Skip to content

My Take on Snow Lake - Jan. 16, 2015

Mine rescue a part of northern culture
Some of the mine rescue equipment in the Snow Lake Mining Museum’s extensive display.
Some of the mine rescue equipment in the Snow Lake Mining Museum’s extensive display.

Mine rescue … it is as much a part of our northern culture as mining itself. In fact, the two go hand in hand. As long as there have been workers who toil in the depths, there have been mining brethren who come to their aid when, or if, things go south.

The Snow Lake Mining Museum has what is thought to be the most complete and encompassing collection of mine rescue equipment in any museum in Manitoba – possibly Canada – and why not? Our mines and their rescue teams have been at the forefront of the annual mine rescue competition many times since it was first held in 1961. In the 53 years that the competition has been held, Snow Lake mines have won it eight times (five Hudbay wins and three by New Britannia) and between Flin Flon, Leaf Rapids, and Snow Lake, Hudbay itself has taken the competition’s top prize on 21 occasions – more than any other mining company in the province. 

Under Provincial Mining Regulations, every operating underground mine is required to have a mine rescue team.  Mine rescue in Manitoba is defined by The Operation of Mines Regulation 212/2011 5.4 (1), (2) & (3) and is the direct responsibility of each operating or developing mine.

The Manitoba Mine Rescue Training Manual states that, “Mine rescue is a practical science whereby trained personnel, wearing protective breathing apparatus enter a mine during or after a mine fire, explosion, or other disaster to rescue trapped workers, extinguish the fire and restore the mine to its original safe condition.

Mine rescue training puts the mine operation in a state of ‘awareness’. The mine is alerted to the possibility of an emergency occurring at any time. This awareness encourages the mine personnel to utilize safe and proper working procedures that will often prevent emergency situations from occurring. The mine has a competent and knowledgeable work force able to take the proper action to prevent emergency situations from worsening and endangering lives. It is also equipped with specially trained personnel who can act during the emergency to carry out rescue and recovery operations.

When a disaster occurs there are generally several factors contributing to the cause or to the severity, therefore, awareness has to be directed to the various causes.”

As for the history of mine rescue In Manitoba: in 1933, Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company Limited (HBM&S), in Flin Flon, was the first mining company in the province to have suitable mine rescue equipment and 10 certified mine rescue personnel. For many years this was the only company to have what can be referred to as a mine rescue station, although other mines had a limited supply of Type ‘N’ gas masks. It was not until 1948 that HBM&S added to their equipment inventory, upgrading their station to the standard of a Central Mine Rescue Station.

Howe Sound Exploration Company Ltd. In Snow Lake followed with a fully equipped station in 1949. The mine rescue station at Snow Lake was taken over by HBM&S after that gold mining operation was closed in 1958. As of the spring of 2007, all mine rescue stations in Manitoba have been equipped with the Draeger BG 4 Closed Circuit Breathing Apparatus.

Within a mine rescue competition itself, over a period of two days, teams are tested on their ability to deal with equipment problems, their firefighting skill, first aid aptitude, a written exam, and the all-important rescue mission. In the judging of all of these skills, points are awarded or deducted and the team with the most points at the end of the event is deemed the winning team.  

Living in a northern mining town, most people realize the value of the skills a mine rescue team maintains, and in the case of this competition, the aptitude they exhibit. Among each other, in competitions such as this, there is an obvious and easy camaraderie amongst the teams, but also an unspoken respect and trust. All these workers labour in the mines for a living and although they may have varying reasons for that choice, it is apparent that they all take part in mine rescue for the same reason. If they were ever in the situation where they needed help underground, they’d want a qualified and committed team such as their own to be on the scene.

At a competition in Snow Lake, back in 1997, then mines inspector Jim Haines made the comment that in mine rescue competitions, the real winners aren’t on the team who finishes first, they are the workers who go underground with them when they get back home. That statement speaks volumes towards the closeness of the competition and the value of the skills these brave workers possess. 

Over the years, Snow Lake’s winning teams consisted of: 1978 - HBM&S Snow Lake - Orville Becking (Captain), Lawrence Samborski (Vice-Captain), Clair Pilgrim, Cliff Harris, John Masko, Bob Sigurdur, Doug Simpson (Coach); 1982 - HBM&S Snow Lake - Cliff Harris (Captain), Clair Pilgrim (Vice-Captain), Dan Steppan, Jim Bennett, Pete Fris, Art Hughes, Orville Becking (Coach); 1988 - HBM&S Snow Lake - Kevin Lief (Captain), Art Hughes (Vice-Captain), Brian McDougall, George Vanlinden, Sid Franke, Elmer Meszaros, Phillip Miller (Coach); 1996 - New Britannia Mine Snow Lake - Pete Fris (Captain), Glen Otto (Vice-Captain), Len DuRussell, Phil Klyne, Garnet Coulson, Janet Wishart, Tom Hilliard (Director of Operations), Norman Ladouceur (Coach); 1997 - New Britannia Mine Snow Lake - Brian McDougall (Captain), Pat Branconier (Vice-Captain), Dennis Kutchaw, Hal Johnson, Neal Foy, Janet Wishart (Director of Operations), Norman Ladouceur (Coach); 2003 - New Britannia Mine Snow Lake - Neal Foy (Captain), Rick Leaman (Vice-Captain), Don Harvey, Gerald Weir, Dan Wooton, Norm Ladouceur (Director of Operations and Coach); 2007 - HudBay Snow Lake - Clint Parsons (Captain), Garnet Coulson (Vice-Captain), Aldon Kowalchuk, Dave Kendall, Gary Davis, Tony Butt (Director of Operations and Coach), Dave Kendall (Coach); 2014 - Hudbay Snow Lake Clint Parsons (Captain), Aldon Kowalchuk (Vice-Captain), Bob Forsyth, Steven Reed, Adam Harrower, Dave Kendall, (Director of Operations), Terry Hornyak (Technician), Kevin Lief (Coach).

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks