Province Welcomes Ontario Mine Rescue to Ontario Corps
March 13, 2026
Ontario building network of partners and volunteers to help protect communities during emergencies and natural disasters
SUDBURY— The Ontario government is expanding Ontario Corps by welcoming its latest partner Ontario Mine Rescue (OMR) to leverage their expertise and equipment during an emergency. Through Ontario Corps, the province is delivering on its plan to protect Ontario by creating a network of partners and dedicated volunteers ready to respond to local emergencies and deploy critical resources at a moment’s notice.
“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.”
OMR has a network of mine rescue stations in key locations across Ontario that are equipped with specialized emergency equipment including rope rescue systems, structural collapse equipment, thermal imaging technology, breathing apparatuses, power tools and more. Stations are located in Delaware, Kirkland Lake, Marathon, Onaping, Red Lake, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins and Wawa. More equipment, stored across 34 additional mining sites in the province, are also available to be deployed during emergencies. The equipment, coupled with OMR’s expertise in rescues and complex emergencies, ensures the province is ready to act quickly and effectively during an emergency.
Ontario Corps brings together a province-wide network of skilled professionals and highly trained volunteers that can be mobilized quickly to help communities hit hard by emergencies, deploying resources like debris removal tools and machinery, supplies, flood barriers and drones at a moment’s notice.
People of all skill levels and professional backgrounds are encouraged to volunteer for Ontario Corps to help their communities during emergencies. Volunteers will be provided with initial training and matched with partner organizations based on their skill levels, interests and availability.
Quick Facts
- For over 90 years, OMR has trained and supported thousands of skilled volunteers who have responded to underground fires, rescues and complex emergencies across Ontario’s mining sector. In Ontario, the law requires that every underground mine establish and maintain a mine rescue program. OMR, a part of Workplace Safety North (WSN), operates under the authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Ontario Corps was successfully deployed on several occasions in 2025, including during the spring ice storm and the wildland fire response.
- In 2024, the government announced a partnership with Northern College in Timmins to establish a regional emergency hub, strengthening on-the-ground response and preparedness in northern Ontario. This facility could serve as a training center, meeting point, and operations hub for volunteers and partners should a large-scale emergency occur.
- A new, state-of-the-art Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters will serve as the future home of Ontario Corps. This facility will be equipped with cutting-edge technology needed to protect Ontario as the 24/7, year-round emergency command centre. With a modern home, Ontario Corps will have the tools they need to carry out critical operations and keep people safe.