 5th annual Goodman Gold Challenge

Students go for gold at the 5th annual Goodman Gold Challenge

The most unique and realistic mining investment case competition saw teams compete from 7 Canadian and 1 American university

(February 15, 2023) - The Goodman Gold Challenge (GGC) held a special Battery Metal Edition this year from February 2-4 that saw teams from 7 Canadian and 1 American university compete in a very realistic mining investment case competition.

Organized by the Goodman School of Mines at Laurentian University and presented by Kinross Gold as the title sponsor, teams were tasked to evaluate and justify which of three case companies would be the best to invest with. Choices included real mining companies, Frontier Lithium, Magna Mining, and Generation Mining. CEO’s from each company had 30 minutes to convince teams that they should invest with them. Teams then had an opportunity to sit down with each CEO after investment presentations were complete. What competing teams did with their time of only ten minutes was totally up to them! Some teams asked hard hitting questions, while others looked at data and analytics to help form their decision.

Interactions with industry experts didn’t end with the CEO’s. Gold level sponsorships allowed for sponsors to send a representative from their company to judge the competition. This year’s gold level sponsorships judging panel consisted of highly experienced executives from Canaccord Genuity, Dundee Corporation, Kinross Gold, Orix Geoscience, RBC Capital Markets, and Technica Mining. 

Participating team’s included: Laurentian University, University of British Columbia, University of Manitoba, Goodman School of Business-Brock University, Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Bishop’s University, and the Colorado School of Mines. Many teams traveled with coaches from their universities, and spent Friday evening perfecting their presentations in preparation for the following day. Teams presented in three leagues where the top team from each league advanced to the final round of presentations. The top three teams for the 2023 GGC were Queen’s University, Bishop’s University, and the Colorado School of Mines. 

Saturday night at the Awards Gala, Johnna Muinonen, President of Dumont Nickel, Magneto Investments LP, gave a keynote address about new horizons in the battery metal market. 

Ultimately, Queen’s University was selected as the winner of the 5th annual Goodman Gold Challenge: Battery Metal Edition, for their “out-of-the-box” approach. They selected Frontier Lithium over other case companies, and went home with the cash equivalent of four ounces of gold. 

“A big congratulations goes to Queen’s University, winners of the 5th Annual Goodman Gold Challenge and another congratulations to all participants whose hard work and presentations humbled those of us who have spent many years in the investment business. The students never fail to impress me and this year was no exception. It gives me great comfort to know that any financial problems of the future, especially with the incredible demand for battery minerals, will be in great hands with this next generation,” said Jonathan Goodman, Chairman of the Goodman Gold Challenge and Chairman and CEO of Dundee Corporation.

This learning experience would not be possible without the generous financial and in-kind support from industry partners. For the fifth year, the Title Sponsor was Kinross Gold. The Opening Gala was sponsored by Dundee Corporation, and the Thursday Evening Social was sponsored by Canaccord Genuity. 

The Greater Sudbury Development Corporation sponsored Gold Coins that were given to all teams. NORCAT sponsored breakfast, MIRARCO, PDAC, and CIM Sudbury sponsored snacks, the bar sponsor was the Canadian Mineral Processors. A mine tour was sponsored by MacLean Engineering, and rock core was donated by KGHM. 

The GGC organizing committee would like to thank all participating teams in this year's competition, making this, the first Battery Metal Edition, a shining success!

Inaugural Goodman Gold Challenge tremendous success

Inaugural Goodman Gold Challenge tremendous success

Mining investment competition attracted teams from Ontario, Quebec, and Kentucky

The inaugural Goodman Gold Challenge held on February 22 to February 25 was a tremendous success.  Six teams of undergraduate students participated in the competition: two teams representing Laurentian University’s Bharti School of Engineering and Faculty of Management, Bishop’s University from Sherbrooke, Québec, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology from Oshawa, Ryerson University from Toronto, and Kentucky University from Lexington Kentucky.

The mining investment competition challenged teams to analyze the investment potential of three gold mining companies currently listed on the TSX or TSX-V, and recommend one in which they should invest. The three companies studied were: Detour Gold Corporation, Dundee Precious Metals, and Osisko Mining.

“The competition was designed to offer students real-life experience, while putting their academic credentials to a vital test,” said Bruce Jago, Founding Executive Director, Goodman School of Mines.  “Given our close proximity to mines, participants had the opportunity to visit Vale’s Copper Cliff and Coleman mines and see real mining operations in action.” 

The competitors had six weeks to analyze the companies and conduct external research. On the second day of the competition, teams were pitched by Executives from each of the organizations as to why their company was the best investment, followed by an opportunity to ask questions individually. Teams then presented their recommendation to a panel of judges comprised of industry experts. The panel consisted of industry professionals from Beacon Securities, Franco Nevada, Kinross Gold, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Orix Geoscience, and RBC Capital Markets.

Mining Engineering and Business students from Laurentian University were declared the winners of the competition for their recommendation of Detour Gold Corporation.  Team members included: Mitchell Menard, Ryan Hunter, Anthony Foreshew and Adam Tomlinson.

The winning team received shares in Detour Gold Corporation, the company they recommended, worth the equivalent of four ounces of gold at February 24th closing price, $1,645.00 CAD. All participants of the top three teams also received ¼ ounce gold coins for their tremendous work and analysis.

The competition received astonishing financial and in-kind support by provincial and local businesses (Orix Geosciences, RBC Capital Markets, Beacon Securities Ltd., Crosstown Chevrolet, PearTree Securities, Professional Engineers of Ontario – Sudbury Chapter, CEMI, Science North, Petryna Advertising, Millar Technology, Wabi, XPS, Wallbridge Mining, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, and the City of Greater Sudbury.

The 2017 Goodman Gold Challenge organizing committee, chaired by Jonathan Goodman, is already getting ready for the 2nd annual Goodman Gold Challenge in 2018.

Company or organization that want to be involved in the 2nd Annual 2018 Goodman Gold Challenge, can visit www.goodmangoldchallenge.com.

 

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian University, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and eighteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years. 

Go for gold with the Goodman Gold Challenge

Go for gold with the Goodman Gold Challenge

Students will be solving real problems for real companies.

MARCH 7, 2016 - The Goodman School of Mines and Laurentian University are proud to announce the inaugural Goodman Gold Challenge (GGC), an investment management competition for undergraduate students. The competition will be held at Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario from February 22 to February 25, 2017.

The Goodman Gold Challenge (GGC) is unlike any other competition in Canada; this is not a simulation.  Students will be solving real problems for real companies. They will have the opportunity to meet with three CEOs of mining companies currently trading on the TSX or TSX-V and interview them about the current and projected financial strength of their company. After thorough analysis, they will recommend to their top-tier clients, a single company for their portfolio. The competition will provide students with a chance to put their academic credentials to a vital test.

GGC offers multiple networking opportunities for all involved whether students, volunteers, industry professionals, business executives, CEOs, or sponsors through events such as: the Opening Gala, Thursday evening social, Awards Gala, sponsored lunches or student pitches.

Students will be competing for shares worth the equivalent of four (4) ounces of gold and a paid summer internship with a financial investment company.

According to, Bruce Jago, PhD, PGeo, Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines, they anticipate 14 universities to take part in the challenge and aim to be the most sophisticated, prestigious and realistic investment management competition in the country.

For more information on the Goodman Gold Challenge, visit  our website or contact Éric Lavergne-Giroux, GGC Event Coordinator at goodmangoldchallenge@laurentian.ca.