Mining WEEK
May 3 - May 9, 2015
Teck Photos
141A Aspen, Sparwood, BC V0B 2G0 (250) 425-2423 http://sparwoodchamber.bc.ca/
We thank Teck Coal and the various companies associated with the Elk Valley mining industry for their ongoing support of the Sparwood Chamber of Commerce and our local business community.
Mining Week luncheon Friday, May 8
with keynote speaker the Hon. Bill Bennett, MLA, Minister of Energy and Mines
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Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015
Celebrating Mining Week
The importance of mining to Canada’s economy
F
irst celebrated in 1996, National Mining Week recognizes the importance of the Canadian mining industry to the economic development of Canada. It is a chance to celebrate the important role that mining plays in the lives of Canadians. It is hard to imagine a life without minerals and metals — every day, we all use and rely on products made from them. Mining takes place in almost every province and territory in Canada — creating jobs and business opportunities, and supporting industries and workers from rural, remote and Aboriginal communities to our large urban centres. British Columbia’s mining and mineral exploration industry
has a rich history and a promising future. B.C. has been one of the world’s major mining regions since the mid1800s and to this day is a key international player.
It is a chance to celebrate the important role that mining plays in the lives of Canadians. Encompassing the largest part of the Canadian Cordillera, a mountain belt rich in minerals and coal, B.C. produces and exports a significant amount of copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum, coal and industrial minerals
every year. Historically, B.C.’s vast mineral resources have contributed extensively to the province’s growth and development. The Hudson’s Bay Company first started producing coal on Vancouver Island in the 1840s, and the discovery of gold along the Fraser River in the 1850s sparked a major gold rush, which was ultimately responsible for the settlement of many parts of that region. As B.C.’s population increased, the provincial infrastructure improved, and miners were able to explore more and more of the province’s terrain, leading to many new mineral deposit discoveries. Throughout the century following
the Fraser River Gold Rush, most mining activities in British Columbia took place underground. But in
Teck photo
the early 1960s, the feasibility of open-pit production increased tremendously, and as a result, several huge
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copper mines opened, including Highland Valley Copper— the largest open-pit operation in all of
North America, and, of course, the coal mines here in the Elk Valley.
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015 C3
Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
We are proud to support and serve the mining industry and the Elk Valley!
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Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015
Mining industry executives SHAW’S take pies in the face in ENTERPRISES LTD. support of sick kids in B.C. Proudly supplying our local area mines
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Each year, the B.C. Mining industry’s Mining for Miracles campaign hosts a series of fundraising events in aid of BC Children’s Hospital, including the Teck Celebrity Pie Throw. This year’s event will take place on May 7, 2015 in Vancouver and the Elk Valley’s Robin Sheremeta is hoping to raise enough donations to avoid a pie in the face. Photo courtesy of Mining for Miracles Submitted
in Sparwood, B.C.
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he Teck Celebrity Pie Throw is an annual Mining for Miracles event in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation taking place on May 7, 2015 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. At the event, participants toss the world’s most expensive cream pies in the faces of mining industry leaders, all in support of B.C.’s sick and injured children. This year Teck’s Robin Sheremeta, Vice President, Coal Operations from the Sparwood office is competing in the pie throw. Robin will be joined by other mining industry executives from companies across B.C. volunteering to take a pie in the face while asking friends, family and colleagues to pledge their support. The goal is to raise $600,000 at the pie throw to support the development of the new BC Children’s Hospital CAUSES Clinic. For parents, nothing is worse than having a sick child and not knowing what is wrong. But sadly every year hundreds of children arrive at BC Children’s
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Hospital with “mystery illnesses”. The CAUSES Clinic will provide advanced diagnostic DNA testing to support the accurate and efficient diagnosis of rare genetic diseases in children who would otherwise require numerous tests or might not be diagnosed at all. One test in the CAUSES Clinic will scan for over 7,000 genetic disorders, provide quick and conclusive diagnosis in 50 per cent – 70 per cent of cases, prevent unnecessary tests, and save time, money and children’s lives. Premier Christy Clark joined B.C. mining industry representatives earlier this year to launch this new fundraising initiative. "B.C.’s mining industry has raised more than $23 million for BC Children's Hospital through this campaign,” said Premier Clark. “Mining for Miracles is a clear example of how our resource sector benefits communities right across British Columbia." Visit www.miningformiracles.ca for more information and to donate.
Member of the MSCCA
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015 C5
Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
More women in skilled trades is a win-win By Marcia Smith Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs, Teck
“...low-income women in Canada face a larger wage gap with their male counterparts than low-income women in most other OECD countries. Getting more women into skilled trades positions can be part of the solution to changing this equation.”
M
uch has been written, and much discussion has followed, about the need to increase the number of women on boards of directors and at senior levels of management in Canadian companies. While this is an important topic, another opportunity related to women in the workplace has received far less attention, yet has the power to truly change women’s lives for the better—lots of women’s lives. That opportunity is increasing the number of women employed in the skilled trades. At a time when skilled trades— defined broadly as an occupation that requires specialized skills and knowledge, and apprenticeship training and certification—are more in demand than ever, we have the opportunity to help women substantially improve their standard of living. While women are fairly well-represented in a few servicesector trades—florists and hair stylists, for example— they are seriously underrepresented in trades such as electricians, heavy duty mechanics, welders and millwrights, to name a few. The gender mix in skilled trades continues to be highly unbalanced. In fact, men accounted for 93.4% of all trades workers in 2011, with this proportion not having changed materially over the past two decades. When you marry this with the fact that Canada’s labour market already suffers from an acute shortage of skilled workers—a recent report by CIBC suggested as much as one-fifth of the labour market does not have enough qualified workers— we have a significant opportunity to increase women’s participation in trades and, by extension, their
Marcia Smith, who worked in 2013 as General Manager of Teck’s Line Creek Operations in Sparwood, is promoting the need to increase the number of women working in skilled trades in Canada. Submitted photo
wages. In the sector I work in, mining, it is expected that we will need to find 81,000 new workers over the next decade as many in the industry head towards retirement. Considering that the average salary and benefits for someone working in B.C.’s mining industry in 2013 was $114,600, one wonders why more women are not pursuing these jobs. Particularly when you
compare, for example, an electrician’s average hourly wage of $34 to that of a florist, whose typical hourly wage is approximately $14. While women’s overall participation in the work force has increased dramatically over the past number of years, they continue to face low-income conditions. In fact, low-income women in Canada face a larger wage gap with their male counterparts
in skilled trades. Industry, labour and governments have an important role to play in this. The second is that we start having the discussion about getting women into skilled trades much more broadly. It needs more attention on the national policy discussion stage. Parents need to see a future of possibilities for their daughters that includes jobs such as carpenters, electricians and industrial mechanics. Our educators and career counsellors need to promote these jobs as viable career options for women. I have had the
privilege of meeting skilled trades women working in our company and I’ve asked about the barriers to entering these roles. There are not many that they cite, other than a general lack of awareness about the
opportunities and a lack of role models. The women in these jobs may be small in number today, but they are powerful in the message they send to others. They can become the role models for other women coming behind them and when more girls in high schools can see themselves in a skilled trade, we will see participation rates increase and women will reap the benefits these careers offer. This article first appeared in The Globe and Mail on July 15, 2014.
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than low-income women in most other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Getting more women into skilled trades positions can be part of the solution to changing this equation. I have two suggestions for how we can make progress. The first is that we put formal targets in place for women
is proud to support the mining industry in the Elk Valley The Heart of the Wild
The District of Elkford is proud to support mining in the Elk Valley. For mine tour information and events, call 1-855-877-WILD www.elkford.ca
585 Michel Creek Sparwood, BC 1 800-663-2705
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Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015
Crows Nest Pass Coal Company Archives Hidden Treasure
Antique keys for desks, doors, cabinets ad infinitum.
Display of old style calculators, mineral collection and an oak stereoscope (for viewing air photos). By John Kinnear
“There are dozens of framed pictures hanging from the cantilevered perimeter of the room depicting past officers of the company, mining scenes and an imposing classic portrait of William Fernie. Below the pictures on oak filing and storage cabinets lie dozens of intriguing artifacts that speak to the wide variety of devices required to run and maintain an active coal mine in the early twentieth century.”
Panorama of San Francisco 1906 fire- 500 blocks destroyed.
O
n another of the oak desks in the archive one can find a collection of old style calculating machines, one of which is a Marchant Figurematic, an ancient calculator I had occasion to use in the early 1970’s. It has several hundred individual gears within it and I used a similar one for calculating field surveys using nine decimal place logarithmic and tangent tables. I swear this machine lied to me a few times and I was convinced that that many gears can’t possibly turn perfectly every time. There are dozens of framed
pictures hanging from the cantilevered perimeter of the room depicting past officers of the company, mining scenes and an imposing classic portrait of William Fernie. Perhaps the most unusual picture in the hanging collection is a special panoramic view of the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. How and why this picture came to be in the archives is another of the collection’s many mysteries. Below the pictures on oak filing and storage cabinets lie dozens of intriguing artifacts that speak to the wide variety of devices required to run and maintain an active coal mine in the early twentieth century. They represent a cross section through the company’s complex history and include things like a massive diamond drill bit, a cast iron underground mine phone, dozens of fossils and mineral samples, compasses, several unique tripods, old style drafting equipment, stacks of cancelled stock certificates and several brass nameplates that once graced the front of the main office. At one time the coal company
ran several separate corporate entities like the Morrissey, Fernie and Michel Railway, the Crows Nest Pass Electric Light and Power Company and Crowsnest Industries Ltd., which was a later renaming of the original coal company and included its logging and oil and gas arms. One cannot operate for this long period of time without accumulating a significant number of keys, and the archives collection is fascinating to study for its variety and unusual shapes. It seems that when I first began working with and displaying this part of the collection I discovered, at home, a key that looked like it belonged to this unusual collection and so, assuming I had misplaced it, added it to the archive pile. I finally figured out it was the unusually shaped key to my safety deposit box which had remained locked for my 25 years in Fernie as I could not locate the key and was loathe to pay a locksmith to open what turned out to be an empty box in 2005!
Continued on page C7
Photos by John Kinnear
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Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
Crows Nest Pass Coal Company Archives Hidden Treasure cont’d
Dominion of Canada $4 dollar note. Continued from page C6
The cornerstone of the Crows Nest Pass Coal Company office can be found in the building’s southeast corner. Behind the 1600 pound block of Morrissey limestone, dated 1905, there was placed at that time a time capsule. It was a small tin box (4 inches by 5 inches by 8 inches) that contained a variety of important commemorative artifacts including a January 12, 1899 copy of the Fernie Free Press (Vol. 1 No. 1) and a selection of coins and dollar bills of that era. Unfortunately time and the seepage of water into this supposedly secure area had a devastating effect on the box. On revealing the contents for Fernie’s centennial in 2004 it was discovered that most of the capsule’s contents were badly damaged and the oxidized box was now nothing but a few rusted pieces of metal. Amongst the capsule’s remains, now stored in the archives, was a $4 bill dated July 2, 1900. They are a uniquely Canadian denomination first issued in 1882 to convert pounds and shillings and have images
of Lord and Lady Minto and the Sault Ste. Marie boat lock on the front. The inventory of the time capsule was well documented over a hundred years ago and the release of what should have been some rather rare documents and coins proved to be a dramatic let down for the centennial celebrations. The artifacts connected to the archives room do not represent the whole company story as there are three bank vaults in the building that were at one time used for additional storage. The basement vault and the room leading into it are still significant archive areas where one can find, yet again, pieces of the CNPCC puzzle. The room leading into the basement vault contains hundreds of studies and reference texts including area geology and mining studies, old building codes, statistical reviews, corporate law and books covering just about every area that an all encompassing coal company like the CNPCC needed to be versed in. On an opposite wall to these studies there are dozens of Statutes of Canada texts that date back from prior to 1920 to 1961
Reference material on any topic imaginable.
and 26 beautifully leather bound Statutes of British Columbia that date from the late 1880’s on. It is understandable for a company to conduct its business back then that they be well versed in all aspects of federal and provincial government law. As an aside I was somewhat surprised to find correspondence in the archives from none other than J. Edgar Hoover to the coal company about how to deal with security issues but as I said this company used every resource available to it to ensure its survivability and success within the community. Moving through this reference library one finds the basement bank-type vault in which most of the Glenbow transferred company records had existed and where their irreplaceable drafting records were kept. Racks of drawings, many of which were done on coated Irish linen, rest in horizontal bins along one wall. Up high above
them are detailed mine plans, drafted on a type of canvas, on which were recorded the oh-soimportant mine development surveys. Canvas is a very stable drafting material and was less likely to expand and contract with temperature. Minimizing small plotting cumulative errors for the surveyor/draftsman was important. Several mine disasters have occurred because of inaccurate mine plans, including the 1969 flood at Balmer South. The company was required to submit, as part of any fatality inquiry, a detailed plan of an accident. There are several sobering drawings in this collection that include one for the May 22, 1902 explosion that shows where 130 miners died in Coal Creek and also a detailed blueprint for the Balmer North 1967 blast that took 15 lives. With regards to disasters the center table in the archives room has seven 14 inch by
22 inch ledger books that are a remarkable compilation of accidents diligently kept over five decades by the company. The ledgers were printed with columns specifically laid out for this purpose and detail everything from occupation, nationality, location, nature of injury, cause of accident and so on. Probably the most disturbing column in each two-page spread is the one labeled: “Fatal or NonFatal”. Just about any area of these archives could provide a researcher with enough material for a thesis and the resource is one that needs to be further enhanced and perhaps made available to the public somehow. It is the legacy of the mining history of the principle mining company that explored and developed the huge deposits of the Crowsnest and Elk Valley coal fields for 70 years.
“Unfortunately time and the seepage of water into this supposedly secure area had a devastating effect on the box. On revealing the contents for Fernie’s centennial in 2004 it was discovered that most of the capsule’s contents were badly damaged and the oxidized box was now nothing but a few rusted pieces of metal. The inventory of the time capsule was well documented over a hundred years ago and the release of what should have been some rather rare documents and coins proved to be a dramatic let down for the centennial celebrations.” A snapshot of the thousands of injury entries.
Photos by John Kinnear
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Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015
The Coal Alliance By Katelyn Dingman Free Press Staff
T
he Coal Alliance was established three years ago to bring together representatives from the coal industry who work to fight back against some of the opposition the coal industry faces. Having a prominent
role here in the Elk Valley, the Coal Alliance works with organizations like Teck and Canadian Pacific (CP) railways to ensure that the proper information is being distributed across the country. The Coal Alliance partners with mining organizations in order
to provide accurate, detailed information about the coal industry, the product they are producing and how the production of coal is necessary for the B.C. economy. Feeling as though the voices of the coal industry employees were being drowned out by the opposition,
the Coal Alliance worked on creating a website where those individual voices could be heard. The website workingwithcoal.ca allows the public to hear from the men and women working in the industry, including safety representatives, United Steelworkers Union (USW)
Feeling as though the voices of the coal industry employees were being drowned out by the opposition, the Coal Alliance worked on creating a website where those individual voices could be heard.
When Seconds 94th Count Come out and show your support for the
Annual East Kootenay Zone, Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition
E.K.M.I.S.A.
representatives, project managers and municipal government officials. Through a variety of short films, individuals can get a better understanding of the importance of the coal industry and how the industry, that creates over 26,000 well-paying jobs in mining, transportation, equipment and many other sectors, has helped them. Former Sparwood Mayor Lois Halko is featured in one of the videos highlighting the importance mining has on the District of Sparwood and the Elk Valley as a whole. Noting that the mining industry employs 4,000 people throughout the Elk Valley, Halko said that mining is the foundation of Sparwood’s local economy. Halko also highlighted the average yearly earnings in Sparwood, stating that in 2010 the average family income was over $90,000, which is more than
$15,000 above B.C.’s average family income. Allen Fryer, spokesperson for the Coal Alliance said that a lot of people who oppose the coal industry, specifically those in the lower mainland don’t understand that B.C.’s economy is based on coal as a resource. He referred to ‘fear mongering’ as being a main source of opposition to the coal industry, noting that health concerns are often exposed with no data to back up certain claims. The Coal Alliance, however, works to bring data forward to communities through community outreach programs. By speaking to Fernie, Cranbrook and Sparwood council over the next month, Fryer hopes to encourage communities that depend on coal to pass resolutions that support the industry.
Guardian First Aid Services LTD Guardian First Aid is Proud to support & service the Mining Industry and the Elk Valley
Have some fun cheering on all the teams and learn about this unique event. Team Head to Head Grand Finale - New in 2015 Everyone welcome! When: Saturday, May 9, 2015. 8 am - 2 pm Where: Elkford Arena Area, Michel Road, Elkford, BC Hosted by Teck Coal Ltd – Greenhills Operations
Free spectator BBQ hosted by SMS and Finning
Reasonable Hourly and Daily Rates 4 Fully Equipped MTC units 24 hours available For all your first aid needs Debby Tomich Elkford BC V0B1H0 Cell 250-425-5946 Email: guard1fa@telus.net
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Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
Couples in Mining The Free Press asked Elk Valley couples about the benefits – and challenges – of both working in the mining industry. Jennifer Tailor: Accountant at Teck Daniel Tailor: Coordinator, Staff Recruitment at Teck From: Fernie
H
ow long have you been together? Five years
Did you meet through work? We both had corporate careers in Calgary with industry-leading companies in oil and gas, which led to meeting through mutual friends. What are the benefits of the both of you working in mining? Mining, specifically working with Teck, offers us both stability and diversity, and an opportunity to work and live in the Valley. There’s huge benefit of working for an organization that places real value on its people and our community, something we see in the office and at home. On a practical level, we both get to travel to/from work every day with our children, whose daycare is adjacent to our office – quality time, spent together - a far cry from our daily commute across the city! What are the challenges of both working in mining, and how do you overcome them? We both love what we do which naturally leads to often taking “work” home - it’s still a work in progress but after three years, we’re getting a lot better at switching off work and turning on play. Raising a young family creates the occasional logistical challenge but being on a “flexible” work schedule and having an understanding peer group allows us to proactively tackle these challenges as they arise. What opportunities have your mining careers given you as a couple? An opportunity to have fulfilling, progressive careers yet maintain an enviable work life balance – to live, work and play where people come to vacation? It’s a no-brainer and we both consider ourselves very lucky.
Daniel and Jennifer Tailor with their two children.
Submitted photo
Amy Mac Con: Superintendent Human Resources, Teck Elkview Operations Ronan Mac Con: Electrician at SMS equipment, Elkford From: Fernie
H
ow long have you been together? 20 years
How did you meet? We met in University. We both shared the desire to move to the “best place on earth” for exactly that reason.
What are the benefits of both of you working in mining? We both never imagined we would end up in mining but the opportunity came up and we both dove in. To work and play in this area is unprecedented.
What are the challenges of both working in mining, and how do you overcome them? Modern families today in any industry face challenges raising a family. Two working parents are the rule more than the exception today and we have always found a way to make it work. It takes careful planning and compromise especially with no immediate family in the area and at times long days. You have to be creative and plan ahead. Ronan’s schedule allows him to be home with the kids often. We use the calendar and schedule ahead accordingly to make sure the bases are covered. In the early years we were involved in getting the Fernie Childcare Society off the ground. Today there are more options available to families including nannies and after school care. We recommend taking advantage of all available options.
Ronan and Amy Mac Con and their children.
Submitted photo
What opportunities have your mining careers given you as a couple? The overwhelming opportunity our mining careers have given us is the ability to raise a family in an incredible community. Mining provides the means to enjoy the lifestyle this valley has to offer. Nowhere else in the world can you enjoy the career benefits of resource extraction and live in proximity to such a beautiful place.
Proud supporters of Mining in the Elk Valley
Come read about mining history at the Sparwood Public Library We are open: 10 am - 8 pm Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am - 5 pm Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 12 noon - 4 pm Sunday. We are closed Mondays and Statutory Holidays!
Fernie Mountain Lodge 1622 7 Ave, Fernie
250-423-5500
bestwesternfernie.com
For more information call 250-425-2299 or join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sparwoodlibrary
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Mining Community Elkford, BC Activity Book
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015
Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
Name _____________
Proud to support the mining community!
Mining Games a n g i s De ! o n Di
A Dinosaur That Roamed the Elk Va
Marian B. Gravelle Notary Public 1-800-668-7729
Open 7 days a week
What will you name your dinosaur?
651 Douglas Fir Road Sparwood BC V0B 2G0 250-425-2077
Mon to Fri 7:30 am to 6:00 pm Sat 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Sun 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
2 2200 Balmer Dr, Elkford, BC (250) 865-2327
MineralsEd is non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to encouraging geoscience, mining and mineral resources education in school. Our mission is to support BC teachers and their students with relevant, comprehensive earth science and mining educational resources and learning opportunities.
We are proud supporters of mining in the Elk Valleyis non-profit, non-partisan MineralsEd organization dedicated to encouraging www.MineralsEd.ca
geoscience, mining and mineral resources education in school. Our mission is to support Dinosaur’s N Overwaitea Foods Sparwood BC teachers and their students with relevant, comprehensive earth science andMining mining Community Elkford, BC __________ Activity Book educational resources and learning opportunities. proudly supports Mining Week
Thank you all for shopping local
250-425-6489 2-101 Red Cedar Dr., Sparwood
City Hall 501-3rd Ave., Box 190 Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 www.fernie.ca
Celebrating our mining heritage From the mayor, council and staff The City of Fernie
We recognize the support that the mines provide to our Elk Valley communities.
Story Scramble WordElkford Scramble
Name _________________
www.MineralsEd.ca
14
Unscramble the letters in the left column to make a word in the blanks on the right.
1. nemi 2. nimucomty 3. amp 4. drusonai 5. gleend 6. hosloc 7. danesnotes 8. gierneen 9. holevs 10. droflek 11. tointfrop 12. stoinmaun 13. elest 14. loac 15. sloifs 16. oplexre 17. tlanp 18. rifend 19. mailan 20. tytricleeci 21. menect 22. lafe 23. kroc 24. spawm 25. rayles 26. gikbin
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Answers: 1. mine, 2. community, 3. map, 4. dinosaur, 5. legend, 6. school, 7. sandstone, 8. engineer, 9. shovel, 10. Elkford, 11. footprint,12. mountains, 13. steel, 14. coal, 15. fossil, 16. explore, 17. plant, 18. friend, 19. animal, 20. electricity, 21. cement, 22. leaf, 23. rock, 24. swamp, 25. layers, 26. biking
and our communities!
Elkford
9
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015 C11
Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
Mine rescue teams to compete in Elkford
Teck photo
Submitted
T
he Elk Valley mining industry’s emergency responders will be on display next Saturday, May 9 at the 94th East Kootenay Zone Surface Mine Rescue and First Aid Competition. The annual competition is hosted locally by the East Kootenay Mines Industrial Safety Association (EKMISA) and gives mine rescue teams the opportunity to be judged on how they would deal with five skill challenges – First Aid, Fire, Bench, Rope and an extrication – or ‘Other’ task. All five of the Elk Valley’s mine operations will be taking part in the competition. Each year a different mine operation takes on the task of organizing the competition - this year it is Greenhills Operations and the competition is being hosted in Elkford at the Elkford Arena area on Michel Road.
The first and second place teams from the zone competition will go on to compete in the provincial competition in June in Smithers, B.C. and the B.C. champion will take part in the National Western Regional Mine Rescue biennial competition which will be held in Fernie in September 2015. Local industries’ Occupational First Aid (OFA) teams will be competing as well as the up-andcoming Intermediate (16-19 yrs) and Junior (1215 yrs) First Aid teams. These teams compete in their own emergency event and showcase their first aid skills. The competition day is a fun event for families - volunteer ‘victims’ and extreme make-up help to make the scenarios more realistic for the teams and spectators and there will be a free spectator barbecue sponsored by Finning and SMS.
Fabrication • Cranes • Repairs • Metal Buildings
We salute Teck Coal for their operations and continued community support
Did you know?
Salute to all the mines in the Elk Valley.
Mining Facts Direct jobs in the Elk Valley: 3500 Worksafe B.C. statistics show that the mining industry is the safest heavy industry in BC. Coal represents a third of the industrial traffic at the Port of Vancouver, the largest port in Canada. Mining is one of the highest paid industrial sectors nationwide. The coal stocks of southern British Columbia and Alberta are among the richest in Canada. Major minerals produced in BC (as a % of Canada’s production): Coal (66%); Copper (40%); Silver (50%); Gold, Lead, Molybdenum & Zinc. Canada is one of the worlds leading mining countries.
Advocating responsible exploration and mining practices, conservation standards and a future for our communities.
SPARWOOD • 250-425-7738
250-464-9559 • www.ekcm.org
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Mining Week ~ May 3 to 9
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, May 7, 2015
Mine Rescue Competition 2014
Free Press file photos
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