5 June 2018
(Yellowknife, NT – June 5, 2018) Highly trained teams demonstrated their skills at the 61st annual Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) mine rescue competition in Yellowknife June 1 and 2. The competition coincided with the start of NWT Mining Week which included the annual NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines miner’s picnic held Saturday. Mine rescue teams competed for surface and underground honours in a variety of tasks including bench technician, first aid, bench, fire fighting, rope rescue, written test, smoke, and obstacles.
Eight teams participated this year including, Mary River Iron Mine (Baffinland Iron Mines), Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto), Ekati Diamond Mine (Dominion Diamond), Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (De Beers Canada), Hope Bay Gold Mine (TMAC Resources), Meadowbank Gold Mine (Agnico Eagle Mines), Meliadine Gold Project (Agnico Eagle Mines), and Victor Diamond Mine (De Beers Canada) from Ontario. The WSCC sponsored and organized the competition. Top honours went to Diavik and Gahcho Kué teams, which took home overall underground and overall surface trophies respectively.
Category: Winner
Bench Technician: Brad Towle, Hope Bay (TMAC Resources)
Surface First Aid: Mary River (Baffinland)
Underground First Aid: Meliadine (Agnico Eagle Mines)
Surface Practical Bench: Mary River (Baffinland)
Fire Fighting: Ekati (Dominion)
Surface Rope Rescue: Gahcho Kué (De Beers Canada)
Underground Rope Rescue: Diavik (Rio Tinto)
Surface Written Test: Gahcho Kué (De Beers Canada)
Underground Written Test: Diavik (Rio Tinto)
Surface Smoke: Mary River (Baffinland)
Underground Smoke: Diavik (Rio Tinto)
Underground Bench/Field Test: Diavik (Rio Tinto)
Surface Obstacle/Extrication: Gahcho Kué (De Beers Canada)
Underground Obstacle: Diavik (Rio Tinto)
Overall Surface: Gahcho Kué (De Beers Canada)
Overall Underground: Diavik (Rio Tinto)
The Chamber of Mines organized the miner’s picnic, which included a free barbecue and children’s activities. Ekati, Diavik, and Gahcho Kué, sponsored the picnic and, with the Yellowknife Speed Skating Club and others, provided volunteers for the event. Thanks to all involved with the mine rescue competition and trade show and the miner’s picnic!
For the June 2-9 NWT Mining Week poster click here. For more information on the NWT and Nunavut mining industries, please visit the Chamber of Mines website at www.miningnorth.com or contact Tom Hoefer, Executive Director at Tel: 867-873-5281 or email: executivedirector@miningnorth.com.