When Jodi Brasch joined Hudbay in 2013, she was the Company’s first female underground worker in Snow Lake in more than 40 years. Five years later, Jodi was selected to represent Canada as a member of the first-ever all-female mine rescue team to compete at the International Mine Rescue Competition (IMRC).
The team, called “Diamonds in the Rough”, competed against 24 other teams from 11 countries over five days. Events included a mine rescue simulation, a written exam, first aid and firefighting skills tests and a relay race where competitors had to flip a 265-pound tire and toss a 110-pound sandbag over a 1.5-metre wall. For the mine rescue simulation, which took place underground, the team were the first women to ever go underground in Russia, and they ultimately finished the event among the top five.
Overall, the Diamonds in the Rough team placed 15th, ahead of Canada’s other team at the competition – an all-male team that finished in 18th place – and won the people’s choice award and other commemorations recognizing them as the first all-female team to compete at an international level.
“One of the best parts was that we had several team members from various teams tell us they were going to go home and tell their daughters they can do anything, which is the best compliment ever,” said Kari Lentowicz, the team’s co-founder and coach.