The Ontario government is backing a plan by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and Workplace Safety North to build a new, state-of-the-art Ontario Mine Rescue Training Institute in Sudbury.

The 120-acre institute will be funded by the WSIB to deliver advanced, hands-on training in realistic underground and surface mining environments. The total project cost is valued at $125 million.

Once complete, the building will train more than 540 mine rescue and fire responder volunteers annually, strengthening Ontario’s 1,000-person volunteer force and ensuring workers have the skills needed to respond in high-risk, time-critical situations.

The institute will include:

• training in high‑angle rescue, fire response, hazardous materials, confined space and structural collapse
• smart classrooms with virtual and augmented reality technology and remote learning capacity, and
• accommodations for people to stay during multi-day training courses

The institute will be operated by Ontario Mine Rescue, a division of Workplace Safety North, which has supported mine rescue operations across the province for more than 90 years. By creating a permanent, purpose-built training hub in northern Ontario, the province is expanding access to advanced rescue training, reducing travel burdens on volunteers and strengthening worker safety across the province’s growing mining sector.

“For more than 90 years, Ontario Mine Rescue has set the standard for excellence in mine safety and emergency response,” said Shawn Rideout, Chief Mine Rescue Officer for Ontario Mine Rescue. “This investment is transformational. It will expand training capacity, strengthen readiness across the province and ensure Ontario has the tools and expertise needed to be a leader in mining industry for generations to come.”

Once operational, the facility will also support broader emergency response training, including collaboration with municipal fire services, industrial teams and other partners. It will serve as a centre for innovation and knowledge-sharing, helping maintain Ontario’s leadership in mine safety and preparedness as global demand for critical minerals continues to grow.

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