Home The Ambassador Letters mine disaster - Manchin

501 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001

January 4, 2006

Gov. Joe Manchin III
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E.,
Charleston, WV 25305

Dear Governor Manchin,

It is with profound sadness that I offer my condolences to you and citizens of West Virginia over the loss of lives by the mining disaster in Tallmansville. I also want to convey our very best wishes for the prompt recovery of the sole survivor, Randall McCloy of Simpson. As I watched the events unfold at the Sago mine and the courageous efforts of the rescue crews, I was reminded yet again of the great dangers miners face every day as they go to work in order to provide for their families.

Like West Virginia, Canada has a long and proud mining tradition. Indeed, there is extensive coal mining in my part of the country in Atlantic Canada. And like you, we have seen many of our hard-working coal miners lose their lives in mine tragedies such as the one in Upshur County. We honor and mourn the lives of those killed as we have those of Canadians lost to coal mining.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, please accept my deepest condolences on this tragic loss. Please do not hesitate to contact us at the Embassy if you think we can be of assistance.

With deepest sympathies,

Frank McKenna
Ambassador