Halifax explosion library and archives canada blog. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, and its effects are. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a massive. Since 2012, historica canada has revived the heritage minutes brand, releasing anywhere from two to four new shorts a year, covering everything from the fathers of the confederation to civil rights pioneers like viola desmond and jim egan. The imo can been seen beached on the far shore the james collectioncity of toronto archives in a final, fatal maneuver both captains bellowed out orders to put their engines full speed astern. Actual footage following the 1917 explosion in halifax, showing devastation and the relief effort, beginning with activities the day after the explosion and following the reconstruction in the.
Collison of 2 ships ignited 3,000 tons of explosives that left 2,000 dead and 25,000 citizens homeless. I first learned the stories behind maple syrup, winnie the pooh, laura secord, the underground railroad, jacques cartier, the halifax explosion, and nellie mcclung to name a few, through historica minutes. Tied for top spot in a 2012 historica dominion institute poll, the halifax explosion tells the story of vincent coleman, a railway dispatcher who arguably saved hundreds of. This couple is on an adventure to visit all 87 heritage minutes locations across canada were both history nerds and were kids in the. On this day in 1917, an explosion occurred off halifax, nova scotia when the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship filled with munitions, collided with the norwegian ship ss imo. The halifax explosion of 1917 is part of our familys. Comedy arts music books docs life parents kids kids news indigenous archives mycbc. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. 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.
Babies whose mothers had not been located and children injured in the halifax explosion on dec. A new halifax podcast, minute women, explores the full canadian history behind the popular heritage minutes from historica. A new halifax podcast, minute women, explores the full canadian history behind the popular heritage minutes from historica canada by blending comedy and research. The munitions ship drifted towards the pier and after twenty minutes blew sky high. Heritage minutes halifax explosion tv episode 1991 on imdb. New book details 1917 halifax, nova scotia, explosion. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. 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 halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. Tied for first place were the episodes on jackie robinson and the halifax explosion, followed by jennie kidd trout, winniethepooh and. The heritage minutes are a collection of bilingual canadian 60second short films, each depicting a significant person, event or story in canadian history. First released in 1991, they have been shown on television, in cinemas and online, and have become a part of canadian culture.
Halifax explosion book of remembrance beside the name of each victim is listed the age and local residential addresses at the time of the explosion, in addition to their burial sites. The halifax explosion remembrance book was originally developed in 2002 as a commemorative project sponsored by the halifax foundation and its chair, the late edmund morris, a former city mayor, to mark the 85th anniversary of the halifax explosion. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion on the eve of the disasters centennial, a sailors 1917 journal details a. Surviving the blast that shook a nation by joyce glasner. From the frequent deaths of chinese labourers building canadas vital coasttocoast railway, to the devastating halifax explosion of 1917, to the treatment of indigenous children in residential schools, these short. Black snow is a love story set during the halifax explosion. The first place to look is lacs thematic guide, halifax explosion. The event was also featured in an episode of ghostly. On the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, two new books. The halifax explosion has been immortalized in miniseries, heritage minute and no shortage of books, but canadas greatest disaster can be. Devastation after the halifax explosion, showing what is left of the richmond neighbourhood.
The heritage minute episode on the halifax explosion tied for the most popular in a 2012 ipsos reid poll. Halifax explosion book of remembrance maritime museum of. This explosion was caused by the collision of the mont blanc, a french steamship carrying 2400 tons of explosives, and the imo, a belgian steamer, slated to carry blankets and supplies to war. To mark the 100th anniversary of the event, revisit our heritage minute about the halifax explosion and canadian hero, vince coleman. Like the canada vignettes of the 1970s, the minutes themselves have become a part of canadian culture and been the. Most canadians will have seen the heritage minute segment on television, depicting the heroism of vincent coleman, who died after sending a. Start reading the great halifax explosion on your kindle in under a minute. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Ive read other bacon books, but this one is different. Library and archives canada lac holds various records that tell part of the story of the halifax explosion, its aftermath, and the relief work and investigations following the disaster. Watch the videos, and download the education guide and worksheets to learn the five key steps to analyzing primary sources.
Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a. The author remains one of the most knowledgeable people on the event and her multiple books attest to this fact. Excellent and detailed account of the halifax explosion and highlights many of the lives of some citizens there. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. Historica canada and christopher hemsworth creative have designed a series of limited edition heritage minutes posters with iconic quotes from each. Today marks the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, which took place when a french cargo ship laden with explosives collided with another ship in halifax harbour. And, like pretty much every other piece of 90s pop culture, theyre making a comeback. A double take at the halifax explosion, canadas greatest disaster. Terry fox inspires the nation with his marathon of hope, a crosscountry run to raise money for cancer research 1980. Halifax explosion train dispatcher vince coleman displays heroism during the disaster that took nearly 2,000 lives, including his own 1917 historica canada and christopher hemsworth creative have designed a series of limited edition heritage minutes posters with iconic quotes from each minute. The book is displayed at the entrance to the museums halifax explosion exhibit halifax wrecked. Fiction about the halifax explosion disaster that occurred in 1917 and killed 2,000 people. On december 6 th, 1917, just after 9 oclock in the morning, the largest manmade explosion prior to the bombing of hiroshima in world war ii rocked the harbour and north end of halifax.
Halifax explosion nova scotia canada 1917 about 2000 people killed. That famous heritage minute video where the doomed vincent. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy and extraordinary heroism, by john u. Halifax explosion go to the website watch the historica minute. The calamity occurred when the french ship montblanc, loaded with high explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel imo at the entrance to the narrows in halifax harbour on december 6. From their beginnings in 1991, heritage minutes didnt shy away from acknowledging some of the more difficult moments in our history, too. The halifax explosion of 1917 the canadian encyclopedia. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. New podcast explores history behind canadian heritage minutes.
The halifax explosion of december 1917 was the largest human made explosion before the atomic bomb. The resulting blast killed around 2,000 people and devastated the city of halifax, nova scotia. The think like a historian series of videos and resources is a curriculumbased learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources. The disastrous 1917 explosion of a munitions ship in halifax harbor, nova scotia, forms the backdrop to this rich, abundantly humane love story chicago tribunea powerful piece of work washington post book world that marks an auspicious fiction debut for an already accomplished author and awardwinning journalist chicago suntimes. Crowds gathered around to watch the fire from the initial collision. Heritage minutes, formerly known as historica minutes.
New book details the halifax, nova scotia, explosion of 1917. The true story of the greatest manmade explosion before hiroshima by. Heritage minutes halifax explosion tv episode 1991. Here is a list of other and longer books about the halifax explosion.
For more information about the halifax explosion visit the canadian encyclopedia. The halifax explosion occurred when a belgian relief vessel and a french munitions carrier collided in halifax harbour during world war i. Train dispatcher vince coleman sacrifices his own life to save a train from the halifax explosion. The explosion generated by the two ships collision was the largest manmade explosion prior to the dropping of the atomic bomb on hiroshima in 1945, equal to almost 3 kilotons of tnt exploding. 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. History by the minute, is a series of sixtysecond short films, each illustrating an important moment in canadian history. Halifax explosion project gutenberg selfpublishing. More fires started and spread, and a tsunami wave was. One of many tragic outcomes of the halifax explosion of 1917 was its impact on eyesight. Heritage minutes and canadian history isles abroad. Halifax author janet kitz says the photo shows how difficult it was for babies to be identified if their mothers were dead. The minutes integrate canadian history, folklore and myths into dramatic storylines. For more information about the halifax explosion, visit.