Winnipeg – Safety and skill competency are at the heart of the 2024 Manitoba Provincial Mine Rescue Competition on May 24 and 25 in the Lac du Bonnet area of Manitoba hosted by The Mining Association of Manitoba Inc. (MAMI) and Tantalum Mining Corporation (TANCO). This is the 61st year this event has been held, with more than 24 elite mine personnel going head-to-head to see who is the best in the province.
Participating teams showcase their skills and training in scenarios like an underground rescue and a mock first aid incident while their performance is rated and evaluated against standard mine rescue procedures. In Manitoba’s annual competition rescue scenarios place both underground and on the surface, with teams competing at the mine site and in the community.
“These individuals have a unique and highly specialized skill set that plays a critical role in successful mining operations,” explained Stacy Kennedy, MAMI President and Co-chair of the Mine Rescue Committee. “While these types of competitions keep everyone’s skills sharp and hone their responsiveness, it also provides teams the opportunity to collaborate and learn from one another.”
The competition includes testing in rescue missions, first aid challenges and firefighting, followed by written exams. Presiding judges for the underground scenario are Neil Spencer of Spencer Consulting and Training and Jamie Mortson of Alex MacIntyre & Associates Ltd. Each are highly experienced, certified independent Manitoba mine rescue instructors.
This year also marks the second time the competition will field a ‘Mutual Aid’ team, led by a host-mine Captain and Director of Operations and made-up of two team members from each of the remaining two mine stations. With only one day to get to know each other as a team, last year the first ever Mutual Aid team came in second place to the winning Vale team.
This is Richard Trudeau’s last year as MAMI Vice-President and Co-chair of the Mine Rescue Committee. “Over the years I have seen huge strides made in safety and rescue operations and I am very proud of the men and women who are dedicated to the critical role they play in mine operations.”
For more information contact Deanna Johnson @ djohnson@miningmanitoba.org or 204.989.1890.