Agnico Eagle is very proud of our Goldex mine rescue team’s performance at the International Mine Rescue Competition (IMRC), which took place in Sudbury from August 21 to 26.

Considered the “ Olympic Games” of mine rescue, the IMRC welcomed 27 teams from 13 nations. This was the first time that Quebec’s mine rescue elite were represented, and the Goldex team delivered an extraordinary performance for their first appearance. Ranked 10th, they came within a hair of winning a medal, finishing 4th in the underground event.

“ We were up against the best teams in the world and the level of competition was very high,” said Danny Plante, Operations Manager at Goldex. “ For some of these teams, like the ones from Poland, mine rescue is actually full-time job; it is in fact their profession.”

Team leader Daniel Collin said the team was well prepared and he couldn’t be more proud of what they accomplished. “ We felt such a sense of pride and satisfaction after every event we completed. It was the direct result of our hard work, determination and passion. Our team members train hard and are constantly improving, so that they’re ready to act and adapt quickly in an emergency.”

Marc Moffette, General Manager at Goldex, stressed that mine rescue teams are vital to our mining operations, and noted that he sees a real benefit to participating in competitions like this. “ I’m very happy with our team’s performance and the knowledge they gained. It was a unique experience and a great opportunity for participants to hone their skills by learning different practices and techniques that are used in other countries and at other types of mines.”

The team members seconded that opinion. After the competition, they all agreed that it was an incredible experience and they had learned a lot. They were particularly impressed by the different types of emergency situations that were staged and the realism with which they were simulated which provided them the opportunity to practice techniques that they don’t usually use. On top of that, the camaraderie and respect that was evident between the teams was highly rewarding.

Daniel Collin hopes to share this experience, along with the team’s newly acquired skills, with his mine rescue colleagues across the company.

Please join us in congratulating the members of the Goldex mine rescue team, and thanking them for their service and contribution to the health and safety of our employees!