US EditionNova Scotia strike that turned deadly a century ago a milestone for workers’ rights
- On June 11, 1925, William Davis, a coal miner from New Waterford, Nova Scotia, who was actively involved in a union and had nine children, was fatally shot by company police during a protest march of striking miners.
- The strike erupted after the British Empire Steel Corporation cut miners' wages, withdrew credit from company stores, and evicted unionized miners from company homes, escalating tensions in Cape Breton's coal communities.
- The violent attack by special constables lasted less than fifteen minutes and left Davis dead and several others wounded, igniting one of Canada's most brutal labour conflicts.
- On June 14, 1925, Davis was honored with the largest funeral in New Waterford’s history, attended by around 5,000 people, and within the same year, a union convention designated June 11 as Davis Day.
- Davis Day remains a significant annual remembrance in Nova Scotia that inspires labour solidarity and highlights ongoing struggles for workers’ rights, including paid sick days and living wages in 2025.
19 Articles
19 Articles
2025 marks 100 years since William Davis was killed, sparking changes in coal mining
Coal mining communities are remembering William Davis on the 100th anniversary of his death. The father of 10 was killed on June 11, 1925, during a strike in Cape Breton over better wages and working conditions. His legacy inspired Miners' Memorial Day and ushered in a new era of Canadian labour relations policies. The CBC's Erin Pottie reports.
Strike that turned deadly a century ago a milestone for workers' rights
During Nova Scotia's storied 300-year history of coal mining, one deadly riot in 1925 proved to be pivotal for workers' rights in Canada. One hundred years ago today, William Davis - a 37-year-old Cape Breton coal miner and father of nine - was shot to death by a special constable hired by the Briti...
Standing the Gaff: One hundred years of Davis Day and the militant legacy of Cape Breton’s coal miners
One hundred years ago, on June 11, 1925, company police gunned down William “Bill” Davis, a 37-year-old unionized coal miner and father of nine, in the woods near Waterford Lake outside New Waterford, Cape Breton while he was participating in a march of striking coal miners. This week marks the 100th anniversary of William Davis
Nova Scotia strike that turned deadly a century ago a milestone for workers’ rights
HALIFAX — During Nova Scotia’s storied 300-year history of coal mining, one deadly riot in 1925 proved to be pivotal for workers’ rights in Canada. One hundred years ago today, William Davis — a 37-year-old Cape Breton coal miner and father of nine — was shot to death by a special constable hired by the British Empire Steel Corporation (BESCO) — a monopoly mine owner that had repeatedly turned to violence to end strikes over poor wages and unsaf…
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