Mining Association of Manitoba Inc. Announces 2021 Provincial Mine Rescue Competition Details
May 6, 2021
Winnipeg - The Mining Association of Manitoba Inc. (MAMI) today announced the 2021 Manitoba Provincial Mine Rescue Competition will be held at various mine sites across the province this September, in acknowledgement of the public health challenges and restrictions presented by the pandemic.
This year's annual provincial competition, scheduled to take place between September 9 and 16, 2021, will see judges travel to each mine site, where each company mine rescue team will be evaluated against standard operating procedures using standardized environments (courses and structures).
"The format and timing for this year's competition addresses the need for our provincial mine rescue teams to regularly test their mine rescue skills, as well as the Manitoba government's requirement to limit large gatherings," said MAMI President Richard Trudeau. "Consequently, we've moved from holding the competition in one location to adopting a similar format to how the competition began back in 1961, when judges travelled to different mine sites and evaluated the local rescue teams against standard procedures."
The 59th annual provincial mine rescue competition is scheduled to take place at:
- Tantalum Mine at Bernic Lake on September 9;
- Hudbay Minerals Inc. in Flin Flon on September 12;
- Hudbay Minerals Inc. in Snow Lake on September 14; and,
- Vale in Thompson on September 16.
2018 Underground Competition held at Tantalum Mining, Bernic Lake MB. Kalinda Denault photography
Each rescue team will be tested in areas that include rescue missions, first aid challenges, firefighting and written exams, with competitions taking place on surface. This year's judges are Neil Spencer from Sling-Choker Mfg. (Thompson) Ltd. and Jamie Mortson from Alex MacIntyre & Associates Ltd. - both certified independent Manitoba mine rescue instructors.
Effective mine rescue teams are not only critical to a mine's operation, they also serve as role models to their peers in an industry that relies heavily on a safety-centric culture. "The mining industry continues to provide some of the safest jobs in the province of Manitoba," said Doug Peterson Co-Chair of MAMI's Mine Rescue Committee. "This competition ensures that the skills of our mine rescue personnel remain sharp and that the industry continues to build on its record of strong safety performance."
For More Information Contact:
Deanna Johnson,
MAMI Mine Rescue Coordinator
djohnson@mines.ca
John Morris - Co-Director, MAMI
morrisj@mines.ca
