Mine rescue and first aid competition
Last updated on June 18, 2025Provincial mine rescue and first aid competitions are annual events since the 1900s. The competition brings together mine rescue teams to test their emergency response abilities.
The Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia (the Code) requires all mines in B.C to have emergency response capabilities. The B.C. mining industry is a worldwide model for health and safety practices.
The ministry supports the competition to ensure mine rescue competence. Enabling mines to maintain training and procedures in the event of an emergency.
Competition categories
The mine rescue and first aid competition tests teams knowledge of the Western Canada Mine Rescue Manual in three main categories:
Three person first aid
- Demonstration of basic first aid in a simulated emergency
Surface mine rescue
- Extrication
- Rope
- Practical bench skills
- First aid
- Written exam
Underground mine rescue
- Obstacle and recovery
- Donning bench
- Fire fighting
- Practical bench skills
- First aid
- Written exam
Western Region Mine Rescue Competition, hosted biennially by the City of Fernie, B.C.
2025 competition results
The 67th Provincial Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition took place in Squamish in June 2025.
Three person first aid competition
| Trophy | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Kathy Lofstrom Memorial Trophy | Best coach for three person team | Vaughn Willett, Elk Valley Resources - Fording River Operations |
| Best written for three person team | Elk Valley Resources - Fording River Operations | |
| Three Person First Aid Trophy | Best three person team | Elk Valley Resources - Fording River Operations |
Surface mine rescue
| Trophy | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Brow Memorial Trophy | Best extrication | Elk Valley Resources - Line Creek |
| Maurice Boisse Memorial Trophy | Best practical bench skills | Newmont - Red Chris |
| East Kootenay Mines Industrial Safety Association Trophy | Best written score | Elk Valley Resources - Line Creek |
| East Kootenay Mines Industrial Safety Association Mine Rescue Memorial Trophy | Best rope team task | Elk Valley Resources - Fording River Operations |
| North South Central First Aid Trophy | Best first aid | Elk Valley Resources - Line Creek |
| Levitt-Safety Fire Trophy | Best fire | Teck - Highland Valley Copper |
| New - EKMISA Best Captain’s Award | Best captain | Steve Kavanagh, Elk Valley Resources - Fording River Operations |
| HVC Highest Non-Aggregate Points Trophy | Highest points (non-aggregate) | Elk Valley Resources - Line Creek |
| Overall Surface Mine Rescue Winner | Highest aggregate (best overall) | Elk Valley Resources - Line Creek |
Underground mine rescue
| Trophy | Category | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Best Bench Technician Trophy | Best bench technician | Peter Devolder, Newmont - Brucejack |
| USWA Mine Mill Trophy | Best underground coordinator | Rob Brown, Newmont - Red Chris |
| Richard Booth Award | Best written score | New Gold - New Afton |
| Sullivan Cup | Best first aid | Newmont - Red Chris |
| Barry Abbott Memorial Trophy | Best practical bench skills | Newmont - Red Chris |
| Best Performance in Underground Smoke | Best smoke | New Gold - New Afton |
| Keith Bracewell Memorial Award | Best obstacle and recovery | New Gold - New Afton |
| Levitt-Safety Fire Trophy | Best fire | Newmont - Red Chris |
| Overall Underground Mine Rescue Winner | Highest score (best overall team) | New Gold - New Afton |