City flags at half mast in memory of lost miners

Summary

Flags located at City of Nanaimo facilities will be lowered to half mast on Tuesday, 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).

Link to Strategic Plan: n/a

Key Points

  • Last year, Council passed a resolution to lower the flags at all City of Nanaimo facilities to half mast on May 3 in memory of the 150 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.

Quotes

"By lowering our flags we are remembering and honouring the 150 lives that were tragically lost in our community on this day in 1887."

Mayor
City of Nanaimo
-30-

Contact:

Tracy Loewen
Communications and Marketing Specialist
City of Nanaimo
250-755-7527

Print News Release

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