When Coal Was King: Ladysmith and the Coal-Mining Industry on Vancouver Island

by John R. Hinde

The coalminers of Ladysmith had a reputation for radicalism and militancy, most notably during the Great Strike of 1912-1914. This study explains the origins of the strike - one of the longest and most violent labour disputes in Canadian history.

Genres: History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Hinde notes, Ladysmith was founded to house coal miners on Vancouver Island, a major industry in the region until 1914. He chronicles how this came about, how the miners lived, and how they interacted with their employer. He finishes with a note about a major strike that lasted from 1912 to 1914, and the miner's efforts to improve their lot. A really interesting look at how a mining community in western Canada lived, and how that industry worked at a social level.

[Rowyn Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written essay. I came away with a greater understanding of community and its need within society as well as the specific community that is created in the mining industries.