THANK You, Thank You, Thank You, for posting this historically & culturally important documentary! My dad (Leonard MacKinnon) worked there for over 40 yrs. He was active in the union, a spokeperson for the grievance Committee & eventually, president of the Supervisor's association. He passed away in 2007, in London, ON.
What a great tribute to the history and people of Sydney and the steel plant. Like any heavy industry city of its time, there were risks and side effects. But, the social fabric, diversity of people from many areas of the world, made Cape Breton's culture and heritage from which many of us are so proudly descended from today. Well done!
What a wonderful tribute to the history of Cape Breton Island. My Father's side are all part of the Italian community of settler's in Whitney Pier & also had history with the steel plant. My Uncles Atillio Mollica,Nunzio DeFlavio, still live there as do other family. Both had worked at the steel plant at one time. I look fwd to part 2!
I am so proud of the changes that have taken place and continue here. Seeing this video brings back many fond memories of the time I worked at Stelco in Hamilton several years ago. I guess pouring moten steel in an open hearth looks the same whethere it is Sydney Steel or Stleco, Dofasco or where ever.
I remember my father delivering scrap metal to the plant. The father-in-law worked there as well and some former coworkers. The local labor force really got burned with the tarpond cleanup, the person from Membertou hired people from away and paid them very well along with living expenses. I suspect there was something shady going on because none of the unskilled labor jobs were posted locally. That was a nepotism-job in my opinion. Typical cbrm stuff. Great video.
I sent this video to my dad who worked at Sydney Steel for 33 years until they shut it down. It is now 2014 and me and my dad drive through the area every week so he can just talk about those days. Although it is now a park area and being cleaned up, he remembers all the buildings and tells me where they once stood. A part of him died with the plant and his life has never been the same since. He is now 71 and he still curses the PC government for closing them down.
Its good to learn the history of Cape Breton and of Whitney Pier. I know of the Steel works from friends, but this is really interesting to see it from all the information and interview you have put together. Great work! Ive stayed in Whitney Pier with my Canadian friends, that past two summers. Im in the process of getting a visa to come and live and work in Sydney for a full year. A trail run if you will, my dream is to some day, immigrate to Cape Breton :) (Im a British Citizen. btw)
That tar is gonna be bubbling up in people's basements in the North End. There was a Mexican company who wanted to burn the tar and create ceramics with the byproduct that would then be sold but Sydney passed on their proposal because they felt the specialized furnace was too expensive. You can smell the tar in Muggah Creek on hot Summer days.
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THANK You, Thank You, Thank You, for posting this historically & culturally important documentary! My dad (Leonard MacKinnon) worked there for over 40 yrs. He was active in the union, a spokeperson for the grievance Committee & eventually, president of the Supervisor's association. He passed away in 2007, in London, ON.
My Grandfather Les Mombourquette worked on the plant for 40 years as well.
brings back some memories for sure. Working class Cape Breton made me much of what I am today. And I'm Damn proud of it.
What a great tribute to the history and people of Sydney and the steel plant. Like any heavy industry city of its time, there were risks and side effects. But, the social fabric, diversity of people from many areas of the world, made Cape Breton's culture and heritage from which many of us are so proudly descended from today. Well done!
What a wonderful tribute to the history of Cape Breton Island. My Father's side are all part of the Italian community of settler's in Whitney Pier & also had history with the steel plant. My Uncles Atillio Mollica,Nunzio DeFlavio, still live there as do other family. Both had worked at the steel plant at one time. I look fwd to part 2!
i am from the usa but have land in cape breaton near sydney, canada is a truly beutiful place i might move there when i get old enough
I am so proud of the changes that have taken place and continue here. Seeing this video brings back many fond memories of the time I worked at Stelco in Hamilton several years ago. I guess pouring moten steel in an open hearth looks the same whethere it is Sydney Steel or Stleco, Dofasco or where ever.
@gregbord Thanks so much for posting this and it makes me even prouder to call Sydney home whenever I watch a documentary about it.
“We had a united nations long before it was ever though to be”
That’s why I love Nova Scotia man
I remember my father delivering scrap metal to the plant. The father-in-law worked there as well and some former coworkers. The local labor force really got burned with the tarpond cleanup, the person from Membertou hired people from away and paid them very well along with living expenses. I suspect there was something shady going on because none of the unskilled labor jobs were posted locally. That was a nepotism-job in my opinion. Typical cbrm stuff.
Great video.
I sent this video to my dad who worked at Sydney Steel for 33 years until they shut it down. It is now 2014 and me and my dad drive through the area every week so he can just talk about those days. Although it is now a park area and being cleaned up, he remembers all the buildings and tells me where they once stood. A part of him died with the plant and his life has never been the same since. He is now 71 and he still curses the PC government for closing them down.
I trust that he remembers having a job...and not being on welfare which would happen if no entity made work
Its good to learn the history of Cape Breton and of Whitney Pier.
I know of the Steel works from friends, but this is really interesting to see it from all the information and interview you have put together. Great work!
Ive stayed in Whitney Pier with my Canadian friends, that past two summers.
Im in the process of getting a visa to come and live and work in Sydney for a full year.
A trail run if you will, my dream is to some day, immigrate to Cape Breton :)
(Im a British Citizen. btw)
I think about my father who worked at the steel plant. He passed when I was 5 years old from myeloid leukemia.
I'm terribly sorry for your loss.
Really good commentary!
an important part of history
Now when the wind is right we can smell the sewage in the harbour 😢
Trust me you don't want to smell the deadly cabbage scent.
my grandmother was born there she went to the first school house
Real cool
Thanks for the tar ponds 🤨
I tried to get people in government interested in a steel museum but they just wanted the plant gone.
It’s a little splash pad water park now, built over the tar ponds.
Probably a contributor to why NS has the highest cancer rate per population… that “pink smoke and cabbage smell”
That tar is gonna be bubbling up in people's basements in the North End. There was a Mexican company who wanted to burn the tar and create ceramics with the byproduct that would then be sold but Sydney passed on their proposal because they felt the specialized furnace was too expensive. You can smell the tar in Muggah Creek on hot Summer days.
@@scottcampbell5536 What a sin man
There wasn't too many people that didn't have family or friends working at the plant at some point.
What a shame the government would not allow it to be privately operated for profit.
She's a Pier Dear!
Sulphur Dioxide from coke ovens settled on cars and was Orange.
@lgkanary I agree, what wonderful history, what would Canada have done without US !!!!
What happened to the second part of this video?
my great grand father George MacEachren worked there and they wrote a book about him!! (Emily Andrews is NOT my real name )
@ajaywalkr my apologies ..my Uncle Nunzi's last name is spelled DiFlavio.
I'm trying to find out more of my home town Glace bay I'm going to grade 7 so I want to find out more about my town
Grew up in the pier and it was a shit hole then and still is now
Finally someone spitting fax. Now we suffer the health conditions from this damn plant.