By Mathias Leiendecker, Contributor, Craig Kelman and Associates

 Eight mine rescue teams from across the province competed at the 72 annual Ontario Mine Rescue Provincial Competition from June 13-16 at the Canadian Gypsum Company (CGC) Hagersville Mine. 

The teams tested their emergency response skills in the competition, which was organized by Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), a part of Workplace Safety North. OMR was established in 1929 after an underground fire took the lives of 39 workers in the Hollinger Mine in Timmins, ON. 

Provincial competitions began in 1950 as an avenue to evaluate participating mines, ensuring that, in the case of an underground emergency, the response met standards and best practices. Team members were volunteer mine workers trained by Mine Rescue Officers to respond to all types of fires, explosions, and ground falls within the mine. 

“These are the eight most highly trained mine emergency response teams in Ontario, being challenged with an extremely realistic and challenging mock mine emergency scenario,” says Ted Hanley, Vice President of OMR. “Despite having never set foot in the host underground mine, these team members put years of mine rescue training into action and resolved a complicated multi-stage mine emergency.” 

Over a few days, the eight district champion teams were evaluated on a series of rescue work. This included a display of written and physical skills. The teams were tested on high-angle rope rescue, emergency management, advanced mine rescue breathing apparatus, firefighting, and first-aid response. The underground scenario involved demanding physical work and high-level decision-making under stressful circumstances. 

“Spectators viewed the progress and work performed by teams via a camera feed to the surface,” says Hanley. “Each team navigated the mine and attempted to overcome a variety of mine hazards using their knowledge, skills, and abilities, evacuating the workers trapped underground and restoring the mine to safe working conditions. Skills were tested in as realistic a scenario as possible to help ensure they are prepared for future mine emergencies.”

Technical judges hidden throughout the mine evaluated teams against a pre-determined list of criteria based on the policies and procedures of the provincial mine rescue guidelines.

“Ontario Mine Rescue is proud to report that all eight of the highly skilled participating teams successfully resolved the emergency,” says Hanley. “Each team was evaluated on their ability to create a safe and effective emergency action plan, and on the speed and skill level with which they complete the rescue.” 

The scenario this year included the rescue of a civilian that had fallen into a mine shaft opening from the surface. It also required teams to assess unstable and collapsed mine workings using drones, extinguishment of an underground vehicle fire, and the extrication and evacuation of a mine worker that had become trapped in a mine collapse. 

"We are very proud to announce that Lakeshore Gold Timmins West-Bell Creek Mines came out on top," says Hanley. "This invitation-only event marked the final stage of an intensive two-month-long training and evaluation period for mine rescue teams in Ontario.”

Provincial Champion – 1st Overall – Lakeshore Gold Timmins West & Bell Creek Mines 

• Captain Adam Weagle

• #2 – Shane Sullivan

• #3 – Brandon Duhan

• #4 – Blade Cashmore

• #5 – (Vice-Captain) Natalie Lafontaine

• #6 – Serge Roy

• Briefing Officer – Terry Roy

• Coach – Jim Davis

• Mine Rescue Officers – Jason Leger, Mat Johnson, Danny Taillefer

2nd Overall Newmont Musselwhite Mines 

• Captain Phil Mullin 

• #2 – Scott Lawson 

• #3 – Leaf Watson 

• #4 – Nick Gosselin 

• #5 – (Vice-Captain) Alexa Dumaine

• #6 – Jimmy Sinclair 

• #7 – Matt Arges 

• Briefing Officer – Ryan Lepage

Individual Technician Competition Results:

• 1st – Jean-Yves Doiron, Vale Sudbury East Mines, Sudbury District 

• 2nd – Michael Bennett, Glencore Kidd Mine, Timmins District

• 3rd – Kyle Oullette, Alamos Gold, Island Gold Mine, Algoma District

 Team Firefighting Award – Vale Sudbury East Mines 

Team First Aid Award – Glencore Sudbury INO Fraser and Nickel Rim South Mines 

Team Special Equipment Award (Rope Rescue) – Vale Sudbury East Mines 

Team Theory Exam Award – Glencore Sudbury INO Fraser and Nickel Rim South Mines 

Briefing Officer Award – Ryan Lepage, Newmont, Musselwhite Mine

Eight Competing Teams:

• Agnico Eagle Macassa Mine (Kirkland Lake District)

• Glencore Sudbury INO Fraser - Nickel Rim South Mines (Onaping District)

• Impala Canada Lac des Iles Mine (Thunder Bay District)

• Lakeshore Gold Timmins West-Bell Creek Mines (Timmins District)

• Newmont Borden Mine (Algoma District)

• Newmont Musselwhite Mine (Red Lake District)

• Vale Sudbury East Mines (Sudbury District)

Individual Competitors Scoring Perfect on the Written Exam:

• Alexa Dumaine (Newmont Musselwhite Mine)

• Brad Kemp (Impala Canada Lac des Isles Mine) 

• Adam Weagle and Natalie Lafontaine (Lakeshore Timmins West-Bell Creek Mines) 

• Hubert Gour (Agnico Eagle Macassa Mine)

• Julien Lalande and Jesse Legault (Glencore Sudbury INO Fraser-Nickel Rim South Mines)

Learn more at www.workplacesafetynorth.ca/minerescue.