Davis Day (1925)

Thu Jun 11, 1925

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Image: Davis Day Ceremony, Stellarton 2012. Photo from Adam MacInnis, New Glasgow News. [museumofindustry.novascotia.ca]

Davis Day, also known as Miners’ Memorial Day, is a day of remembrance observed annually on this day in Nova Scotia coal mining communities, recognizing all miners killed in the province’s coal mines.

Davis Day was initiated by the United Mine Workers of America in memory of William Davis, a coal miner who was killed when company police hired by the British Empire Steel Corporation fired on a crowd of protesting coal miners during a long strike near the town of New Waterford.

When the strike began in March 1925, the corporation cut off credit at the company stores. Coal miners were able to survive on relief payments and donations from supporters as far away as Boston and Winnipeg. After three months of a work stoppage, the corporation planned to resume operations without any settlement with workers.

To maintain the shutdown, coal miners seized and shut down the power plant that served both the company’s mines and the city of New Waterford in early June. The shortage of water and power affected New Waterford citizens, but the miners drew on local wells and set up a volunteer service to deliver water to the hospital.

On June 11th, a force of company police recaptured the power plant. Hundreds of coal miners, possibly more than 2,000 in number, marched to Waterford Lake in protest. It was there that the company police fired on the crowd, killing 38 year old William Davis.

This annual commemoration to all miners killed in labor struggle and industrial accidents became official in Nova Scotia in 2008, officially recognized as William Davis Miners’ Memorial Day.