In 1984, at the, since closed down Falconbridge Mine, a rock burst claimed the lives of 4 local miners. Their names are Richard Chenier, Daniel Lavallee, Sulo Korpela and Wayne St. Michel.
A burst which could be felt across the Geater Region of Sudbury. On Monday, June 20th the Local Sudbury Mine, Mill & Smelters Workers’ Union, Local 598/UniFOR, continue to honour these men and miners 38 years later at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch.
It’s a memory that will continue to live on in the hearts of all of Sudbury.
We heard from a variety of speakers, such as Mine Mill Local 598 president Eric Boulay, Sudbury MPP Jamie West, and Rick Grylls, a past president of the Mine Mill Local 598/Unifor union, as a few.
As more speakers took the stage to share stories, experiences, and the growth of Workers Memorial Day since 1984, each and every heart filled with solidarity four the fallen four.
What happened…
On June 20, 1984, a seismic event measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale struck Falconbridge Mine around 10:12 a.m. The rock burst claimed the lives of Wayne St. Michel, Sulo Korpela, Richard Chenier and Daniel Lavallee.
Some 200 miners were in the mine at the time. Three – Daniel Lavallee, Sulo Korpela, and Wayne Chenier – were killed outright, but a fourth – Wayne St. Michel – was alive, but trapped.
Some 27 hours later, just minutes from being rescued, St. Michel died. More than 50 people were involved in the rescue effort that had to be halted at times due to aftershocks or tremors.
Falconbridge Mine never re–opened. The rock burst was so powerful it was felt in many parts of Sud bury, including the downtown.
Workers’ Memorial Day was created by the union to mark the deaths of the four Falconbridge miners who died that fateful day at Falconbridge Mine, No. 5 shaft at the 4,000–foot level.
-Eric Boulay President
View Photos from Sudbury star here.