Ontario Mine Rescue District Competition Winners to Compete in Thunder Bay

Ontario Mine Rescue district competitions were underway in arenas across the province last month, where twenty teams of mine rescue volunteers demonstrated their emergency response capabilities at the event. Each year, winners from eight different districts emerge to vie for the champion title and gold hard hats at the Provincial Competition, which will be hosted by Lac Des Illes Mine in Thunder Bay’s Fort Williams Gardens Arena this month.

Organized by Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), the competitions create simulated underground emergencies, where teams are evaluated on firefighting skills, first-aid response, use of emergency equipment, and decision-making ability under stress. These intensive, realistic situations emphasize the necessity of training that mine rescuers take throughout the year. 

Generally, we think of first aid as treating wounds and bracing broken bones – but we must consider health conditions from beyond the mine site. This was an important aspect of the first aid portion this year, where teams treated a diabetic casualty experiencing low sugars. Training to identify symptoms is critical in this situation.

In another part of their first-aid challenge, teams navigated a confined space to rescue an unconscious casualty with limited equipment. Usually, mine rescuers use a complex breathing apparatus (a BG4) to travel safely through dangerous conditions such as smoke and noxious gas present underground. However, in this scenario, they could only access a gas detector, fan, and a tether to ensure a safe rescue. 

Teams had their knowledge tested in the fire-fighting section with ventilation being a reoccurring theme. Reducing airflow is significant to quenching large fires, so mine rescuers were expected to shut down fans and build a barricade in front. 

This indirect approach to fighting dangerous fires was expected with a state-of-the-art foam generator, which they had to accomplish with a challenging twist:

“We applied special coverings to competitors masks to emulate decreased visibility,” says Shawn Rideout, Chief Mine Rescue Officer at Workplace Safety North, “this prepares teams for heavy smoke conditions present with large underground fires – communication skills and teamwork are vital in these situations.”

Overall, mine rescue competitions serve as intensive learning opportunities for mine rescuers, preparing them for any emergency that may arise. 

“We’re always finding new ways to challenge the teams,” adds Rideout, “These live-action experiences are the best way to put their knowledge to the test.”

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The winners for each district and their names are as follows:

Algoma District

Alamos Gold – Island Gold Mine Canada

Captain Kaiden Harrietha, #2 Dominic Jean, #3 Evan Barley, #4 Jacob Paskus, Vice Captain Jessy DeChamplain, #6 Daniel Webb, Briefing Officer Joel Labbe #7 Ben Eppert

Winning technician: Kyle Ouellette – Alamos Island Gold

Sudbury District

Sudbury – Vale West Mine

Captain Chris Charbonneau, #2 Roch Berthiaume, #3 Shawn Barrette, #4 Madison Tracey, Vice Captain Dustin McKinnon, #6 Patricia Gagne, BO Lorne Beleskey, #7 Brian Reeves

Winning technician: Nick Fram – Vale West Mine

Onaping District

Glencore Canada – Sudbury INO Fraser and Nickel Rim South Mines

Captain Julien Lalande, #2 Aaron Boutet, #3 Neil Poulin, #4 Alyssa Spry, Vice Captain Jesse Legault, #6 Shawn O’Brien, BO Bleir Millions

Winning technician: Dan Rioux – Glencore

Thunder Bay District

Impala Canada – Lac Des Iles Mine

Captain Dillon Bradley, #2 Kyle Barbeau, #3 Christopher Strom, #4 Connor O’Limb, Vice Captain Devin Jackson, #6 Christopher Forsyth, BO Manuel Manero

Winning technician: Monika Jorgensen – Impala Lac Des Isles Mine

Red Lake District

Evolution Mining – Red Lake Operations

Captain Scott McKean, #2 Tyler Lorenzini, #3 Geoff Taylor, #4 Jeff Merkel, Vice Captain David Zapora, #6 Carl Grondin, BO Rob Nylund

Winning technician: Gabriel Roy – Newmont Musselwhite

Timmins District

Lake Shore Gold – West and Bell Creek Mines

Captain Adam Weagle, #2 Shane Sullivan, #3 Brandon Duhan, #4 Andrew MacIvor, Vice Captain Natalie Lafontaine, #6 Serge Roy, BO Tyler Williams 

Winning technician: Mike Bennett – Glencore Kidd Operations

Kirkland Lake District

Agnico Eagle – Macassa Mine

Captain Nicholas Perrier, #2 Jackson Lafrance, #3 Jean-Francois Racine, #4 Denis Dion, Vice Captain Hubert Gour, #6 Carlie Dewar, BO April Belecque

Winning technician: Garry Bennett – Alamos Gold

Southern District

Canadian Gypsum Company – Hagersville Mine

Captain Joshua Stringer, #2 Scott Walton, #3 Charles Heaslip, #4 Ashlee Reitsma, Vice Captain Steve Wilkieson, #6 Allen Barber, BO Paul Hunt

Winning technician: Matt Peebles – CGC Hagersville

The winner of the Ontario Mine Rescue Provincial Championship is expected to be announced late June.

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The success of mine rescue competitions relies upon dedicated volunteers and industry professionals, who work tirelessly to organize and execute these events for the betterment of mine rescue operations.

Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), a part of Workplace Safety North (WSN), operates under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. For eight decades, OMR has become a leader in mining emergency preparation and response, by delivering training and ensuring standards are maintained across the province.

For more information, visit https://www.workplacesafetynorth.ca/en/ontario-mine-rescue