Gahcho Kué mine rescue team wins overall national western regional title for surface mining

10 September 2019

The Gahcho Kué Mine Emergency Response Team has added the title of National Western Region Overall Surface Winner to its impressive list of accomplishments following a strong performance at the biennial mine rescue competition held in Fernie, British Columbia.
The seven-member team earned the overall title by winning two of the seven surface events, including the challenging Surface Smoke Search and First Aid challenges, placing second in the Fire competition, and scoring well in all other categories.
Ten of the top mine rescue teams from across western Canada and the northwestern United States took part from 6-7September. This was the second time the Gahcho Kué team has participated in the event. In 2017 in just its first full year of mining operations, the team won the Surface Smoke Search obstacle.
“I was extremely proud to witness the level of professionalism, skill and hard work by all members of the Gahcho Kué team during the competition,” said Lyndon Clark, Mine General Manager. “Their performance exemplifies the level of commitment to safety and success shown by everyone who works at Gahcho Kué.”
This brings to 14 the total awards won by members of the Emergency Response Team, crewed by volunteers from across the operation. Since the mine opened in 2016, the team has won four national western region trophies and 11 NWT/Nunavut mine rescue awards, including winning the overall Surface Mine Rescue competition champions in 2018 and 2019.
Gahcho Kué Mine is located in the Northwest Territories (NWT), 280 km northeast of Yellowknife. The mine is a joint venture between De Beers Group (51% - the Operator) and Mountain Province Diamonds. In Canada, De Beers Group is also advancing the Chidliak Project in Nunavut and our Victor Mine in Northern Ontario and Snap Lake Mine in the NWT are in the early stages of closure.