City marks 97th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion

HALIFAX – Dec. 6, 1917 was a day that changed the city of Halifax forever.

Shortly before 9:00 a.m. that morning, the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc, loaded with explosives, collided with the Norweigan vessel SS Imo.

A fire aboard the SS Mont-Blanc following the collision ignited the explosives on the ship, and caused the largest man-made explosion in history.

Two-thousand people were killed in the explosion, another 9,000 were injured. Twenty-five-thousand people, or half of the city’s population, were left homeless.

Saturday, hundreds of people came out to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the disaster at ceremonies held across Halifax.

At Fort Needham, which overlooks the area devastated by the Halifax Explosion, dozens braved the cool weather to take part in the ceremony, held at the Memorial Bell Tower.

The tower commemorated those who were killed, injured and lost their homes and family members in 1917. It also honours the survivors who rebuilt the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth following the explosion. Everyone who came out to see the service had their own reason for being there.

“I’m here to give respect to the probably the darkest day in the history of the city. Growing up in England and learning about Canada and Halifax, I didn’t know anything about it until I moved here six years ago,” said Anthony Kawalski.

“As a tour guide in the city, when I tour people around I tell them about the statistics, which are awful, but more about the memories and the links with this city and Boston which did so much to help us.”

A moment of silence was held at 9:05 a.m, the time of the explosion. Wreaths were also laid at Fort Needham and the bells at the Memorial Tower rang out. The 10 original bells hanging in the tower were donated to the United Memorial Church by Barbara Orr, who lost her entire family in the explosion.

The bells were removed from the church and placed in the tower years later, when four extra bells were also added.

First responders, who risked their own lives to help others during the Halifax Explosion were also honoured today at the Halifax fire station on Lady Hammond Road. A small parade started the commemoration there around 10:00 a.m., followed by prayers for the firefighters who lost their lives.

The service was held at The Firefighters Monument. It was erected by the Halifax Fire Department to honour the nine members of their department who lost their lives in the explosion while racing towards the burning ship, Mont-Blanc.

The monument is made of black polished granite and mounted on a red granite pedestal with a concrete base. Facing the Halifax Harbour is the figure of a firefighter in full uniform. The monument was dedicated on Dec. 6, 1992, the 75th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion.

Wreaths were laid by a number of fire officials, military members and politicians. There was also a special wreath laid by Charles Holmes. He was a 33-year veteran of Halifax Fire, before retiring in 1979.

“Just to show respect for those who went before us, that’s the main thing, and being an old timer, I remember,” Holmes told Global News.

The 95-year-old walked up to the monument alongside Jason Smith, a new Halifax Fire recruit, who will begin his first day of work Monday.

“It’s quite an honour, I waited a long time to get on this hiring process, and now that I’m here, it’s honestly like a family. Everybody is so genuine and so supportive and I’m so happy to be here. It was an honour to meet Charlie today.”