Journeys
Journeys are a curated collection formed from the interplay and connection between narratives. Travel through a selection of stories, maps, people, and collections, which capture moments from Cumberland’s past.
The Labour Movement
Men recruited to work in the coal mines in Canada brought ideas of workers’ rights with them from overseas. The horrific and dangerous working conditions, long hours, poor treatment of workers, high fatality rates, and low pay made the time “rotten ripe” for change.
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Stories about the labour movement
The labour movement arose in Europe in the 1800s, and was strongly internationalist in character – emphasising the shared interests between workers in different countries in opposing capitalist political regimes.
Items from our collection related to the labour movement
The Coal Mines
Coal mining was one of the largest industries in the Comox Valley throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. The mines were rich in coal, but also had some of the worst working conditions. Cumberland was the site of extensive coal mines, with a total of 8 mines. The large coal barons of the island exploited both the land and workers, and mining disasters shook the community.
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The disaster happened at two o’clock, and by seven o’clock the injured were all in the hospital, and the dead had received a place in the undertaking parlors."
The Cumberland Islander (September, 1922)
Immigration
Cumberland has been home to many diverse communities. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries people immigrated to the Comox Valley for many reasons, including employment, a chance at a better life, and new homes. While some of these communities may no longer be here today, they all helped to shape Cumberland into what it is today and their stories remain.
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Canada's rich immigration history is shaped by the collective contributions of diverse communities, each playing a vital role in building and transforming the nation. Immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond brought their cultures, skills, and resilience, contributing to the development of vibrant communities like Cumberland.
By 1902, there were approximately 450 Asian miners working Cumberland. Only 165 were paid directly by the company.
Asian miners faced fierce discrimination, alienation, and endless scapegoating.
Recreation
The surrounding beauty of the Comox Valley brings outdoor enthusiasts from all over to bask in the nature of Comox Lake, the Cumberland Community Forest, and the Beaufort Mountain range.
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Marmie Carter, in charge of the lake days activities, announced that plans are nearing competition for a two-day celebration, including a beer garden on Sunday, July 18."
1971 Centennial Programme, in Donna Watson, Edith Stephens, and Dick Esnor, A Hundred Spirited Years: A History of Cumberland (1988).
An 7.3 magnitude earthquake complete reshaped the landscape surrounding Comox Lake on Sunday, 23rd of June, 1946. Cabins that lined its shores were washed away, beaches submerged, and trees that formerly lined its banks canted over.
Forestry
The large old-growth forests of Vancouver Island were prized for their valuable lumber. Logging and timber production was, and continues to be, a major industry in the Comox Valley.
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I was born in Cumberland in 1909 and worked in the coal mines: Nos. 4, 5, and 8. I could have stayed as a miner, but I went into logging because that's where the money was!"
Chuna Tobacco, in "Mountain Timber" by Richard Somerset Mackie (2009), pg. 195.
I can remember in the mid-twenties when I started in the woods, if you mentioned union in a camp, the men - not the operators-would run you out of the camp. This condition went out for about twenty years."
Harper Baikie