INDUSTRIAL HERITAGe
Coal mining in the Elk Valley
To many, the Elk Valley is a quiet
mountain location offering abundant
recreation and access to wild places and
wildlife. Dig a little deeper, and it’s clear
that this area is thriving not only due to
the recreational lifestyle it offers, but
also thanks to the industry that
has shaped every aspect of life in
these mountains.
For over 120 years, coal mining has
quite literally been the bedrock of life in
the Elk Valley. Communities have risen
up and faded away, roads and rail-lines
have been built, societies and support
networks created; all thanks to the
coal mining activity. Local culture has
been founded on a diverse workforce
that includes decades of immigration
from around the world including
Indian Sheiks, Chinese, Italians, British
and Eastern Europeans, and many
others. With a total population of
around 11,000 spread over 75 km, the
entire Elk Valley barely approaches
the population of many of Canada’s
smaller towns and yet it contributes
significantly to the Canadian GDP
and has one of the most active housing
markets in the province.
The largest community — Fernie — was
founded in 1904 around the same time
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that The Crow’s Nest Coal Company
headquartered itself centrally between
its three main mining operations of
Carbonado (Morrissey), Coal Creek
and Michel. All three underground
mines have long since ceased
operations, and mining is now focused
on the North-eastern half of the valley,
from Sparwood to the area north of
Elkford. Five mines are currently in
active operation; the Teck Elkview Mine
that includes the area where the Michel
Mine was situated near Sparwood, Coal
Mountain (which will cease operations
in 2019) and Teck Line Creek,
Greenhills, and Fording River mines
around Elkford. Coal produced in the
Elk Valley is highly valued in the global
steelmaking industry. The majority of
the production is sent via rail to the
BC’s west coast and then shipped
overseas. The coal trains that can be
seen and heard rumbling through the
valley operate 24 hours a day, 365 days
per year.
Mining in the Elk Valley became
more stable in the 1960’s with a move
towards open pit extraction following
half a century of fluctuation in the
industry. In 1968 J. Edgar Kaiser
negotiated the rights to a large portion
of the current Elkview Mine and