When Coal Was King: Ladysmith and the Coal-Mining Industry on Vancouver Island

The town of Ladysmith was one of the most important coal-mining communities on Vancouver Island during the early twentieth century. The Ladysmith miners had a reputation for radicalism and militancy and engaged in bitter struggles for union recognition and economic justice, most notably the Great Strike of 1912-14. This strike, one of the longest and most violent labour disputes in Canadian history, marked a watershed in the history of the town and the coal industry.

This book explains the origins of the 1912-14 strike by examining the development of the coal industry on Vancouver Island, the founding of Ladysmith, the experience of work and safety in the mines, the process of political and economic mobilization, and how these factors contributed to the development of identity and community.

The Island coal industry and the strike have been the subject of a number of popular histories, but no scholarly work exists. Although the book is driven by current academic debates and archival research, it will be of interest to both historians and a broader reading public.