The Centennial of Coal Mining Committee is one step closer to realizing its goal of erecting at Miner’s Memorial.
Last year the Valley celebrated 100 years of the commercial coal mining industry in the Valley. Part of its long-term goal was to erect a permanent memorial to the men who died working the mines.
This week Mayor Terry Yemen received word that the committee was successful in securing a grant from the Canadian Heritage Legacy Fund for $49,500. Mayor Terry Yemen said this is enough to complete the project.
“We now have the capital in place to do the memorial,” said Yemen. “It is very significant…It was through our centennial celebration we felt this is one thing that we have been sadly remiss in not doing, There’s no memorial to the miners who died. This is a dedication to them. Each one of their names will be on the memorial.”
Since the initial plans were made, volunteers have been working hard doing research to make sure no miner is missed. They have been combing newspapers and archives in Drumheller and beyond and have about 50 new names to be added to the memorial, over the names they were previously familiar with.
They have selected the small park beside the Civic Centre on Centre Street for the memorial and they have commissioned a sculptor to design the memorial to be constructed from iron and black granite.
“There will be some benches and reflection area there so people can bring their family and people can sit and reflect on their past, and there will be some history there about Drumheller’s history of coal mining,” said Yemen.
The committee has also been actively fundraising and has come up with about $40,000 before receiving the grant, demonstrating wide support for the project.
