Province aims to strengthen disaster readiness with specialized rescue expertise and equipment
The Ontario government is expanding its provincial emergency response network by welcoming Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR) as a partner in Ontario Corps, a program designed to mobilize trained volunteers and organizations to assist communities during emergencies and natural disasters.
The announcement, made Friday in Sudbury by the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, marks a new step in the province’s effort to build a coordinated network capable of deploying personnel, equipment and resources quickly when crises occur, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Ontario officials say the addition of OMR brings decades of experience in complex rescue operations and access to specialized equipment that can strengthen the province’s ability to respond to disasters ranging from structural collapses to wildfires and severe storms.
“Ontario Mine Rescue has a proven track record in public safety and protection,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “As an Ontario Corps partner, they can provide the experienced personnel and rescue equipment we need to respond quickly and effectively when emergencies strike across the province, especially in rural and remote communities.”
Ontario Corps was established to create a province-wide network of trained volunteers and partner organizations that can be mobilized during emergencies. The program coordinates skilled professionals and volunteers who can provide on-the-ground support, including operating heavy equipment for debris removal, deploying flood barriers and using drones to assess damage.
Officials say the network is intended to provide surge capacity during large-scale emergencies, enabling the province to deploy resources rapidly to affected communities.
Ontario Mine Rescue, which operates under Workplace Safety North, has a long-standing presence across the province’s mining sector. The organization maintains rescue stations in several key locations across Ontario, including Delaware, Kirkland Lake, Marathon, Onaping, Red Lake, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins and Wawa.
Each station is equipped with specialized emergency equipment such as rope rescue systems, structural collapse gear, thermal imaging technology, breathing apparatuses and power tools. Additional equipment stored at 34 mining sites across the province can also be deployed during emergencies.
The province said this infrastructure, combined with OMR’s training and operational experience, will enhance Ontario Corps’ capacity to respond to emergencies in challenging environments, including remote northern regions.
For more than 90 years, Ontario Mine Rescue has trained thousands of volunteers to respond to underground fires, rescues and other complex incidents in the mining sector. Ontario law requires every underground mine to establish and maintain a mine rescue program, and OMR operates under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Provincial officials say the expertise developed through these programs can translate effectively into broader emergency response scenarios.
“Ontario Mine Rescue represents the very best of Northern Ontario — highly skilled professionals who sacrifice greatly to keep people safe. By bringing them into Ontario Corps, we’re strengthening our province’s emergency response capacity with proven expertise, specialized equipment and decades of real-world experience. As our government builds mines faster to protect our economy from global uncertainty, we are expanding partnerships that strengthen the safety of workers and communities.”
- Stephen Lecce
Minister of Energy and Mines
Ontario Corps has already been deployed during several major emergencies. In 2025, the program assisted during the province’s spring ice storm and supported the response to wildland fires.
The government is also investing in infrastructure to support the program’s long-term operations. In 2024, Ontario announced a partnership with Northern College in Timmins to establish a regional emergency hub aimed at strengthening response capacity in northern Ontario. The facility is expected to serve as a training centre, meeting point and operational hub for volunteers and partner organizations during large-scale emergencies.
In addition, the province is planning a new Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters that will serve as the future home of Ontario Corps. The facility will operate as a 24-hour, year-round command centre equipped with modern technology to coordinate emergency operations across the province.
The government says recruiting volunteers remains a key component of the program’s expansion. People from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds are encouraged to join Ontario Corps. Volunteers receive initial training and are matched with partner organizations based on their skills, interests and availability.
Shawn Rideout, chief mine rescue officer at Ontario Mine Rescue, said the partnership reflects a shared focus on preparedness and collaboration among emergency response organizations.
“Ontario Mine Rescue has always been built on the principle that when emergencies happen, trained people working together can make the difference between tragedy and rescue. Our officers and mine rescue volunteers are highly trained first responders with advanced expertise across many disciplines of emergency response. Combined with our state-of-the-art emergency response equipment positioned across Ontario including in some of the most remote areas of Northern Ontario we are prepared to respond wherever help is needed. This partnership agreement with Ontario Corps strengthens that readiness by bringing together organizations that share a commitment to preparedness, teamwork, and service. By collaborating and sharing our expertise, we are helping ensure Ontario has the capacity and coordination needed to respond effectively and support communities when they need it most.”
- Shawn Rideout
Chief Mine Rescue Officer, Ontario Mine Rescue
With the addition of Ontario Mine Rescue, the province says Ontario Corps continues to grow as a central pillar of its emergency preparedness strategy, aimed at ensuring communities across Ontario have access to rapid assistance when disasters strike.