Seven Emergency Response Teams (ERT) from six mines across the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Newfoundland, gathered in Yellowknife on May 30 and 31, to showcase their skills at the 2025 Northern Mine Rescue Competition.
The event featured simulated emergency response scenarios in both surface and underground mining environments, where participants had to work collaboratively under pressure to handle major or prolonged emergency situations that could occur at any of the mine sites. Teams took part in firefighting, first aid, practical bench tests, rope rescue, smoke search, obstacle rescue courses, and written exams probes, showcasing their in-depth skills and knowledge. Winners of the specific competitions in 2025 were as follows:
Underground Competition Award Winners
• First Aid – Agnico Eagle Meadowbank Gold Mine (Nunavut)
• Rope Rescue – Agnico Eagle Meadowbank Gold Mine (Nunavut)
• Practical Bench – Agnico Eagle Meliadine Gold Mine (Nunavut)
• Obstacle – Agnico Eagle Meliadine Gold Mine (Nunavut)
• Smoke – Agnico Eagle Meliadine Gold Mine (Nunavut)
• Written – Rio Tinto Diavik Diamond Mine (NWT)
• Firefighting – Rio Tinto Diavik Diamond Mine (NWT)
• Bench Technician – Rio Tinto Diavik Diamond Mine (NWT)
Surface Competition Award Winners
• Written – Burgundy Diamond Mines Ekati Diamond Mine (NWT)
• Rope Rescue – Burgundy Diamond Mines Ekati Diamond Mine (NWT)
• First Aid – De Beers Group/Mountain Province Diamonds Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (NWT)
• Practical – De Beers Group/Mountain Province Diamonds Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (NWT)
• Obstacle – Agnico Eagle Meliadine Gold Mine (Nunavut)
• Smoke – De Beers Group/Mountain Province Diamonds Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (NWT)
• Firefighting – De Beers Group/Mountain Province Diamonds Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (NWT)
Ekati’s team was comprised of six ERT members who competed in the surface portion of the event. The team was awarded first place trophies for the Surface Rope Rescue and Surface Written Exam probes. Congratulations team!
Diavik’s mine rescue team took the best overall trophy in the underground category, while Gahcho Kué won best overall in the surface competition.
“I am incredibly proud of the team this year for their efforts and accomplishments! We forged strong relationships with our mutual aid partners in the North and we are excited to bring all our important learnings back to Ekati to continuously improve together as first responders,” said Peter West, this year’s Ekati ERT Team Captain for the event. “I want to extend a big ‘thank you’ to the Northern Mines’ Health and Safety Forum, countless volunteers, as well as our friends at Meliadine (NU), Meadowbank (NU), Diavik (NWT), Carol Lake (NL), Back River (NU), and Gahcho Kué (NWT) mines, for helping make this extremely valuable event a reality.”
In addition to inviting competitors to showcase and develop their skills, the mine rescue competition is a forum for relationship building and collaboration as mutual-aid partners between the mines.
“The competition reassures mine workers and their families that they are in good hands with their ERT, and that their safety and well-being are always a top priority,” said Sheila Chernys, Head of Health and Safety, Environment, Communities and Training at Burgundy.
The second day of the competition was open to the public to watch the competition and included a free Miners’ Picnic for families. A crowd favourite, the event featured a free BBQ and family-friendly activities including face painting, balloon animals, door prizes, and mining-related games such as diamond panning. Funds and food donations were raised for the local Salvation Army during the event.
