Memorials planned to commemorate 20th anniversary of Westray disaster

Twenty-six white roses will be laid at Westray Memorial Park in New Glasgow today – one for every miner killed in the mining disaster.

It’s been 20 years since  a massive explosion rocked the Westray coal mine in Plymouth, Canada’s worst mining disaster since the Springhill tragedy in 1958.

Debbie Martin, whose brother-in-law Glenn Martin died in the Westray tragedy, says relatives of the victims find it comforting to come together.

“Twenty years ago when all of this happened, it was such a gathering for all the families,” she said. “We were all at the Plymouth fire hall and you made those connections. It seems like you’re not only doing remembrance of Glenn, but you’re doing remembrance of all the people you have met.”

An inquiry into the 1992 disaster found that the owner and managers were responsible for dangerous conditions at the mine, but the Crown wasn’t able to prosecute any of the employers.

NDP MP Robert Chisholm says a law enacted in 2004 now makes it possible to find employers criminally responsible for workplaces injuries.

However, he tells News 95.7 there have been no prosecutions under the new legislation.

“This is a good law and a law that could be effective if there was the political will to actually put the resources towards investigating and following up on prosecutions,” he said.

Chisholm says he would like to see a Crown prosecutor in each province to deal specifically with workplace injuries and corporate responsibility.

“Having somebody designated that has the experience, somebody that has the technical knowledge of workplaces, would go some distance [towards] being able to hold employers and regulators accountable,” he said.

Chisholm spoke on Parliament Hill Tuesday alongside Ken Neumann, national director of the Steelworkers union.  

Neumann said more than 8,000 Canadian workers have died on the job since the bill was enacted in 2004.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay, whose riding includes the Westray site, also spoke at the event.

He said he hopes we “learn the lesson of past negligence and actively commit ourselves as employers, unions, governments and caring citizens to work together to protect the lives of workers everywhere.”

Memorial events will take place throughout the day today, including an early morning vigil at Westray Memorial Park, an educational session at a local high school and an evening memorial service at the site of the disaster.

The Men of the Deeps choir will sing at the gathering and 26 white roses will be laid by high school students.