halifax

3 articles

Dec6

1917What was the largest man-made explosion prior to the Atomic Bomb being unleashed on Hiroshima?

On the morning of December 6, 1917, Halifax, Nova Scotia, became the site of the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. A collision in the harbour between the French munitions ship S.S. Mont-Blanc and the Belgian relief vessel S.S. Imo led to a blast that killed over a thousand people instantly and injured thousands more, with devastation spanning both Halifax and its twin city, Dartmouth. The explosion’s force, equivalent to 2,600 tonnes of TNT, blew part of Mont-Blanc’s anchor shaft more than 2.35 miles and was heard as far away as Prince Edward Island, 200 miles distant. Halifax’s rebuilt Hydrostone neighborhood and the annual 50-foot Christmas tree sent to Boston stand today as powerful reminders of this tragedy and the resilience of its survivors.

Jan1

1862Who was named the first matron of the Canadian Army Medical Corps and was also Canada's first recipient of the Royal Red Cross?

Georgina Fane Pope, born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, became the first matron of the Canadian Army Medical Corps and the first Canadian to receive the prestigious Royal Red Cross. Renowned as "Canada’s Florence Nightingale," she led military nurses in the South African War and later played a pivotal role in training over 3,100 nurses for service during the First World War. In 1903, Pope’s exceptional bravery and leadership were recognized as she became the first Canadian decorated with the Royal Red Cross, established by Queen Victoria. Her enduring legacy is celebrated in monuments, museum exhibits, and even a commemorative coin marking her 150th birthday.

Jul17

1860What is considered the only Crimean War monument in North America?

The Welsford-Parker Monument, standing at the entrance of Halifax’s Old Burying Ground, is the only Crimean War memorial known in North America. Erected in 1860, it commemorates two Nova Scotian officers, Major Augustus Frederick Welsford and Captain William Buck Carthew Augustus Parker, who died in the fierce Battle of the Great Redan during the Siege of Sevastopol. The imposing free-stone arch, crowned by a (somewhat diminutive) British lion, features the names of six key Crimean battles and was funded by public subscription and a government grant. In 2025, the monument marks its 165th anniversary, still serving as a poignant tribute to Halifax’s role in this distant war and the sacrifice of its fallen sons.