Yellowknife, NT (May 18, 2018) – The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut invites Northerners to witness the events of the 61st Annual Mine Rescue Competition.
The annual public event takes place this year on Saturday, June 2. The WSCC invites the public to take in the action on Saturday at the Yellowknife Multiplex/Fieldhouse Parking Lot from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The competition coincides with the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines’ Miner’s Picnic from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
The best of northern mining comes together once a year for a competition that tests the extremes in both surface and underground mining emergency practices. In a friendly battle to evaluate the effectiveness of mine training programs, the Mine Rescue Competition puts each team through a series of trials that mimic mine disaster scenarios. The competition brings team members together while allowing mine experts to understand how other teams work, while testing their own skills. In an industry where workplace safety can be a matter of life or death, these volunteer mine rescue teams are made up of modern day heroes.
This year, eight teams from eight mines will compete for the Overall Surface and Overall Underground Trophies: Baffinland Iron Mine (Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation); Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.); Ekati Diamond Mine (Dominion Diamond Corporation); Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (De Beers Canada Inc.); Hope Bay Gold Mine (TMAC Resources Inc.); Meadowbank Gold Mine (Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.); Meliadine Gold Project (Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.); and Victor Diamond Mine (from Northern Ontario; De Beers Canada Inc.).
Join the WSCC on Saturday, June 2 to witness Surface and Underground competitions including Obstacle events, Smoke events, Rope Rescue, First Aid, and more. Watch as judges evaluate each event, which range from safety equipment checks to simulated disasters. Visit wscc.nt.ca or wscc.nu.ca for a breakdown of Surface and Underground teams.
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For more information, contact:
Maggie Collins
Communications Manager
Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission
Northwest Territories and Nunavut
T: (867) 920-3854