Ontario’s mine rescue teams are once again facing off in the 2025 Ontario Mine Rescue District Competition running May 7 to 9.
In five different arenas across the province, these specialized volunteers will have a new chance to demonstrate their emergency response capabilities.
Headed by industry professionals at Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), teams of mine rescue volunteers end their rigorous training cycle by participating in the competition season spanning May to June. They must complete a knowledge evaluation before being immersed into a simulated emergency, where they put their first aid, firefighting, teamwork, and emergency equipment skills to the test.
The competitions are a learning opportunity for mine rescuers, and help OMR ensure volunteers from each mine are meeting the same standards.
“Every year we aim to create a scenario that is as realistic as possible,” Shawn Rideout, chief mine rescue officer at Workplace Safety North said in a news release. “It's a window into the intense emergencies volunteers will see on the mine site, and we use their competition performance to improve how they make critical decisions under stress.”
While firefighting and first aid training are staples of mine rescue, volunteers also receive rope rescue, auto extrication, structural collapse, and equipment maintenance training. However, the problems competitors will face remains a secret until they’re on the competition floor – which maintains a fair playing field when comparing their real-time decision-making and adaptability.
District competitions are open to the public and media to witness these highly trained teams in action. Competitions will take place in Red Lake & Thunder Bay districts – Memorial Sports Centre, the Town of Fort Frances, Algoma District – Michipicoten Memorial CC, Wawa, Southern District – Eastlink Arena, Clinton, Sudbury & Onaping districts – Dr. Edgar Leclair Arena, Azilda and Timmins & Kirkland Lake districts – Archie Dillon Sportsplex, from May 7-8.
The winner of each district will compete in the 2025 Provincial Competition, June 3 to 5 at Glencore Kidd Operations in Timmins.
More information is here.