News
Springhill and River Hebert remember their communities’ coal mining heritage
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It will be 70 years ago on Nov. 1 when runaway coal cars sparked coal dust in the Number 4 mine under Springhill, causing an explosion that killed 39 people on the surface and underground in what would be the second of three major disasters in the community’s history.
Clyde Jones said his father, Bill, was working on the surface that afternoon after trading shifts with a friend who wanted to go deer hunting. He was working on the tipple, where loaded coal cars were dumped after reaching the surface.
Just after 5 p.m. coal cars detached from the others and hurtled down the mine shaft, striking a power cable. Arching electricity sparked suspended coal dust and the resulting explosion blew through the mine and to the surface.
His father was blown clear, landing several yards from the shaft. He was burned badly and died six days later in hospital.
Jones was the guest speaker at Springhill’s annual Miners’ Memorial Day commemoration at St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church on June 11, 2026.
He said Springhill has a story to tell – one of perseverance – and it’s important for today’s generation and those that follow to continue telling the story of a community that has continued to overcome over the years.
“Stories are how we honour those who came before us. Each person and each family has a story worth preserving for future generations,” he said. “In my own life, many of these stories were not firsthand. They happened long before I was born, but they the still shaped me and the man I am today.
“Here in our town, we have lost so many lives to mining over the years. And yet, Springhill has always shown resilience. Time and time again our community has found the strength to stand back up and continue searching for a better life.”
Job Posting: Tourism Ambassador Summer Term
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The Municipality of the County of Cumberland is currently accepting resumes for a Tourism Ambassador summer term.
Municipality Helps L.A. Animal Shelter Open its New Home
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When supporters of the Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter have needed assistance, the community has always been quick to respond.
Several years ago when the organization shared its vision of a new facility to replace one that was never really build to be an animal shelter, the community again responded and the ribbon was cut on Sunday, June 7, 2026, officially opening the new modern facility on the Smith Road in Upper Nappan.
“It’s a tremendous feeling to see how the community rallied together the way it did to give us the support we needed to get this facility built,” capital committee co-chair Mark Casey said following the ceremony that included tours of the shelter. “This shelter really is the community’s building. It provides a service to people across Cumberland County.”
The $1.3-million capital campaign included a significant commitment of $150,000 from the Municipality of Cumberland as well as a similar contribution from the Town of Amherst and the support of hundreds of individuals, organizations and businesses throughout the county.
Casey said he is most impressed at how quickly the community responded to the ask.
Special Council Meeting on Monday, June 15
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Cumberland Municipal Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 4 pm in the council chambers at the Upper Nappan Service Centre. The purpose of the meeting is for public hearings relating to several demolition orders.
The meeting will be livestreamed at https://video.isilive.ca/cumberland/live.html
WestCumb Amateur Radio Club Unveils New Communications Trailer With Municipal Support
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The WestCumb Amateur Radio Club recently unveiled an auxiliary communications trailer that’s the only one of its kind in the Maritimes and was developed with financial support from the Municipality of Cumberland, the Town of Amherst and the Christie-Smith Community Fund.
“Across the country various radio clubs have had these for many years, but this is the first one in the Maritimes,” Steve Orr said. “Moncton and Halifax have something similar, but it’s more for equipment and you can’t go inside it. There’s no other trailer like this that other amateur radio clubs in the Maritimes have.”
Hurricane Dorian in late 2022, the wildfires in HRM and Barrington in 2023 and in the Annapolis Valley last summer are examples of the extreme weather and natural conditions being faced by first responders and emergency management officials in Nova Scotia.
Orr said residents expect communications to be there no matter the conditions, but with the increased frequency of severe weather, things like phone, internet and other communications tools may not be available.
That’s what makes units such as this so important.
“We always like to think that the internet will always be there and that cellular phones will always be there, but the reality is that we know from previous experiences they can be affected,” he said. “As much as the province has a terrific TMR system, weather and the environment can still get you. The concept is if all those services go down, amateur radio operators can bring their unique set of skills to continue communications in a disaster.”