The Balmer North – Miners Memorial Committee is hosting an unveiling of an original bronze statue of a coal miner on April 3, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Balmer North explosion.

This was the last major underground mining operation in Canada. The following events have been arranged:

Unveiling of the original bronze miner, by artist Nathan Scott, with welcome speeches from Kootenay-Columbia Member of Parliament Wayne Stetski and Kootenay East Member of the Legislature and Minister of Mines and Energy Bill Bennett.

Original music written and composed by Troy Cook on the Balmer North explosion that took 15 lives on April 3, 1967.

Laying of 181 flowers by school children to represent the 181 lives lost in the Sparwood – Elkford area mines.

Following the ceremony, a screening of the premiere of the documentary film on the Balmer North explosion, featuring interviews with family and survivors, produced by Steelworkers Local 9346, at the Causeway Bay.

District of Sparwood

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