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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, December 27, 2012
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Two trophies for Greenhills Greenhills mine rescue team battle a building fire in the National Western Region Mine Rescue Competition. They placed first in the fire and written tasks. Photo by Henry Georgi
Ninth Biennial National Western Region Mine Rescue Competition
September 17 2009 Free Press Files
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lkford’s Greenhills competition mine rescue team won two awards in the Ninth Biennial National Western Region Mine Rescue Competition, held last weekend in Fernie. The team, who are all members of the Greenhills shift mine rescue teams, were given trophies for the written and fire fighting tasks. In fire fighting the team faced rescuing a man
from a burning building, first making the area safe by putting out a fire beneath the building and controlling fires that were burning in the windows. The 40 minute written test included questions from three mine rescue manuals. Greenhills first aid coach Cathy Follett said the team had worked hard to prepare for both tasks, especially the written exam. “They didn’t have much time so the guys hit the books hard and it paid off
for them. “I am going to miss training with these highly skilled, humorous, caring, strong individuals. I felt so privileged to be a part of their team.” Eighteen other teams from across Canada and the United States joined Greenhills in completing scenarios involving all aspects of mine rescue – underground teams competing on Friday and surface teams on Saturday. More than 500 people attended the banquet and
Fording River honoured March 5 2008 Free Press Files
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he Royal Alexandra Hall at the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel in Cranbrook was the venue for the 2007 Mining and Sustainability Award Gala dinner on Feb.. 28. MLA Bill Bennett, Mining Association of B.C. Chair, Pierre Lebel, the Honourable Kevin Krueger, B.C.’s Minister of State for Mining as well as Ktunaxa Nation Chief Sophie Pierre were all in attendance
when Fording River Operations was announced as this year’s recipient. Fording River, a division of Elk Valley Coal Corporation, was nominated alongside three other mines and was chosen to be honoured this year based on its commitment to safety and reclamation. “It’s everyone at the mine site that makes winning an award like this possible,” said Fording River Operations, EVCC General Manager, Richard Tremblay who accepted the award on behalf of the mine.
Situated 29 kilometres northeast of Elkford, on Eagle Mountain, Fording River is staffed with 900 employees. It is an open pit coal mine that has been in operation since 1970 and is the only mine in B.C. to operate its own greenhouse. The Mining and Sustainability Award is one of many awards that Fording River has been presented with including the 2003 B.C. Coal Mine Citation Award for their reclamation achievements and ongoing research activities.
awards ceremony at the Fernie Memorial Arena on Friday night, The competition originally began as a way to recognize the work done by mine rescue teams in this area, and also to give the ministry of mines an idea of how strong the mine rescue skills are in the province. Competition chair Barrie Simoneau said he will be speaking about the importance of the competition when he visits the Czech Republic next
week. Mayor of Fernie and chair of the local organizing committee Cindy Corrigan added “I think it was exceptional. The people that came to town were really pleased with the response they got from the whole community. People were friendly, helpful which I think says a lot for our community. I think it was a huge economic boost in September for the whole area.”
Pictured, Kevin Krueger, Minister of State for Mining, Pierre Labelle Chairman of the Mining Association of BC, Richard Tranblay, General Manager, Fording River Operations and Boyd Payne, President and CEO, Elk Valley Coaland Fording Canadian Coal Trust
11th Biennial Coming this September!