During the course of this study, no labour landmarks were found that were erected between the years 1930 and 1969. There could be many reasons for the lack of commemorative efforts in this period – perhaps union leadership focused on other methods of community consciousness. Advances in social policy, such as the 1937 Nova Scotia Trade Union Act, were influential in maintaining a forward-looking, policy- oriented attitude among workers and their organizations. In this context, workers likely turned their attention to fighting for further gains, rather than the commemoration of previous successes.
After the 1950s and 1960s, however, a cultural shift popularized the value and importance of workers’ history, as well as concepts of regionalism. The disciplines of labour and social history were beginning to expand during this period and the development of the Acadiensis journal at the University of New Brunswick was created as an outlet for scholarly research on the Atlantic region. [1] Also during the 1960s, the HSMBC approved a number of historical development projects across Canada, including the reconstruction of Fortress Louisbourg, and Nina Cohen developed the concept of a miners’ museum in Glace Bay, which opened in 1967. [2]
Two years after the Glace Bay Miners’ Museum was officially opened, this labour landmark was erected outside the town hall in Sydney Mines. The monument, a black granite shaft topped with the bust of a coal miner, stands at a height of about 10 feet. The inscription reads: “To honor departed members and to pay homage to those who have given their lives to the coal mining industry. Erected 1969 by members of the United Mineworkers of America. Sub District No. 2. Northside.” This monument is significant not only in that it represents the first addition to the labour commemorative landscape after nearly 30 years, but also because it was erected during a period when labour began re-examining its past and realizing the value of workers’ historical experiences.
In 1990, this monument was moved to the new Miners’ Memorial Park near the site of the former Princess Colliery. In recent years, however, there has been some vandalization of the memorial. In July 2009, the bust on top of the monument was removed by vandals, which prompted an outcry from the community. After several days, the bust was found in a local skateboard park. Tommy Gillis, former president of Local 2183 UMWA, voiced concerns not only regarding the removal of the bust, but of the deterioration of general conditions in the memorial park. Fortunately, the park was cleaned up and the Davis Day memorial celebrations went ahead as scheduled. [3]
In 1992, an inscription was added to the memorial. The inscription reads: “Dedicated to the Draegermen from Prince Colliery [at Point Aconi] who demonstrated their bravery at Westray Mine, May 1992.” The inscription is followed by a list of 22 local men who had aided in the rescue efforts at Westray. This addition ties the events of Westray, the community response, and the necessity of continued agitation for better workplace safety standards to the historical consciousness of Sydney Mines. With the 1992 addition, the miners’ memorial now embodies a duality – it recognizes the sacrifices made by local coal miners for work in the mines, but also the training and professionalism evident in the draegermen’s rescue work at Westray.
Footnotes
[1] P.A. Buckner, “‘Limited Identities’ Revisited: Regionalism and Nationalism in Canadian History,” Acadiensis, vol. 30, no. 1 (Autumn, 2000), 6-7.
[2] Meaghan Beaton, “‘I sold it as an industry as much as anything else’: Nina Cohen, the Cape Breton Miners’ Museum and Canada’s 1967 Centennial Celebrations,” Journal of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, vol. 13 (2010).
[3] Cape Breton Post, 12 June 1990; Cape Breton Post, 11 June 2010.
After the 1950s and 1960s, however, a cultural shift popularized the value and importance of workers’ history, as well as concepts of regionalism. The disciplines of labour and social history were beginning to expand during this period and the development of the Acadiensis journal at the University of New Brunswick was created as an outlet for scholarly research on the Atlantic region. [1] Also during the 1960s, the HSMBC approved a number of historical development projects across Canada, including the reconstruction of Fortress Louisbourg, and Nina Cohen developed the concept of a miners’ museum in Glace Bay, which opened in 1967. [2]
Two years after the Glace Bay Miners’ Museum was officially opened, this labour landmark was erected outside the town hall in Sydney Mines. The monument, a black granite shaft topped with the bust of a coal miner, stands at a height of about 10 feet. The inscription reads: “To honor departed members and to pay homage to those who have given their lives to the coal mining industry. Erected 1969 by members of the United Mineworkers of America. Sub District No. 2. Northside.” This monument is significant not only in that it represents the first addition to the labour commemorative landscape after nearly 30 years, but also because it was erected during a period when labour began re-examining its past and realizing the value of workers’ historical experiences.
In 1990, this monument was moved to the new Miners’ Memorial Park near the site of the former Princess Colliery. In recent years, however, there has been some vandalization of the memorial. In July 2009, the bust on top of the monument was removed by vandals, which prompted an outcry from the community. After several days, the bust was found in a local skateboard park. Tommy Gillis, former president of Local 2183 UMWA, voiced concerns not only regarding the removal of the bust, but of the deterioration of general conditions in the memorial park. Fortunately, the park was cleaned up and the Davis Day memorial celebrations went ahead as scheduled. [3]
In 1992, an inscription was added to the memorial. The inscription reads: “Dedicated to the Draegermen from Prince Colliery [at Point Aconi] who demonstrated their bravery at Westray Mine, May 1992.” The inscription is followed by a list of 22 local men who had aided in the rescue efforts at Westray. This addition ties the events of Westray, the community response, and the necessity of continued agitation for better workplace safety standards to the historical consciousness of Sydney Mines. With the 1992 addition, the miners’ memorial now embodies a duality – it recognizes the sacrifices made by local coal miners for work in the mines, but also the training and professionalism evident in the draegermen’s rescue work at Westray.
Footnotes
[1] P.A. Buckner, “‘Limited Identities’ Revisited: Regionalism and Nationalism in Canadian History,” Acadiensis, vol. 30, no. 1 (Autumn, 2000), 6-7.
[2] Meaghan Beaton, “‘I sold it as an industry as much as anything else’: Nina Cohen, the Cape Breton Miners’ Museum and Canada’s 1967 Centennial Celebrations,” Journal of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, vol. 13 (2010).
[3] Cape Breton Post, 12 June 1990; Cape Breton Post, 11 June 2010.