The annual Miner’s Memorial weekend is returning to Cumberland from June 13 to 15. There are several events taking place over the weekend that are family friendly and admission is by donation.
Events include Songs of the Workers, a Pancake Breakfast, Graveside Vigil, Cumberland Chinese Cemetery Graveside Vigil, Community Cold Plate Lunch, Labour History Walking Tour with Marianne Bell, Labour History Songs and Workshop with Jon Bartlett and Rika Ruebsaat and Museum Tour (Labour History Highlights) with Dawn Copeman. See below for details.
Songs of the Workers on Friday, June 13, from 7:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Cumberland Cultural Centre in Buchanan Hall at 2687 Dunsmuir Ave. Back in the flesh, the Songs of the Workers concert event features local and visiting musicians sharing stories and music about workers and their lives – coal mines, textile factories, farms, kitchens, logging camps, fish plants, kitchens, assembly lines, picket lines, and unemployment lines. Work that builds us up and work that tears us down. The struggle, triumphs and tribulations of all our labours. All are welcome and will be accommodated until capacity is met. No registration is required for entry, DONATIONS will be accepted at the door. There will be a CASH BAR for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, June 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Cumberland Recreation Institute, 2665 Dunsmuir Ave. Start the day with ‘food for the people’, with its limited ingredients and short preparation time, the pancake has historically been a working-class food. This year the BCGEU’s Cross Component Committee will be serving up fluffy cakes to be buttered and soaked in syrup as desired. Admission & Breakfast is by donation.
Graveside Vigil on Saturday, June 14, begins at 10:30 a.m. at Cumberland Municipal Cemetery, 4441 Minto Road. This year, we look forward to hosting a gathering of people at the Cumberland Municipal Cemetery. The graveside vigil commemorates the lives lost in the Cumberland mines and pays tribute to those who fought on their behalf for safer working conditions and worker rights. There will be an opening welcome and short addresses from Union and community members, followed by the tradition of laying a bouquet on individual graves. This time-honoured tradition upholds the commitment to continue the fight for workers of today and commemorates the loss of individual lives, over 300 in Cumberland, and the challenges faced by the families whose loved ones never returned home after a day of work. Opening remarks start at 11:00 a.m.. A bouquet can be purchased for those intending to come on the day or for those who would like a volunteer to lay a bouquet in their honour. For any questions regarding the bouquets reach out to communications@cumberlandmuseum.ca.
This year’s bouquets will be crafted by Valley Home Meals, a local Comox Valley like-minded small business; 5 per cent of all flower sales go to Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation for Cancer. When you purchase your Miners Memorial Bouquet, your support moves beyond our event and lives on within our community.
Cumberland Chinese Cemetery Graveside Vigil on Saturday, June 14, begins at 12 noon at the Cumberland Chinese Cemetery, Union Road, Cumberland. Following the Cumberland Municipal Cemetery, please join us as we gather at the Cumberland Chinese Cemetery. The Japanese and Chinese cemeteries, sacred grounds bear witness to the profound contributions of these communities to Cumberland’s mining industry. Amidst the tranquil surroundings, we will take a moment to honor the memory of those who labored tirelessly, their sacrifices woven into the fabric of Cumberland’s history.
Community Cold Plate Lunch on Saturday, June 14 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Cumberland Cultural Centre (Buchanan Hall), 2674 Dunsmuir Ave. Join your comrades for a cold plate lunch. Lunch tickets are available for $15 (single meal ticket) and $25 (single meal ticket ‘In Support’). Please register for your lunch tickets in advance so our volunteer crew knows how many potatoes to peel! There will be a limited number of tickets available at the door. Buy meal tickets at cumberland-museum-archives.tickit.ca/events/29840.
Labour History Walking Tour with Marianne Bell on Saturday, June 14 at 3 p.m. at Cumberland Museum & Archives, 2680 Dunsmuir Ave. As you stroll along Dunsmuir Avenue, once bustling with miners and laborers, you’ll discover the hidden gems of labour history with local walking tour guide Marianne Bell. From the former union headquarters to the sites of pivotal strikes, each stop unveils a chapter of Cumberland’s vibrant past. Admission is by donation and collected at the Museum.
Labour History Songs and Workshop with Jon Bartlett and Rika Ruebsaat on Saturday, June 14, at 4 p.m. at Cumberland Museum & Archives, 2680 Dunsmuir Ave. Admission is by donation.
Museum Tour (Labour History Highlights) with Dawn Copeman on Sunday, June 15 at 11 a.m. at Cumberland Museum & Archives, 2680 Dunsmuir Ave.
