The Gahcho Kué Mine Rescue Team has continued its history of success in competition, winning three trophies at the 2023 NWT/Nunavut Mine Rescue Competition, held in Yellowknife June 16-17.
The team of five men and two women claimed top awards in the Surface Mine Rescue First Aid, Fire, and Rope tasks. Six teams, three from the NWT and three from Nunavut, took part in this year’s event, the first one since 2019. The title of overall surface champion was won by the team from Ekati Diamond Mine.
Patrick Kramers, Manager of Safety, Health, Environment, Risk and Training, said: "It was a heartening sight to witness the high level of professionalism, skill, and resilience demonstrated by all of the teams during this challenging competition."
This latest achievement brings Gahcho Kué's total mine rescue award count to an impressive 24 since 2016, including four National Western Region Mine Rescue Competition trophies and 20 NWT/Nunavut Mine Rescue awards. The mine was named overall Surface Mine Rescue Team at the 2019 National Western event and was the overall NWT/NU Surface Mine Rescue team in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
With a diverse team composed of volunteers from across the mine's operations, Gahcho Kué's commitment to safety and operational success shines through. In spite of formidable competition, the team consistently demonstrates an unwavering resolve to strive for excellence, exemplifying their commitment to safety.
Kramers added: “The dedication, hard work, and teamwork exhibited by Gahcho Kué’s Mine Rescue Team exemplifies De Beers’ values and serves as a testament to the safety and success that defines Gahcho Kué. I’d like to thank the members of the team for their hard work and dedication during both the training leading up to the competition as well as during the competition itself. We are all truly proud!”
Gahcho Kué Mine is located 280 km northeast of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. It is a joint venture between De Beers Group (51% - the Operator) and Mountain Province Diamonds (49%).