City remembers miners lost in mining disaster

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed April 29, 2021 9:00 AM

Summary

Flags located at City of Nanaimo facilities will be lowered to half mast on Monday, May 3 to mark the anniversary of the coal mining disaster of 1887 that took 150 lives.

The explosions of the No. 1 Esplanade Mine are known as the worst mining disaster in British Columbia's history and second worst in Canada (the mining disaster of 1914 in Hillcrest, Alberta killed 189 miners). A jury blamed the explosion on the firing of an unprepared and badly planted charge that ignited accumulated gas fuelled by coal dust.

Link to Strategic Plan: n/a

Key Points

On this day, 134 years ago, 150 miners lost their lives.
Flags will fly at half mast in memory of the coal mining disaster.

Quotes

"We are remembering and honouring the 150 lives that were tragically lost in our community. Those who died were our hard working pioneers who left loving families behind, but we have never forgotten."

Leonard Krog

Mayor

City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts

In 2015, Council passed a resolution to lower the flags at all City of Nanaimo facilities to half mast on May 3 in memory of the 148 miners killed in the Nanaimo coal mining disaster of 1887.
On May 3, 1887, shortly before 6:00 pm, two explosions occurred in the No. 1 Esplanade Mine.
If you would like to learn more Nanaimo's coal mining history and the tragic accident, please visit the award winning, walk through coal mine exhibit at our local Nanaimo Museum.

Images

Contact:

Communications

Media Relations

City of Nanaimo

250-754-4251

media.requets@nanaimo.ca

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