Joseph Obalski worked for the Quebec Department of Railways and was a professor at the cole Polytechnique de Montral, later becoming the Inspector of Mines for Quebec
In 1881, he was working for the Quebec Department of Railways. From 1882 to 1888, he was a professor at the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. Joseph later became the Inspector of Mines for Quebec and visited the Chibougamau,Quebec gold prospect discovered by Peter McKenzie in 1903,publishing a report in 1904 stating his belief that one day Chibougamau would become an important mining district. 
