Halifax explosion the anatomy of a disaster page 1. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax. To comment on this article, visit the canadian armys facebook notes. The think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources.
Jun 21, 2008 there are a few novels based on the events surrounding the halifax explosion in 1917. Rich in fact and shocking images, the story sets a blistering pace following one mans search through a ruined city for the love of his life as he confronts the wreckage of his past. During filming for the jackie robinson heritage minute, anthony hylton, who played robinson, was very sick. The halifax explosion marking the 100th anniversary of.
After the collision the montblanc was grounded at pier 6 and 20 minutes later kaboom. For more information about the halifax explosion visit the canadian encyclopedia. The halifax explosion some say the larrgest manmade explosion before world war ii claimed some 2,000 lives and left another 9,000 injured. The canonical novel barometer rising 1941 by the canadian writer hugh. Dec 06, 2017 halifax explosion 100 videos and latest news articles. The halifax explosion is a fresh, revealing account that finally answers questions that have lingered for a century. The heritage minute episode on the halifax explosion tied for the most popular in. Dec 05, 2017 black snow is a love story set during the halifax explosion. It was the result of an unlikely collision in the narrows of halifax harbour, involving the french ship, mont blanc loaded with tons of wet and dry picric acid, tnt, gun cotton and benzol and the belgian relief vessel, imo, under norwegian registry. On june 6, 1944, canadian forces landed on juno beach.
John boileau, a historian and retired canadian army colonel, has written a book, 6. The halifax explosion was the greatest nonnuclear detonation in history, killing 2,000 people and obliterating homes and businesses over a large swath of the city. Was the explosion a disaster triggered by simple human error. The heritage minute episode on the halifax explosion tied for the most popular in a 2012 ipsos reid poll. Dec 06, 2017 century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. The heritage minutes are a collection of bilingual canadian 60second short films, each depicting a significant person, event or story in canadian history. The book was presented to the museum in 2002 by the halifax foundation.
The halifax explosion complements canadian school curricula from grades 4. The halifax explosion of 1917 on your kindle in under a minute. The online version features a searchable database with detailed information for 1946 casualties more than 300 of whom are recentlyconfirmed and identified victims. This lesson is based on viewing the heritage minute, halifax explosion, which focuses on the heroic act of vince coleman, who died while alerting a passenger train about the explosion in halifax harbour on december 6, 1917. Heritage minutes, formerly known as historica minutes. New heritage minute aims to raise awareness about traumatic chapter of canadian history.
The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail. Halifax explosion historica canada education portal. Like the canada vignettes of the 1970s, the minutes themselves have become a part of canadian culture and been the subject of academic. Buy a walking tour of halifax, nova scotia look up, canada. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, and its effects are not lost on us today, even after all these years the event has fascinated everyone, from scholars to history buffs. Transcripts reading historica canadas heritage minutes. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u.
The former united memorial church was erected in the north end of halifax in 1921 to memorialize victims of the halifax explosion and the president of the heritage trust of nova scotia andrew. Cbc news is live streaming the commemoration ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion. A new halifax podcast, minute women, explores the full canadian history behind the popular heritage minutes from historica. Transcription of halifax explosion heritage minute halifax, 1917 oh my god, look at that. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive explosion that. Dday, as this day would become known, was the largest amphibious invasion of all time, led to the liberation of france, and marked the. Canadian army assisted with halifax explosion disaster. First released in 1991, they would go on to become quintessential pieces of 90s canadiana. He also tripped trying to run to first base after he hit the ball which you can see if you watch closely. See more ideas about halifax explosion, nova scotia and halifax harbour. But heritage minutes those beloved, and okay, fine, gloriously cheesy 60second shorts celebrating important canadian heroes, innovations, and events are every bit as much a part of the fabric of this countrys cultural landscape as the habs and the hip. The committee met regularly in late 1917 and 1918 to discuss the care of dartmouth patients following the december 1917 halifax explosion.
Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. The explosion had profound and longlasting consequences. A new halifax podcast, minute women, explores the full canadian history behind the popular heritage minutes from historica canada by blending comedy and research. First released in 1991, they have been shown on television, in cinemas and online, and have become a part of canadian culture. Despite its prominence in canadian history, there are few publications about the halifax explosion of 1917 that deal with the care of victims with eye injuries. Watch historica canada heritage minutes on the halifax explosion the true story of vince coleman who sacrifices his own life to save a train from the. The halifax explosion by brian lee massey on the morning of december 6th 1917 the belgian relief ship imo collided with the french munitions vessel mont blanc in halifax harbor. The halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, when the city of halifax, nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives. Heritage minutes halifax explosion not available on dwan 6. Comedy arts music books docs life parents kids kids news indigenous archives mycbc. Bacons the great halifax explosion trace the reverberations of the deadly disaster. The halifax explosion remembrance book is the first really definitive listing for those killed in the disaster of 6 december 1917. A double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest disaster.
The entire halifax region delights with its impressive array of entertainment, museums, galleries, historic sit. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Halifax explosion books tagged halifax explosion librarything. The film is an early news documentary from the silentscreen era, capturing in eerie silence the waste and devastation of a city destroyed, and the efforts that went into rebuilding it. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. A walking tour of halifax, nova scotia look up, canada. Most of us growing up in canada around my age demographic, will remember the canadian heritage minutes.
The author relates the circumstances of the accident that caused the explosion, as well as the recovery efforts and subsequent inquiry into the event. Halifax explosion heritage minute reading historica. The 1917 halifax explosion was an unfortunate but predictable tragedy, given the sea traffic and munitions cargo, resulting in sudden largescale damage and catastrophic injuries, with 1950 dead. The impact cut a 10 foot deep hole in the hull of mont blanc and ruptured some of the drums of benzole gasoline which were continue reading halifax explosion. Poverty and relatively low levels of education made these people particularly vulnerable to becoming overwhelmed by the circumstances of the day. To mark the 100th anniversary of the event, revisit our heritage minute about the halifax explosion and canadian hero, vince coleman. The halifax explosion was the biggest canadian tragedy in terms of life loss and despair. But there are still plenty of pockets of heritage buildings in downtown halifax regional. Who was to blame for huge halifax explosion 100 years ago.
Halifax, canada, halifax explosion remembrance book, 19171918. Burris, details meetings of the committee and efforts to coordinate relief activities with the medical relief committee of halifax. That famous heritage minute video where the doomed vincent. The heritage minute and other sources contain historical inaccuracies in that coleman is shown warning others in the area surrounding the depot station of the impending explosion. The halifax explosion was the deadliest disaster in canadian history. Few living people recall that the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the advent of the nuclear age took place in halifax, nova scotia. The historicadominion institutes heritage minutes have been a staple of canadian tv since the early 1990s. Nov 07, 2017 a history of the destruction of a canadian city by an explosion as powerful as a nuclear weapon. The halifax explosion has been immortalized in miniseries, heritage minute and no shortage of books, but canadas greatest disaster can be neither overstated nor too oft told. A canadian television heritage minute commemorates an unlikely hero of the halifax explosion. History by the minute, is a series of sixtysecond short films, each illustrating an important moment in canadian history.
Tree for boston watch historica canada heritage minutes. Watch the videos, and download the education guide and worksheets to learn the. A new heritage minute, commemorating canadian nurses on the first world wars front lines, launches wednesday, premiering in theatres in toronto, ottawa, calgary and halifax. Nov 21, 2017 this is the unforgettable story told in john u. It started as an idea of former halifax mayor and chair of the halifax foundation, edmund morris. Halifax explosion 1917 online resources nova scotia. But you dont have to be historically inclined to be curious about the tragedy or want to learn about the. In 1917, the thriving seaport of halifax, nova scotia, was leveled by a munitions explosion of unprecedented force when two ships collided in the citys harbor. Jim lotzs the sixth of december 1981 also toys with the fictional idea that halifax was home to a network of enemy spies during the war. Dec 02, 2017 new books remember the great halifax explosion.
Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. During the first world war, halifax was a busy port and the centre of wartime shipping for canada. Heroic dispatcher keyed warning, perished in cataclysmic halifax explosion back to video vincent colemans last words, tapped. Nov 09, 2017 a double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest disaster.
With one of the finest and deepest icefree harbours in north america, halifax was the port through. Canadian heritage coupons and travel info heritage. Century after halifaxs great explosion, city marks anniversary. Nov 30, 2017 ken cuthbertsons the halifax explosion and john u. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. The area round the harbour of halifax, nova scotia, canada. People on the margins of the halifax explosion the. The event was also featured in an episode of ghostly encounters. Halifax explosion 100 videos and latest news articles skip to main. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship laden with high explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. The institute offered our book of lists their top 10 segments, determined by both. Most canadians will have seen the heritage minute segment on.
The minutes integrate canadian history, folklore and myths into dramatic storylines. And, in an excerpt from his new book, the halifax explosion. This one is actually quite sad and im glad that they created this commercial, as it highlights and important moment in canadian history that. That famous heritage minute video where the doomed vincent coleman sends a frantic telegraph to stop an inbound train from arriving in. The first world war had been underway for three years, exposing canadian servicemen to injury, death and hardship, but bringing prosperity to halifax. Black snow is a love story set during the halifax explosion. After decades of hard economic times, the city was a hub of canadas war effort.
New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. Woodsworth jackie robinson jacques cartier jacques plante jean nicollet jennie. Canadas worst disaster, ken cuthbertson explains the devastation that occurred in the minutes immediately following the explosion. A moving exhibit on the explosion, halifax wrecked, can be seen at the maritime museum of the atlantic, lower water street. The halifax explosion marking the 100th anniversary of one of ww1s deadliest disasters. It came in the form of an event that is known as the halifax explosion. For more information about the halifax explosion, visit. The halifax explosion the think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of. Nova scotia archives and records management halifax explosion 1917 online resources. Photographs portray halifax after the catastrophe, as well as the beginnings of the recovery efforts. Vince coleman was also the subject of a heritage minute and was a prominent character in the cbc miniseries shattered city. New podcast explores history behind canadian heritage minutes. Destroyed neighbourhoods were rebuilt to safer standards, while medical treatment, social welfare, and public health saw advances and improvements.
On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. A double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest. Two more histories have been added to the dozens of other books. Canadas elizabeth mrazikcleaver canadian picture book award. View thirteen minutes of blackandwhite moving images attributed to professional cameraman w. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, and its. Halifax, nova scotia, canada is a modern port city teeming with culture and heritage and the perfect place for your next holiday vacation. New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. Dday, as this day would become known, was the largest amphibious invasion of all.
This education guide gives students an introduction to the halifax explosion and working with primary sources. Mar 02, 2016 train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. The halifax explosion has frequently been the subject of works of popular culture. Remembering the halifax explosion through a childs eyes, 99 years later.
New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. Heritage minute and no shortage of books, but canadas greatest. Halifax explosion canadian military heritage project. Dec 04, 2017 on wednesday, december 6, 2017 we will commemorate 100 years since the halifax explosion. I first heard about the halifax explosion from my canadian grandfather. Peter seixas for the historical thinking project, think like a historian.