Issue #35 Spring 2018 One error cost 50 demerits But first team to win Sudbury District ‘did well’ Despite being penalized 50 demerits for its first error, Edmond Poirier thought his team from Levack Mine did pretty good in their mine rescue competition debut – the first Sudbury District Mine Rescue Competition in 1964. “It was a 50-point deduction for going through a charging station without extinguishing our light, our oxygen lamp. Other than that, I think we did well,” said Poirier, now living in Elliot Lake. “Even with that 50-point deduction, the Levack team was able to win the very first competition that Inco (now Vale) held within its own mines. And we also won the second one,” he said, recalling that four or LET’S DO IT AGAIN – The first-ever Sudbury District Mine Rescue Competition champions in five other Inco mines, including Creighton, 1964, the Levack Mine team led by captain Ed Poirier, third from left, pose for a photo. Most of Frood-Stobie and Garson, would have the team returned for a repeat district victory the following year. competed in 1964. in full gear and run them outside for 20 provincial competitions. “I was the captain alright, but the fellows minutes or so,” before training sessions. His only regret in 20-plus years of (Fred Mooney, Ed Luoma, Ken Miron, Mel “I remember going to the provincials volunteer service with Mine Guse, Bob Nadeau, and R. Glassford) were twice and we didn’t do too well, but we Rescue, said Poirier, is that “I retired too very studious. I had good men working with didn’t shame ourselves either,” said Poirier. soon.” me,” said Poirier, who “would put them Both teams finished third in the subsequent See ‘NOT JUST’ Page 4 90th anniversary plans anyone? Next year, 2019, will mark 90 years of mining community, contributing to making Ideally, suggestions should focus on you, dedicated service to Ontario Mine Rescue OMR a world leader in mine rescue. the volunteer – past and present, and involve by mine rescue volunteers – literally We think that is worthy of recognition. all mining communities in the province, but thousands of men and women over a if you think there’s something that should be So tell us how you think the occasion near-century – committed to the safety and done in one community or for one person, well-being of their co-workers. should be recognized. we still want to hear about it. From the time Austin Neame was All suggestions are welcome, and will be Email your suggestions to: appointed Ontario’s first Mine Rescue considered and evaluated by OMR based [email protected] Officer and opened the first mine rescue on practicality and available resources (staff We’ll update you on some of the station in Timmins in 1929, volunteers have and volunteer time, equipment, and, yes, suggestions, and maybe some plans, in the responded to every call in every Ontario financial cost). Fall/Winter Link Line.

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1995 – Mine rescuer Dave Hay 2002 – Vice-captain Day Hay A competitor for all positions team and they knew I was pretty keen on it. a provincial,” he recalled. “Except for my Hay makes it 24 years So I agreed and it turned out to be a good vice-captain, all the other members were of ‘good memories’ thing.” rookies. We finished fourth. We had a pretty Such a good thing that Hay can’t stop good showing there.” As he entered his 24th consecutive year accumulating good memories, having His favourite position has been as captain in mine rescue competitions, including competed in all the utility positions, vice- because of the added challenge. 15 provincial events as a competitor and captain, captain, briefing officer, and “You have to do . . . the leading, be several as a judge, Red Lake technician. He wants more. involved in a lot of the decisions, work with Gold Mines’ Dave Hay can still keep the your briefing officer. It challenges all your competition details straight. “Ninety-nine in was a curious one. We had to cut our way through skills really. You’re in charge of four other His first provincial in 1995? a tunnel set filled with rebar and drill steel individuals down there, and need to get the “It was in Marathon. There was a total with the bolt cutters . . . There were some work organized and the flow going.” of five missing men. There was a fire in an pretty keen press reporters who were out Twenty-plus years of competition has kept electrical sub underground, I believe. The the first day, and they published the paper Hay abreast of the many changes, equipment first two men we came across were two the next morning with a picture on the and otherwise, in Ontario Mine Rescue. mine rescued-trained men in a fresh air front page of men cutting through with the “When I started we had the flame lamp raise, no injuries, and they had SSR90s with bolt cutters. which you’d have to have a pretty keen eye them,” Hay recalled without hesitation. CONFISCATED NEWSPAPERS to discern the different levels of oxygen and “A geotechnical team took refuge in a methane you’d measure. The CO testers “So there was a big scurry to confiscate vehicle. They were the second two men we were all plungers which are still relevant, but all the newspapers so the teams on the found. The last one was in the electrical today’s electronics are a lot more accurate, second day didn’t see what the scenario was. substation. We had to cut our way through safer.” It provide some humourous moments.” a door to get to him. He was unconscious, And then, communications “was always broken forearm, in contamination.” Coincidentally, that year Hay’s Campbell via Femco phones, we didn’t have the Hay had just joined Ontario Mine Rescue, Mine team won the Special Equipment leaky feeder radios,” he said, and now “just completing his Basic and Standard courses, Award. this past year we just started using tablets when he was approached that year by the In 2001, “they had three fellows in a refuge for the briefing officer and the captain to team at then Placer Dome’s Campbell Mine. station. I believe that was the first time they communicate . . . so you’d have not only had more than two casualties,” said Hay, voice communications but you could “I questioned them on it ‘Why would transfer data” such as maps and photos. you approach me, I just started?’ I guess noting Campbell Mine won that year. they needed that last person to get on the “2008 was the first year I captained in See ‘COMPETITION’ Page 5

2008 – Captain Dave Hay 2015 – Briefing Officer Dave Hay

www.workplacesafetynorth.ca/minerescue www.facebook.com/OntarioMineRescue www.linkedin.com/company/Ontario-Mine-Rescue Pg 3 All in the Mine Rescue Family rägerman Stories, produced and Dreleased by Dräger Safety early this year, brought a passionate response Family branches from Ontario Mine Rescue volunteers, Multiple Generations eager to acknowledge their family’s • Grandfather Mike, father Ron, & contributions to mine rescue. grandson Aaron Boutet Long-time volunteer at Vale, Mike • Grandfather Joe Pacione & Gillis emailed to advise us that the grandson Glen Duffy Gillis family is to Vale, as the Boutet • Grandfather Harold, father Mike, & family is to Glencore, three generations grandson Kurtis Gillis of Ontario Mine Rescue volunteers. Fathers & Sons/Daughters The Boutets are among the OMR • Mine Rescue Officer Walter & volunteers and families featured in Kevin Adler Drägerman Stories. • Ken & Riley Beamish When Mike Gillis joined OMR • Denis & Anne Bilodeau shortly after starting work at INCO • Ernie & Gerry Champagne in 1971 his father Harold had already • Jacques & Guy Champagne been a volunteer for more than 10 • Jack & Joe & Pete Joliet years, having joined in the 1950s. • Craig & Andrew Jorgenson Harold was one of the volunteers from • Roy & Mine Rescue Officer Mike Krell Levack who travelled to Timmins to • Mike & Andre Lefebrve fight the McIntyre Mine Fire in 1965. • Joe & Jim Lundrigan Mike’s son Kurtis followed in his • Stanley & Mitch MacLeod grandfather and father’s footsteps, • Colin & Ryan Pickett working for Vale and volunteering for • Mel & Chief Mine Rescue Officer mine rescue. Shawn Rideout Last fall, Faheema Velji-Shears and • Claude & Andre Timony Scott Shears became the third OMR • Dave & Brad Towle married couple (Congratulations!), • Mike & James Van Roon though unlike Frances and Wilfrid • Bryan & Justin Wilson Machimity, and Lynne and Alex Brothers Thompson, who worked for the same • Retired Mine Rescue Officer John companies, Faheena and Scott work for & Brian Hagan different mining companies. • Jack & Roger Joliet Velji-Shears joined mine rescue at • Joe & Pete Joliet Tahoe Canada’s Bell Creek Complex in • Rob & Rick Ladouceur September, while Shears is a volunteer • Ryan & J.P. Lepage with Goldcorp. Their mine rescue • Doug & Greg Trahan relationship is currently on a ‘mutual Couples+ aid basis,’ though that could change if • Frances & Wilfrid Machimity (and they both decide to compete. nephew Ron) Other volunteers called and emailed • Lynne & Alex Thompson to add their branches to the family tree. • Scott Shears & Faheema Velji- The list of sons following their Shears fathers into mine rescue, and often the Father/Sons-in-Law same company, has also been extended. • Former Mine Rescue Officer John In Timmins, Riley Beamish followed Hagan & Andrew Jorgenson father Ken into mine rescue, while • Gabe Larouche & Rob Ladouceur Mike Van Roon and son James are • Jean-Guy Rondeau & Doug Trahan volunteers at Lac des Iles Mine. Andre • Guy Sabourin & Jim Lundrigan Lefebvre followed his father Mike into mine rescue and Nickel, now Brothers-in-Law Glencore. • Chris Horde & Dan Kuppinen Longtime volunteers Doug and Greg Cousins Trahan joined OMR in Elliot Lake and • Chris Horde & Ryan & J.P. Lepage were both trained by now retired Mine Rescue Officer Ken Pierce. Uncle/Nephews Doug’s father-in-law, Jean-Guy • Roger & Joe & Pete Joliet Rondeau served as a volunteer in Each photo links to its video, or for links to all the Uncle-in-law/Nephew videos visit: Timmins District during the 1950s and • Leo-Paul Seguin & Jim Lundrigan ‘60s. www.workplacesafetynorth.ca/minerescue

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‘Where’s our NICE TROPHY – Inco’s Manager of Mines, John McCready, left, presented the McCready facemasks?’ Trophy for the first-time ever to Levack Mine rescue team captain Ed Poirier, and team members Ed Luoma, Albert Last, Andy Wisniewski, Mel Guse, briefing officer Ken Miron, and vice-captain Mine rescue volunteers will soon Bob Nadeau, following the second Sudbury District Mine Rescue Competition in 1965. notice the Dräger FPS 7000 facemask in their substations, but they may have to wait to see tablet computers replace the ‘Not just anyone’ invited captain’s clipboard. Over the next several years, Ontario Mine Rescue will gradually replace the to join Inco mine rescue yellow Panorama Nova Masks used with Continued from Page 1 done, we’d have to break all the rules in the BG4 breathing apparatus with the He started mine rescue training in 1962, order to get 10 minutes work done, and newer, black FPS 7000 mask equipped after leading the Levack Mine’s competition- then run back (to surface) with our (alarm) with voice amplification modules. winning first aid team for several years, and bells ringing,” he said. The new masks were field tested retired a few years after his last provincial “Once we got established where the during the last two years in several competition as a briefing officer in 1982. work had to be done, they brought down districts and during the 2016 “I’ll always regret not having the 25-year large cylinders” to recharge the McCaas. International Mines Rescue Competition pin.” The team spent most of its response time building barricades to seal off ventilation (IMRC) in Sudbury. When equipped Back then, mine rescue “didn’t just pick to the fire and contain the high expansion with a communications module, the up anyone,” Poirier said. “They chose foam used to extinguish it. mask can be directly connected to a whomever they thought would be best radio improving the overall quality of for the team, both physically and mentally. “By the time we got the walls up, the foam voice communication. You’d have to prove yourself without even machine going, we knew where the fire Initially, all substations will receive thinking about mine rescue.” originated, and McIntyre figured from that two FPS 7000 masks to be used by team When asked, “I jumped at the chance,” point on they could continue with their own captains and vice-captains, said Chief said Poirier, who had joined Inco in 1950. teams, and that was it, we came home” as Mine Rescue Officer Shawn Rideout, heroes and proud of the job done, he said. He had been drawn to the first aid team but as the older masks are replaced and Lively’s volunteer fire service from During his time on mine rescue, Poirier eventually all teams members will be personal experience. When he was young, saw the introduction of foam firefighting equipped with them. his parents’ homestead burned to the and the BG174, which after the challenge A radio capable of connecting to mine ground. Two siblings died in the fire, and of the McIntyre Fire, was welcomed, but operation frequencies must be used his father, severely injured trying to save he has an intense curiosity about how mine with the FPS 7000 COM, but the initial them, died a few days later. rescuers work now. procedure for use will dictate teams have Joining mine rescue was extension of his “I would like to see the changes. I a second radio not connected to the motivation to prevent and fight fires, and understand they have speakers, microphones mask. This will allow audio to be heard by help people, but the only mine fire Poirier now, because we didn’t have that. We had team members directly, rather than relying ever responded to as a mine rescuer was the sign language.” Also, railed equipment was on the captain to relay all messages. 1965 McIntyre Mine Fire in Timmins. standard, so “in a very smoky area we guided Meanwhile, details on rolling out “It’s strange that all that training and I ourselves by the rail, so what do you do OMR’s high-tech upgrade to the only got to use it once,” said Poirier, who now?” he asked. captain’s clipboard are still being worked led his Levack team during the response, Poirier, as a special guest at the Sudbury on. The tablet with an app custom- and like other mine rescuers at the incident, and Onaping Districts Competition in May, designed for mine rescue was a popular struggled to use the two-hour McCaa caught up on equipment and procedures innovation during trials across several breathing apparatus fighting the remote fire. with a new generation of mine rescuers. districts, at the IMRC and the 2017 Provincial Mine Rescue Competition. “We’d have to go down two different “There’s nothing more proud that I did at The tablets will be used in the 2018 cages. We’d go down to one level, and then Inco than being on mine rescue. It was such Provincial Competition. take another cage to another level. By the an honour working with the fellows and time we got to the site for the work to be being part of the team.”

www.workplacesafetynorth.ca/minerescue www.facebook.com/OntarioMineRescue www.linkedin.com/company/Ontario-Mine-Rescue Pg 5 New substation opens at Borden Lake Add one new mine rescue substation at Borden Lake Mine to Ontario Mine Rescue’s map. “Opening the mine rescue substation is the first step in becoming a full operating mine,” Marc Lauzier, general manager of Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines and Goldcorp operations in the Timmins area, told employees and guests at the substation’s official opening. The mine, approximately 10 kilometres east of Chapleau and 190 kilometres west of Timmins, is to be the first all-electric mine in Ontario. “We’ve been receiving lots of calls. Everyone is watching us,” said Lauzier, adding “other companies have wanted to do this (go all-electric) for a while.” The thoroughly modern and spacious substation, adjacent to the mine’s administration module, is fully equipped with mainly new and some used equipment, READY FOR ACTION – Mine rescue volunteers Joe Joliat, left, and Marc Charron pull out plentiful cabinet space, and expansive their facemasks during the official opening of Borden Lake Mine’s new mine rescue substation. central workbench with drawers. standard equipment for that position. noting that Goldcorp operations in Six drawers on each side, designated for a “We’re looking forward to winning the Timmins and Red Lake have demonstrated specific team position, hold a BG4 and the provincial competition,” said Lauzier, their mine rescue expertise. Competition appeal fueled by technology, experiences Continued from Page 2 In fact new technology, like the tablet, contributed to making last year’s provincial competition “rank up there pretty high” among Hay’s favourite competitions. “I went down as technician but I travelled with the team (Red Lake District winners Musselwhite Mine). We’ve competed against them in our district many times, and they came up with their first provincial (championship).” “That was nice to see. I know what that feeling is like to win that title and trophy, and get the bragging rights. I felt really good for those guys,” Hay said. Paying Sudbury Not to mention that for Hay and most competitors, “it was a new experience being a Visit in a salt mine, the sheer size of it, and seeing the different things they would have to deal Ron Kelusky, a former paramedic with and the distances they would have to recently appointed as Ontario’s new travel in an emergency.” Chief Prevention Officer, dropped by the Sudbury Mine Rescue Station to So maybe because of the great say ‘Hello’, check out the equipment, experiences Hay isn’t quite ready to retire and the facility with OMR General from competition. Manager Ted Hanley. Earlier in the visit, he attended and presented awards “I’m going to try and finish up as a at Workplace Safety North’s annual technician. 2017 – Technician Dave Hay Mining Health and Safety Conference. “If they’ll let me, I’d like to . . . round it some of the guys ask me to come back and out with 25 years consecutive. That’s my help carry the basket, I’m still up for that goal,” he said, but then . . . “who knows, if too.”

www.workplacesafetynorth.ca/minerescue www.facebook.com/OntarioMineRescue www.linkedin.com/company/Ontario-Mine-Rescue Pg 6 KL Gold set to defend IMRC title Mine rescue team members at Gold have their passports ready. The team, winners of the 2016 International Mines Rescue Competition (IMRC) in Sudbury, will be defending their title at IMRC2018 in Russia. Kirkland Lake is among 20 teams already accepted for the eleventh international Farewell Walter . . . competition, Sept. 22 to 29, in Ekaterinburg. Say a warm farewell to Walter Adler. district Mine The city is the fourth largest in Russia with a population of 1.5 million, a major mining After 13-plus years as a Mine Rescue Rescue Officers, centre, and the economic centre of the Officer, much of it spent giving principally easing Urals. introductory courses to a generation their workload of mine rescue volunteers (and Mine by giving Also returning to the competition are Rescue Officers) across the province, introductory teams from Australia, Colombia, India, and Walter (Wally) is retiring June 1. courses. Poland, which competed in IMRC2016 It is his second retirement, after having He has given Canada. Returning to the competition retired from Falconbridge, where he introductory following an absence is Turkey, and new courses for mine started to work in 1970, and received his Walter Adler to the event are teams from Zambia and rescue volunteers mine rescue training in 1986. Kazakstan. at virtually every While at Falconbridge’s Onaping operating mine in the province, as well as At least one other unidentified Canadian Mine, Wally competed in five provincial given the introductory training to most team has been accepted, and a third, the competitions as a team member in of the current Mine Rescue Officers. eventual winner of the Quebec provincial 1988, as briefing officer in 1992 and Wally served in many other capacities competition, is on the waiting list. As with 1993, and captain in 1995 and 1996. In including training post-secondary the Sudbury competition, the first two his final appearance as a competitor, students in mine rescue, providing qualified teams from each country are his Onaping/Craig Mine team won the refresher training, and assisting in district accepted, with subsequent applicants from provincial competition. mine rescue competitions. those countries placed on a waiting list. After leaving Falconbridge, Wally To new and old mine rescue With openings for 30 teams, the was hired by Ontario Mine Rescue on a competitors, he became known as the application process is open until May 31, contract basis as a Mine Rescue Officer chief floor judge or “guide” during with final approvals given by the end of in 2002. The contract position became provincial competitions, giving the June. Four teams are currently on the permanent in 2005. standard “As you see it” response to waiting list. Based in Sudbury, Wally travelled curious, stumped or, occasionally, devious Applications are also still being accepted across Ontario in a support role to the team captains asking for information. for judges. Successful applicants come from Canada, Australia, Austria, United Kingdom, . . . And welcome Scott Colombia, and Peru, as well as Russia. There Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR), a part and Technician is, as yet, no judge from Ontario. of Workplace Safety North, welcomes Mine Rescue Events will include a mine rescue the addition of new Mine Rescue Officer Certifications. simulation; firefighting and first aid events; - Emergency Services Specialist Scott He was an a virtual reality exercise, theory exam, and a Gillett. active Kirkland Lake Volunteer technician competition. Gillett joins OMR’s Emergency Firefighter. For more information on the competition Services Training Division from Kirkland or to register as an individual, judge or team, Lake Gold’s Holt Mine where he worked A member of Kirkland Lake visit . as an underground supervisor. He will www.en.imrc2018.ru District-winning be responsible for specialty training and Scott Gillett Meanwhile, preparations are under way mine rescue consulting throughout Ontario. for the 2019 International Mines Rescue teams in 2015 Body (IMRB) conference in Bogota, To be based at the Sudbury Mine and 2017, he was also on the Kirkland Columbia. Rescue Station, Gillett received his Lake Gold Mine Rescue team that won Introductory Mine Rescue Training in the 2016 International Mines Rescue The ninth conference, Sept. 7 to 14, is the 2013, and now holds both Advanced Competition in Sudbury. first in South America and expected to be the largest ever.

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WorkplaceWorkplace SafetySafety NorthNorth Head Office (North Bay) 705-670-5707 President & CEO Paul Andre ext. 275 [email protected] OntarioOntario MineMine RescueRescue Sudbury Office 705-670-5707 General Manager Ted Hanley M. 705-690-0928 [email protected] Chief Mine Rescue Officer Shawn Rideout ext. 339 [email protected] Chief Emergency Services Officer Tim Ebbinghaus ext. 316 [email protected] Emergency Services Specialist Scott Gillett ext. 352 [email protected] Executive Assistant Penny Pagan ext. 321 [email protected] Mine Rescue Assistant Becky Barrett ext. 325 Who is That? [email protected] We know who they are, the 1983 Onaping District champion Falconbridge Mine Rescue Officers mine rescue team at the provincial competition in Sudbury, but we don’t know Wawa Station 807-238-1155 who is who. If you can identify members of the team, please email kensitter@ Mike Krell workplacesafetynorth.ca. [email protected] Kirkland Lake Station 705-567-4606 Wayne Baker [email protected] Shawn Shail [email protected] Sudbury & Onaping Stations 705-670-5707 Walter (Wally) Adler ext. 331 [email protected] Dan Davidson ext. 329 [email protected] Jeff Farquharson ext. 344 [email protected] Gorden Sullivan ext. 328 [email protected] Red Lake Station 807-735-2331 Grant Saunders [email protected] Southern Ontario Station 519-652-9809 Dan Rulli [email protected] Thunder Bay Station 807-344-8211 Duane Croswell [email protected] Timmins Station 705-235-4861 Danny Taillefer [email protected] Jason Leger Are we stumped? [email protected] While Rob Nylund, of Goldcorp Red Lake Gold Mines, was able to identify his North Bay Office 705-670-5707 colleague Dave Villeneuve, bottom left, the other members of the 1993 Red Lake Writer District champion Dona Lake Mine mine rescue team remained unidentified. So if Ken Sitter ext. 234 you can identify any other members, please email kensitter@workplacesafetynorth. [email protected]

About the Ontario Mine Rescue Newsletter The Ontario Mine Rescue newsletter is published four times per year by Workplace Safety North (WSN). WSN is funded by workplaces in the province through premiums paid to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. 235 Cedar St. The information in this publication is accurate to the best of our Sudbury, ON P3B 1M8 knowledge. However, the association assumes no responsibility PH: (705) 671-6360 or liability for the accuracy or sufficiency of this information, FAX: (705) 670-5708 nor does it endorse any product mentioned herein with the exception of those produced by Workplace Safety North. www.workplacesafetynorth.ca