Geography
Formerly known as Barrachois Cove (from barachois, meaning small port, lagoon or pond), its present name is likely derived from the Irish seaportEconomy
New Waterford is a fishing port and former coal-mining community that has been in economic decline since 2001. Many residents had been reliant on the coal and steel industries, which are now closed. The last local mine closed in July 2001. Breton Education Centre opened in 1970, which relegated former schools in the area (Mount Carmel, Central, St. Agnes) to either close (Central School), or relegate to Elementary-only students. The community has one elementary school, as of 2025, after the closure of two former schools, St. Agnes, and Mount Carmel. The Carmel Centre, built in 1967 and housed not-for-profit causes, events, and tourism, closed in 2018, and was burned down by a fire in 2022, prior to being scheduled for demolition later that year. Both Mount Carmel Elementary School & St. Agnes Elementary School, closed in 2016. St. Agnes Elementary burned down in a suspicious fire in 2017. TheDemographics
Eight-thirty whistle
At 8:30 pm every day the New Waterford Fire Department sets off its siren, known locally as The 8:30 Whistle. The siren has a long history and continues in tradition to this day. The original intent of the whistle is debated, with some saying it was to alert the town of a mining disaster, others to alert locals of fires in the town, and some say it was simply for curfew.History
The first inhabitants of the area were the Mi'kmaq whose lifestyle was centred around hunting and fishing. The historical industry in New Waterford has been coal mining. The creation of steam powered machines during the industrial revolution led to a demand for the coal deposits of Cape Breton and northern mainland Nova Scotia. Mining in the area started as early as 1854. The Dominion Coal Company began operating in New Waterford in 1907 drawing in many workers mainly from Irish and Scottish Catholic backgrounds. The name likely comes from the Irish city ofNo. 12 Colliery Mine Explosion
On the morning of July 25, 1917, an explosion erupted in the Dominion Company No.12 Colliery in New Waterford. The explosion occurred about 2000 feet below the surface. At the time 270 miners were working inside the mine. Methane gas and coal dust that was accumulated in the shaft due to poor ventilation were ignited resulting in the large explosion. The blast itself killed 62 miners aged 14–65 and resulted in many other injuries. Rescue efforts began immediately following the explosion. Firemen and miners including those from nearby mines which were closed after the blast, entered to aid in the rescue. 3 miners who entered the mine to help with rescue efforts were killed from exposure to gasses. In total, 65 men died because of the explosion making it the worst coal mining disaster to happen on Cape Breton Island to date. The Dominion Coal Company insisted that the ventilation in the mine was in working order despite the many miners who claimed that it was not and that there had been gas built up in the mine. a coroner's inquiry began to investigate the cause of the explosion and found the Dominion Coal company was guilty of gross negligence. The Amalgamated Mine Workers of Nova Scotia charged the company with criminal negligence and three of their officials with manslaughter. The crown prosecutor in the case had previously defended the Dominion Company did not bring in any evidence against the company. The presiding judge on the case had also previously worked on behalf of the company and instructed the jury to find the defendants not guilty. In 1922, a monument was erected with the names and ages of the workers who were lost in the explosion to commemorate the loss of life and the courage of the people who assisted in the rescue effort.Coal Strike of 1925
In the 1920s, the British Empire Steel Company controlled most of the coal mines in Nova Scotia. Due to the declining global demand for coal and having made unrealistic promises to its shareholders, Besco intended to cut the wages of miners and crack down on their ability to unionize and strike. Throughout the 1920s, the coal miner's unions clashed with Besco throughout the early 20s with multiple strikes being quelled by the police and armed forces. In 1925, contract negotiations had failed and the miners went on strike on March 6, leaving a small workforce to prevent the mines from becoming flooded and to keep the power plant in service for the town and hospital. Besco intended to wait out the strike rather than settle with the striker's demands. By June the economic impact of the strike was felt heavily as families were close to starvation, the workers nonetheless were "Standing the Gaff". On the 4th of June, company police forced the workers out of the power plant and shut off water and power to the town. On June 9, the workers went on a 100% strike. On June 11, a large group of miners marched on the plant and were met by the company police who fired shots into the crowd, killing the 38-year-old Davis, wounding alongside two other men, Gilbert Watson, who was shot through the stomach, and lived with the bullet in him until the day he died in 1957 and another, Jack MacQuarrie received a bullet in the groin. Michael O'Hadley had been trampled by the horses while many other miners had received lesser injuries.The History of Mining in Cape Breton - Unions (1997) - https://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/coal/history/3tunions.html?nodisclaimer=1 Now a full blown angry mob, the miners stormed the plant and destroyed it. The miners rounded up 30 of the company police and marched them into the jail. In the days following Davis' death, miners looted company stores and collieries were burned. Soldiers from the Canadian Armed Forces were called in to restore order. It marked the largest deployment of the Armed Forces for a domestic conflict since the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. On June 25, the Nova Scotia's Conservative party won the general election after 43 years of Liberal government and began working with Besco and the strikers to come to a settlement. On August 5, a settlement was reached and workers once again returned to the mines. On June 11, 2025 Miners Memorial Day will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the tragedy and fight for workers rights.In popular culture
The town was the setting for the 1999 comedic coming-of-age film '' New Waterford Girl''. Most of the scenes in the movie were actually filmed in the town ofClubs, events and celebrations
New Waterford is home to many clubs & chapters, notably theDavis Day/Miners' Memorial Day
Davis Day/Miners' Memorial Day is a commemoration of the death of Cape Breton miner, and father of 10, William Davis. He was shot dead by the coal company security force at Waterford Lake during a mining strike on June 11, 1925. Davis was not participating in the protest, which took the form of a march from the company power plant (by Waterford Lake) and ended by the railroad tracks between Daley Road and May Street. He was shot along with two other men, Gilbert Watson, who was shot through the stomach, and lived with the bullet in him until the day he died in 1957, and another, Jack MacQuarrie received a bullet in the groin. Michael O'Hadley had been trampled by the horses while many other miners had received lesser injuries. Every year on June 11, miners across Nova Scotia abstain from working to commemorate Davis along with all miners who have died in the coal mines of Nova Scotia.Coal Bowl
New Waterford is the site of the annual Coal Bowl Classic basketball tournament, which brings in teams from all across Canada to compete in a week long event. The tournament, first held in 1981, takes place at Breton Education Centre in early February. In 2009, the Breton Education Centre Bears won the tournament for the first time lifting the "Coal Bowl curse". The original building of Breton Education Centre, which opened in September 1970, was closed in June 2024. A newer school was built next to it, and opened in September 2024, replacing the older building.Coal Dust Days
Coal Dust Days is a week-long community celebration, which first began in 1985, that takes place around the third week of July. The Coal Dust Days parade, Plummer Avenue Day, the pubcrawl tavern tour, and fireworks display are some of the many events that take place during the week.Further reading
* ''New Waterford Business History: The Complete Guide to New Waterford Businesses and their Owners from 1911–1927'' – Kevin McKague (2024) – * ''Labour Landmarks in New Waterford: Collective Memory in a Cape Breton Coal Town'' – Lachlan MacKinnon (2013) * ''Coal Black Heart: The Story of Coal and Lives it Ruled'' – John DeMont (2009) - * ''Blast: Cape Breton Coal Mine Disasters'' – Rennie MacKenzie (2007) – * ''That Bloody Cape Breton Coal – Stories of Mining Disasters in Everyday Life'' – Rennie MacKenzie (2004) – * ''In The Pit: A Cape Breton Coal Miner'' – Rennie MacKenzie (2001) - * ''Echoes From Labor's War'' – Dawn Fraser (1992, expanded 1999) – * ''Three Generations'' – Ted Boutillier (1988) * ''The Company Store: James Bryson McLachlan and the Cape Breton Coal Miners, 1900–1925'' – John Mellor (1984) – * ''New Waterford Three Score and Ten: Seventy Years of Civic History'' – Ted Boutillier (1983) * ''Miners and Steelworkers: Labour in Cape Breton'' (1976) – Paul MacEwan – * ''New Waterford Sixty : The Story of New Waterford, the Town, its Organizations and its People, 1913–1973'' – Ted Boutillier (1973) * ''The New Waterford Story, 1913–1963'' – Ted Boutillier (1963)References
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