Active Reading Practice

A terrible accident

April 3, 2017, was a sad day in the community of Sparwood on the Elk River in southeastern British Columbia. People of the town came together to remember a day 50 years earlier - a day in which 15 members of the community lost their lives and a further ten were seriously injured in an explosion at the nearby Balmer North coal mine. The explosion, one of B.C.'s worst mining disasters, happened as shifts were changing, and to this day remains unexplained. Ron Venzi's father and uncle were both miners, and his uncle, Guy Venzi, was among the victims. Ron writes:

The injured were being transported to the hospital in any way possible as there was only one ambulance in the town. The resources of the small Michel hospital were taxed to the limits with all the injured miners arriving. All kinds of help began to arrive in the form of doctors, nurses, and ordinary people who wanted to help in whatever way they could. As well, Mine Rescue teams came from the southeastern B.C. towns of Fernie and Kimberley. Local businesses donated food and other supplies to help everyone get through the night. My mother, Helen Venzi, was working at the hospital and remembers the horror of seeing all these injured men she knew covered with mud and unrecognizable except by their voices. From now on these men carried the coal dust stained blue scars on their faces which branded them as survivors of this terrible experience (http://coalminersmemorial.tripod.com/balmernorth.html).

Mining: a key industry in British Columbia.

Chile, 2010: The world watches

Mining has always been considered a dangerous profession, and news stories have reinforced that belief. In 2010 the world watched as 33 miners were rescued after spending 69 days trapped underground at the San Jose copper and gold mine in northern Chile. The men were trapped when the aging mine collapsed; they survived with the help of food and water passed down to them through boreholes from the surface. Their self-discipline, religious convictions, and letters from family members helped them to remain optimistic and to get through the ordeal until they were all eventually rescued with a specially designed capsule that hauled them, one by one, to the surface. The miners' story was made into a 2015 movie, The 33, starring Antonio Banderas.

Could it happen today?

Could what happened in Sparwood or in Chile happen in B.C. today? Mining in B.C. is an industry worth more than $8.7 billion in gross revenue; it employs around 10,000 people in all parts of the province. The province is Canada's largest exporter of coal, much of it to Asia; also mined in B.C. are copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc, and other minerals. While accidents can happen at any time, legislation in B.C. has gone a long way towards making mines safer for those who work there. In fact, the B.C. government calls mining "one of British Columbia's safest heavy industries". Regulations in the following areas are constantly under scrutiny:

• The Mines Act of 1996 and the accompanying Health, Safety, and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia (updated regularly, most recently in June 2017) have put strict policies in place to protect the personal safety of those who work both underground and on the surface. Regulations cover such topics as fire prevention, the use of explosives, and waste management. Other rules apply to specific pieces of equipment, such as drill platforms and underground transportation.
• Since young workers are often the most vulnerable, no mine may employ workers younger than 18 years of age. No alcohol or illegal drugs are permitted at the mine, and workers judged to be impaired are prohibited from entering the mine. Protective clothing is also mandated, with hard hats and reflective devices a requirement.
• Emergency procedures in the event of a crisis are legislated, and the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) holds annual mine rescue competitions to ensure its workers keep up to date with the latest techniques. Mine safety awards are also handed out to mines that meet and exceed the standards.
  
• Occupational health is considered just as important as accident prevention in the mines. Rules covering the use of ventilation and lighting are enforced, and measures are in place to monitor the presence of vapours, gases, and chemicals.

The future of mining in B.C.

After an economic downturn, the mining industry in B.C. is recovering. New mines are being opened, such as the Brucejack gold and silver mine in northwestern B.C. Other mines have been reopened after a period of closure. Commodity prices have stabilized. The future of mining in the province looks promising, but further growth is taking place under careful scrutiny and with effective safety regulations firmly in place. There is, however, still work to be done in the field of mining legislation, particularly in the drawing up of laws protecting the environment and those covering partnerships with populations whose land may be affected by mining - primarily First Nations communities.

Meanwhile, on April 17, 2017, a bronze statue of a miner, sculpted by former miner Nathan Scott, was unveiled in Sparwood to commemorate the Balmer North tragedy, and flowers were laid.

The Story of Nellie McClung

In 1882, a nine-year-old girl from the Prairies was at a community picnic. The summer sun was high in the sky. People sat on tablecloths spread over the green grass. They ate sandwiches and watermelon. They drank tea and lemonade. And the boys were lining up for a race. The nine-year-old girl wanted to run in that race. But she was told that races were for boys only. It was not nice for girls to run. Their skirts might fly up and their legs might show. A fire was lit inside her that day. One day, she would see to it that women could do the same things that men could do – like vote. Her name was Nellie McClung.

Running in races wasn't the only thing girls weren't allowed to do. Back then, it was illegal for women to vote, be in government, own property, or go to university. This is because men were thought to be more reasonable than women. Only men were reasonable enough to take part in the world of government and business. Women were seen as emotional. This made them "more fit" for the world of homemaking and childcare.

When Nellie grew up, she poked holes in these old ideas. She spoke to large crowds in favour of women's right to vote. Some Canadians worried that women's rights would lead to the breakdown of the family. With a colourful hat on her head and a charming sense of humour, Nellie changed hearts and minds.

Women's rights activists in Europe and America often used violence to get their point across. Nellie used humour, instead. She starred in a play where she debated men's right to vote. She began by telling the men how nice they looked. Then she pointed out that most of the people in prison were men, and men made up only a small number of the people who went to church. How could these people be trusted with politics? Big crowds came to see Nellie's play. They roared with laughter. It became fashionable to support women's rights.

White women were finally allowed to vote in federal elections in 1918. As a result of racist laws, women of colour and Aboriginal women would not be allowed to vote until much later.

In 1921, Nellie served as one of the first female MLAs in the government of Alberta. It was often said that women's involvement in politics would lead to divorce. Nellie and her husband Wes proved those claims wrong. Wes was proud of his wife. "I don't mind being Mr. Nellie McClung," he'd say with a smile.

One day, Nellie's friend Emily Murphy invited some friends to her house for tea. They talked about how unfair it was that women were not allowed to sit in the Senate. This is because women were not seen as "persons" in the eyes of the law. The women decided to take the matter to court. After a long battle, they won the case in 1929 – but Nellie wasn't finished. "The end is not yet!" she said. Even though women had won many legal rights, they were still not treated as equal to men. This was especially true of women of colour. Unlike most women's rights activists of her time, Nellie called for an end to racism.

Even as she grew older and her health declined, she kept writing and speaking for equal rights. Nellie said, "Because I've got a bad heart, my doctor has told me not to write. I assume he meant books, so I keep busy on letters, editorials, and messages". If she hadn't died in 1951, she would probably still be fighting for women's rights today.