Page 58 pete as an exhibition team at the North W est Region Mine Rescue Competition in Fernie BC With less than three days of onsite training at T eck s Elkview opera tion we performed very well and obtained a 2nd place fnish in the First Aid event I dont think you could or ever would see anyone as happy to come in second as we were Though our placement amongst our mine rescue peers was fantastic perhaps the mo ment that highlighted our whole week happe ned on Thursday morning A young girl no older than four came up to us with total glee and admiration that there was a team of women participating She held the captains stick and was so elated That is what we are about being a role model to encourage more girls and young women to see that they can do anything too The team consisted of the follow ing members Megan Frederick Ministry of Mines BC Jillian Newell UBC Mine Engineering Student Jen nifer Hingston Cameco Corpora tion Rabbit Lake Heather MacK enzie Rio T into Diavik Jodi Brasch Hudbay Minerals Snow Lake Heather Willis Newmont Goldcorp and Fanny Laporte Ag nico Eagle Baker Lake Lentowicz now with KLEMQ Con sulting and Bruce Coley Coley Safety and T raining Consulting are the coaches of the DITR Kari Lentowicz though she no longer directly works for a mining company stays involved through annual trainin g and volunteering at mine rescue competitions and being the managing director of DITR As for the rest of the ladies in volved on both this and last year s teams they are involved in mine rescue through the companies they work for explained Lentow icz All including myself have met the requirements and stan dards and are competent in mine rescue The next International Mine Res cue will be September 1218 2020 in Beaver W est V irginia at the Mine Safety and Health Ad ministration Academy The Diamond s in the Rough would like to participate and continue spreading the word and demon strating the strengths and skills of women in mine rescue The Diamond s in the Rough are always looking for new recruits and opportunities to increase awareness around diversity and inclusion W e have been involved in a num ber of speaking engagements and have several more scheduled said Kari Lentowicz If there are opportunities where companies or schools would like to have us come speak we would love to participate As well to achieve our longterm goals we are always seeking out funding opportunities Lentowicz continued W e are gladly accept ing donations of equipmen t and of course money so we can further achieve our goals and increase awareness around diversity and inclusion In order to participate in upcoming competitions the Diamonds in the Rough have opened a Go Fund Me page to raise funds W e have a fouryear plan that involves training courses com petitions and speaking opportuni ties said Lentowicz This year however we are still short approxi mately 12000 For those interested in support ed the Diamonds in the Rough fund raising please visit https cagofundmecomf2019DITRERO Contd from Pg 55 W omen in mine rescue spread word and demonstrate strengths and skills Page 56