Parks Canada
parkscanada.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
News Releases and Backgrounders
News Releases
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA UNVEILS A PLAQUE COMMEMORATING THE NATIONAL HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SPRINGHILL COAL MINING
SPRINGHILL, NOVA SCOTIA, August 3, 2005 -- The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced the unveiling of a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque commemorating the national historic significance of Springhill coal mining in Nova Scotia.
"The exploitation of Nova Scotia coal and the Springhill coalfield was central to the coal industry's role in the industrialization and development of Nova Scotia between the late 19th century and the 1940s," said Minister Dion. "Today the coalfield reminds us of the fortitude of the miners who worked there, of the dangers they experienced, and of the beginnings of Canada's development as an industrialized nation."
Designated as a national historic site of Canada in 1997, Springfield's coalfields principally served the early railway market and the growing demand for coal, rather than the Quebec market and the steel industry, which relied more heavily on coal mined at Sydney and to a lesser extent Pictou. The mine at Springfield was one of Canada's most commercially important coalfields in its day.
A lamp cabin, fan house, auxiliary hoist, pond and spillway dating from the early 1900s as well as the manager's office still exist on the site, along with the only accessible historic entrance to an underground mine in Nova Scotia.
"The Springhill coalfield's surviving collection of in-situ surface and underground mining artefacts, features and landmarks is more complete than any other collection of its kind in the province," added Minister Dion. "The site conveys the most important themes of the early coal mining industry in Canada, including entrepreneurship, the growth of the labour movement, the strong spirit of mining communities and the development of new technology, as well as the industry's terrible toll on lives, which was high at Springhill owing to the underground convulsions and explosions experienced at the mine."
Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of the Environment about the national historic significance of places, persons and events that have marked Canada’s history. The placement of a commemorative plaque represents an official recognition of their historic value. It is one means of educating the public about the richness of our cultural heritage, which must be preserved for present and future generations.
Information:
Brigitte Caron
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministerof the Environment
(819) 997-1441
Tanya Taylor White
Marketing and Communications Manager Mainland Nova Scotia Field Unit
Parks Canada
(902) 426-7388
"The exploitation of Nova Scotia coal and the Springhill coalfield was central to the coal industry's role in the industrialization and development of Nova Scotia between the late 19th century and the 1940s," said Minister Dion. "Today the coalfield reminds us of the fortitude of the miners who worked there, of the dangers they experienced, and of the beginnings of Canada's development as an industrialized nation."
Designated as a national historic site of Canada in 1997, Springfield's coalfields principally served the early railway market and the growing demand for coal, rather than the Quebec market and the steel industry, which relied more heavily on coal mined at Sydney and to a lesser extent Pictou. The mine at Springfield was one of Canada's most commercially important coalfields in its day.
A lamp cabin, fan house, auxiliary hoist, pond and spillway dating from the early 1900s as well as the manager's office still exist on the site, along with the only accessible historic entrance to an underground mine in Nova Scotia.
"The Springhill coalfield's surviving collection of in-situ surface and underground mining artefacts, features and landmarks is more complete than any other collection of its kind in the province," added Minister Dion. "The site conveys the most important themes of the early coal mining industry in Canada, including entrepreneurship, the growth of the labour movement, the strong spirit of mining communities and the development of new technology, as well as the industry's terrible toll on lives, which was high at Springhill owing to the underground convulsions and explosions experienced at the mine."
Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of the Environment about the national historic significance of places, persons and events that have marked Canada’s history. The placement of a commemorative plaque represents an official recognition of their historic value. It is one means of educating the public about the richness of our cultural heritage, which must be preserved for present and future generations.
Information:
Brigitte Caron
Press Secretary
Office of the Ministerof the Environment
(819) 997-1441
Tanya Taylor White
Marketing and Communications Manager Mainland Nova Scotia Field Unit
Parks Canada
(902) 426-7388
Backgrounder associated with this News Release.
