The Goderich Mine Rescue Team earned a gold and silver medal at the 10th International Mines Rescue Competition, hosted by Workplace Safety North and Ontario Mine Rescue.

The Compass Minerals team competed against 26 teams representing 13 nations in mining emergency response simulations including an underground scenario, firefighting, first aid, high angle rope rescue as well as theoretical and practical knowledge testing. The Goderich team earned gold in written theory and silver in underground rescue.

“Our rescue team has made us very proud,” said Gerry Rogers, vice president of operations at Goderich Mine. “The gold and silver awards are world’s best and is a great reward for the long hours of training.”

The competition, held in Sudbury, Ontario, allows mines to evaluate and compare the effectiveness and quality of their mine rescue training programs. Teams participate in the spirit of competition and collaboration to understand how other teams work, while testing their own mine rescue skills.

In the picture to the right, the team poses before going in for the awards banquet. Pictured from left to right in the back row: Jeff Sowerby, Matt Vanden Heuval, Jim Ahrens, Chris Lammerant, Dennis Hogan and George Boutilier; front row: Drew Anderson, Joel Pacquette, Aaron Duckworth, Drew Dalgleish and Jack Miller