Davis Day

Davis Day, also known as Miners Memorial Day, is an annual day of remembrance observed on June 11 in coal mining communities in Nova Scotia, Canada whereby citizens recognize all miners who were killed on the job in the province.

Davis Day originated in memory of William Davis, a coal miner who was killed during a protest near the town of New Waterford by striking miners. The protest was in response to a decision by the mining company, British Empire Steel and Coal Company (BESCO), to shut down the drinking water supply and electricity to the town as a result of the strike, while miners were attempting to shut down electricity to the mine's surface workings and pumps for removing seawater.

Davis was shot and killed at approximately 11:00AM on June 11, 1925 and many other miners were injured, when striking miners were charged by the company police force, whose officers fired over 300 shots. In the weeks and months following Davis' shooting, company facilities were looted and/or vandalized, despite the deployment of the provincial police force and 2,000 solidiers in what remains Canada's second-largest military deployment for an internal conflict (after the Northwest Rebellion).

In commemoration of Davis' sacrifice, the United Mine Workers of America designated the day in his honour, with miners in Nova Scotia vowing to never work on "Davis Day" ever again. Davis Day was renamed District Memorial Day in 1938 (after District 26, U.M.W.A.) and in 1970, the date was changed to the second Monday in June. In 1974 this was reverted, with the original name (Davis Day) and the date (June 11) being restored. For the remainder of the 20th century, the pledge of never working on June 11 was maintained and Davis Day was observed as a quasi-civic holiday in most mining communities. The closure of Nova Scotia's last coal mine in November 2001 by DEVCO has somewhat muted the importance of Davis Day, however it has evolved to become a remembrance day for all workers killed in mines in the province.

Davis Day is observed in some or all of the following communities where the UMWA organizes services:

* Alder Point
* Florence
* Sydney Mines
* New Victoria
* New Waterford
* Dominion
* Glace Bay
* Stellarton
* Westville
* Springhill
* River Hebert

In 1999 the provincial legislature of gave Royal Assent to a private member's bill that officially designates June 11 as Davis (Miners Memorial) Day.

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Davis (Miners Memorial) Day Act

Robert L. Chisholm
Halifax Atlantic

First Reading: June 10, 1999
Second Reading:
Third Reading:

An Act Respecting
a Day of Mourning for Miners
Killed, Disabled or Injured in the Mines

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

WHEREAS it is desirable that Nova Scotians should designate a day to remember miners killed, disabled or injured in the mines;

AND WHEREAS Miners Memorial Day has traditionally been observed on June 11th to honour all Nova Scotian miners who have met an untimely death and is also known as Davis Day in honour of William Davis, a slain miner;

AND WHEREAS Nova Scotians seek earnestly to set an example of their commitment to the issue of health and safety in the mines;

THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Davis (Miners Memorial) Day Act.

2 Throughout Nova Scotia, in each year, June 11th shall be known as Davis (Miners Memorial) Day for miners killed, disabled or injured in the course of their work.

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External links

* [http://www.umwa.org/journal/VOL111NO3/maydavis.shtml Davis Day - UMWA backgrounder]
* [http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/meninmines/davis.asp Davis Day - Government of Nova Scotia historical sketch]
* [http://www.minersmuseum.com/hof_unions_davis_day_1.htm Davis Day - Cape Breton Miners Museum backgrounder]
* [http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20020611004 Davis Day - Government of Nova Scotia press release]