FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mine rescue district winners announced
Finalists across Ontario will compete for provincial title
(May 10, 2024) SUDBURY, ON – Eight teams of mine rescue volunteers from Algoma, Kirkland Lake, Sudbury, Onaping, Thunder Bay, Red Lake, Timmins, and Southern Ontario emerged victorious during the official Ontario Mine Rescue Competitions that took place May 8 to 10. Winners will proceed to the provincial level where they compete for the coveted gold hardhats.
Mine rescue teams put their first aid knowledge to the test by retrieving a casualty from a confined space and treating a diabetic casualty with low sugars. Teams were then encouraged to use a state-of-the-art foam generator to eliminate a simulated fire, but with a challenging twist.
“We applied special coverings to competitors masks to imitate 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.”
The winners of each district are as follows:
Algoma District
Alamos Island Gold Mine
Captain Kaiden Harrietha, #2 Dominic Jean, #3 Evan Barley, #4 Jacob Paskus, Vice Captain Jessy DeChamplain, #6 Daniel Webb, Briefing Office Joel Labbe #7 Ben Eppert
Winning technician: Kyle Ouellette – Alamos Island Gold
Sudbury District
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 SINO 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 Lac Des Isles 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
Lakeshore Gold West 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, #7 Colin Price
Winning technician: Garry Bennett – Alamos Gold
Southern District
CGC 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 Ontario Mine Rescue Provincial Championship is set to take place June 4 to 7 at Fort Williams Gardens in Thunder Bay, where only one team will win.
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.
###
About Workplace Safety North: An independent not-for-profit, Workplace Safety North (WSN) is one of four health and safety associations in Ontario. WSN provides province-wide government-approved workplace health and safety services for mining and forest products sectors, and administers the Ontario Mine Rescue program. With Health and Safety Specialists and Mine Rescue Officers located across the province, WSN and its legacy organizations have been helping make Ontario workplaces safer for more than 100 years. Businesses and communities call upon WSN for expert advice. For more information, visit workplacesafetynorth.ca.
For more information, please contact
Jessica Rulli
Ontario Mine Rescue Program Development and Communications
jessicarulli@workplacesafetynorth.ca
Mobile 226-378-7083
OR
Shawn Rideout
Chief Mine Rescue Officer
shawnrideout@workplacesafetynorth.ca
Mobile 705-665-6933
