Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This month we celebrate our rich northern history. Alongside the many events planned to mark Yellowknife’s 75th birthday, the Mine Rescue
Competition of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut commemorates the North’s 52 years of mining safety success.
The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission will host the Mine Rescue Competition on Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, in Yellowknife. The competition is an excellent venue to evaluate and compare the quality and effectiveness of mine rescue training programs in the NWT and Nunavut. It is an open event and all mines operating in the NWT and Nunavut are welcome to compete for the surface and underground Commissioner’s trophies.
The Mine Rescue Competition is part of Mining Week, which runs from June 8 to 13. Mining Week recognizes the many contributions our leading industry makes to building and sustaining a sound northern economy. Friday’s events take place at the Giant Mine site and are closed to the public.
Saturday’s competition runs from 9:00 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon at the Yellowknife Community Arena. The public is welcome to attend and support our northern miners. Over the lunch hour the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines will host its annual miner’s picnic, a free community barbeque.
In closing, I encourage your participation in Mining Week events and the Mine Rescue Competition on Saturday, June 13th . Join the WSCC in celebrating
the many safety achievements of our fellow Northerners.