From an early age, Norm Hutton accompanied his father on many prospecting trips throughout British Columbia, finding deposits of silver, lead, copper, iron and coal. He eventually followed his dad into placer mining. After all those years of building dredges and working placer claims on the Fraser River and in the Wells-Barkerville area, he left placer mining to become an industrial electrician but still accompanied his dad on staking mineral and placer claims around the province.

While working in the trade, a fellow electrician suggested that he teach night school on placer mining. Norm took up this idea, and it was so successful, he ended up teaching full classrooms of enthusiastic students at his local college. He felt obligated to pass on his knowledge!

Norm is now retired, and with his wife Sharie, and spend their time traveling the province in their RV- but they never go too far without a gold pan or two nearby! You just never know!