living history
Fernie, 1908. Tents set up after the fire.
90 minutes, much of the town was reduced to smouldering
ashes. Lethbridge Herald headlines of the time stated
(incorrectly) that Fernie was wiped from the earth, and
hundreds of lives were lost. When the true information came
in, fewer than 10 people died in the fire; however, 1,000
homes were lost and over 6,000 people were left homeless.
Lethbridge was wired for assistance and quickly stepped up
to provide assistance. Lethbridge immediately sent a special
train to Fernie with provisions for the homeless. Mayor
Henderson also promised Fernie’s mayor that Lethbridge
would provide $1,000 (later increased to $2,000). But that
wasn’t all – A special fund was started so that Lethbridge
citizens could donate, and a fundraising concert was put on
by the Lethbridge Citizens Band. Following the devastation,
Fernie rose again from the ashes, this time using brick for
construction, rather than wood.
‘On June 30, 1912,
a tornado hit Regina.
To this day, this tornado
remains the deadliest
tornado in Canadian
history with 28 fatalities.’
When our neighbour to the east needed help, Lethbridge
was just as willing to provide assistance. On June 30, 1912,
a tornado hit Regina. To this day, this tornado remains the
deadliest tornado in Canadian history with 28 fatalities. The
tornado ripped through residential areas, the downtown,
the warehouse district, and the railyards. At its widest, the
tornado cut a swath 150 m wide, and was on the ground for
12 km, and is judged to have been an F4. Many buildings,
both wooden and brick, were destroyed by the tornado.
Thousands in Regina lost all they had, and were living in
tents and public places following the disaster.
The very next day, in the July 1, 1912, Lethbridge Daily
Herald, a message sent by Mayor George Hatch and
Lethbridge City Council to the council of Regina was shared:
“Mayor Regina, Saskatchewan: Our sympathy goes out to
your city. We extend aid in any way possible. Wire us in
what direction we may help you.” Mayor McAra of Regina
responded three days later: “Editor: Lethbridge Herald,
Lethbridge. Your message received, note that you have
started relief fund. It is becoming apparent that financial aid
will be urgently required in the near future. Any assistance
along this line will be gratefully appreciated.” Housing
became a great need. Clothing was also in demand. The city
gave $1,000 to Regina and funds were also raised through
the Herald’s campaign.
Two years later Lethbridge reached out to help fellow
miners when disaster occurred in the Crowsnest Pass. On
June 19, 1914, Canada’s worst mine disaster occurred at
the Hillcrest mine when a gas explosion ripped through the
colliery killing 189 men. This was about half of the mine’s
total workforce; 90 women were widowed and over 200
children were left without fathers. The Lethbridge Herald
noted that there were now almost 100 households who
had lost their breadwinner and that relief was necessary.
The explosion devastated the community, and once again
Lethbridgians reached out with aid. But the monetary aid
from Lethbridge was not as great as hoped. It was noted that
many people were not in a position to send much money as
finances were tight, and people were not in the position to
give as generously as they might like. To encourage people,
the Herald reminded people in a June 23, 1914 article: “We
are closely related with the Pass mining camps in a business
way, and … we are largely dependent upon coal mining for
our development.”
Hillcrest, 1914. The concrete hoist house
outside the mine blown apart from the explosion.
While it was not possible for people in the Lethbridge
area to give as much money as they wanted, money wasn’t
the only way they assisted their fellow miners and their
families. This was the first major coal mine disaster that the
trained mine rescuers from Lethbridge attended. When an
the explosion occurred in the Bellevue Mine in December
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