Cominco tops at B.C. competition

British Columbia’s provincial mine rescue and first-aid competition was held recently in Prince George.

Among the winners were Fording Coal’s Greenhills operation (in the surface category), Cominco’s Sullivan mine (underground), and Gibraltar Mines (first-aid).

Cominco’s Sullivan mine won the Barry Abbott Memorial Trophy for best underground team “at the bench” (equipment assembly and testing skills).

The Maurice Boise Trophy for surface bench proficiency was awarded to the Quintette mine. Fording Coal’s Greenhills operation won the Highland Valley Copper trophy for highest non-aggregate points.

Individual awards were also handed out. Bruce Reid, of Cominco’s Sullivan mine, won the United Steelworkers Mine-Mill Trophy for best underground mine-rescue co-ordinator. The best bench technician award went to Michael Plait, also of the Sullivan mine. The Kathy Lofstrom Memorial Trophy for best coach in the first-aid event was awarded to John Weese of Gibraltar Mines.