Mine rescue teams compete for Ontario title

Eight provincial districts are advancing to the Ontario Mine Rescue competition next month where only one team will return home with the coveted gold hard hats.

At district competitions that ended on May 9, each team began its scenario with a vehicle crash blocking the way to a fuel bay on fire, no water available, and a casualty trapped by their seatbelt. Too hot to use a fire extinguisher, they worked quickly to free the casualty and pull the vehicle out of the bay’s doorway.

Once completed, a built-in fire suppression system activated and extinguished the fire, which allowed the team to search for the next casualty. However, they were still expected to use a fire extinguisher on a volatile fuel spill – while not the best method, it was necessary under the circumstances.

“Even if we’re prepared for any emergency, the least ideal solution could be the only one available,” Shawn Rideout, chief mine rescue officer at Workplace Safety North, said in a release. “Paying attention to your surroundings, problem-solving under pressure, and adapting as the situation unfolds is critical in mine rescue work.”

Workplace Safety North is one of four sector-based associations designated by the province to provide specialized health and safety training. Ontario Mine Rescue is a specialized emergency response program for protecting workers in the province’s mining industry. It was stablished in 1929 following the Hollinger mine fire in Timmins that claimed 39 lives. 

Troubleshooting

Aside from extinguishing fires and rescuing casualties, certain mine rescue volunteers are trained to troubleshoot, repair and maintain breathing apparatus. These volunteers, known as technicians, are actively on standby during emergencies to service equipment. Technicians were called to action when team captains’ breathing apparatus failed a basic field test at the start of the competition.

In the first aid section, teams faced yet another equipment failure and were forced to use an alternative breathing apparatus on their casualty. Their backup plan was a new open circuit breathing apparatus, known as the MSA G1. This firefighting staple, introduced to volunteers in the Surface Mine Rescue program, is a viable way to transport casualties through dangerous environments.

Mine rescue team competitions bring together skilled emergency response crews from across the mining sector to test their abilities in realistic, high-pressure scenarios. Organized by Workplace Safety North through Ontario Mine Rescue, these events not only showcase technical proficiency in firefighting, first aid and underground rescue, but also promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement in mine safety. The competitions foster camaraderie and preparedness while highlighting the critical role trained responders play in safeguarding workers.

Many provinces, territories and other countries have counterparts. There is a Western Canada competition every two years, while the next international contest is scheduled for 2026 in Zambia. 

Teams will face a brand-new scenario at the Ontario Mine Rescue Provincial Competition set to take place June 3 to 5 at Glencore Kidd Operations in Timmins. 

Here are the finalists:

Algoma district

Alamos – Island Gold

Captain Jessy Dechamplain
#2 Thomas Brand
#3 Veronique Humphries
#4 Cody Lessard
Vice-Captain Daniel Webb
#6 Dave Ouellet
#7 Jake Brousseau
Briefing Officer (B.O.) Justin Krueger

Winning technician: Jeremy Bedard – Discovery Porcupine

Sudbury district

Vale – East Mines

Captain Kordell Hull
#2 Jason Cook
#3 Jeremy Faulkner
#4 Tyler Eady
Vice-Captain Mario Ceccon
#6 Will Langois
#7 Adam Widder
B.O. Shawn St. Louis

Winning technician: Nick Fram – Vale West

Onaping district

Glencore – Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations

Captain Julien Lalande
#2 Aaron Boutet
#3 Neil Poulin
#4 Patrick Legris
Vice-Captain Shawn O’Brien
#6 Steven Hrycay
#7 Mario Seguin
B.O. Bleir Millions

Winning technician: Daniel Rioux – Glencore

Thunder Bay district

New Gold Inc. – Rainy River Mine

Captain Hannah Marcotte
#2 Mackenzie Mahon
#3 Mitchell Hearn
#4 Tyler Roy
Vice Captain Tyler Venerus
#6 Chris Matechuk
B.O. Justin Borger

Winning technician: Jarid Sandelovich – New Gold Inc.

Red Lake district

Newmont – Musselwhite Mine

Captain Alexa Dumaine
#2 Matt Arges
#3 Frank Nepveu
#4 Kiyoshi Brayshaw
Vice-Captain Kevin Ireland
#6 Jimmy Sinclair
#7 Riley Bennet
B.O. Steve Uchenhagen

Winning technician: Gabriel Roy – Newmont

Timmins district

Glencore – Kidd Operations

Captain Clint Scripnick
#2 Gilles Paradis
#3 Michael Murphy
#4 Matthew Richards
Vice-Captain Randy Gagnon
#6 Reid Murray
B.O. James Comeau

Winning technician: Dominic Gervais – Lake Shore Gold-Panamerican Silver

Kirkland Lake district

Agnico Eagle – Macassa Mine

Captain Jackson Lafrance
#2 Nick Perrier
#3 Denis Dion
#4 Colin Price
Vice-Captain Jean-Francois Racine
#6 Carlie Dewar
#7 Alex Perrault
B.O. April Belecque

Winning technician: Caolan Browne – Agnico Eagle

Southern district

Compass Minerals – Goderich Mine

Captain David Kelly
#2 Joel Paquette
# 3 Marshall Jeffery
#4 Chris Sallows
Vice-Captain Cody Lobb
#6 Kyle Ropp
#7 Aaron Duckworth
B.O. Ken Nguyen

Winning technician: Dennis Hogan – Compass Minerals