Public Service Announcement
95th anniversary of Halifax Explosion to be commemorated on December 6
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012 - On Thursday, Dec. 6, citizens will remember one of the region's most devastating moments in its history. An official ceremony will be held from 8:50 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. at the Fort Needham Hill Bell Tower to remember the lives lost through the Halifax Explosion of 1917 as well as its survivors and heroes.
The explosion followed the collision of two ships - the French munitions ship, the Mont Blanc, and the Norwegian relief ship, the Imo - in the Narrows, just below the commemorative bell tower. The devastation shook the region and took with it some 2,000 lives, inflicted injuries on approximately 9,000 and flattened the north end of Halifax and destroyed a Mi’kmaq community on the opposite shores of the explosion in Dartmouth.
Other events to commemorate the solemn anniversary include:
9:05 a.m. - Commemorative sounding of the cannon at Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
9:30 a.m. – Public reception following official ceremony at United Memorial Church
10:00 a.m. – Halifax Regional Fire Services Memorial Event at Fire Station 4
11:00 a.m. – A service of remembrance at Pinehill Park, Dartmouth
The Municipal Archives is a good source of information about the Halifax Explosion and recently posted information about the visit of Samuel W. McCall, Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on November 7, 1918, to inspect the reconstruction of the areas devastated by the Halifax Explosion. Haligonians took the opportunity to shower the Governor with thanks for the immediate and ongoing relief provided through the Massachusetts-Halifax Relief Committee. Visit http://www.halifax.ca/archives/documents/102-2A1918-11-08CivicAddressToMassachusettsGovernor.pdfto open a copy of the digitized civic address delivered to the Governor of Massachusetts by the City Clerk at the time, to thank him for their assistance after the Explosion.
For more, information on the Halifax Explosion events and history, visit www.halifax.ca/HalifaxExplosion
-30-
Contacts:
Councillor Jennifer Watts
District 8 – Peninsula North
902-497-4748
Michaelyn Thompson
HRM Communications
490-5940
