The Halifax 103 years ago, the citizens of Halifax were about to have their lives changed forever. At fault, were two ships that collided just before 9:05 am on December Sixth, 1917. One ship was full of military bound for the first world war, but any extra precautions taken were still not enough. With miscommunication and bad timing both contributing factors, the Halifax Explosion added a catastrophic event to Canada’s history. The Halifax Explosion occurred on December Sixth, 1917 after a series of missteps led to the SS Mont-Blanc's and the SS Imo’s collision. 2000 people passed away, 9000 were hurt and many were maimed or blinded because of glass shards coming from broken windows. The time period of the accident wasn’t ideal, as they didn’t have as advanced structural systems as we do today, to ensure buildings were built properly. Over the years, many techniques have been introduced to the architectural community such as more accurate surveying systems and more advanced building supplies. Not only were there structural issues, but less advanced medical staff, firefighters, and water rescue teams. Improved medical treatments that have wiped out deadly diseases and more comprehensive care, are both examples of how time has brought innovation to the future in this category. Throughout the past century, technology has helped the staff working in these jobs to improve their work environments, the supplies used, and it has helped them find a way to do their job quickly and more effectively. Although at the time of the explosion many people would’ve been frozen in fear, a man named Vincent Coleman wasn’t one of them. Even though he had a daughter and a wife, he decided to risk his safety to stop a train carrying over 300 people from arriving at Halifax right at the time of the explosion. He was an ordinary dispatcher who worked in a small wooden station in the middle of the Richmond rail yards. His job was to control the massive rail traffic generated by the busy wartime harbour of Halifax. He sent orders to the countless trains delivering freight into the ship filled wharves. Once Coleman had heard the news about the ships from a frantic colleague, he became overly worried about train number ten, an overnight train coming from St John’s . He sent a message to the train which according to the Canadian Encyclopedia is along the lines of “Hold up the train, ammunition ship afire in the harbour, making for Pier Six, and will explode. Guess this will be my last message, goodbye boys.” Vincent Coleman’s simple message was sent at the expense of his own safety. Although the Halifax Explosion was very tragic, it gave heroic figures the chance to rise to the occasion and safe hundreds of lives. Almost immediately after the accident medical relief trains and donations started pouring in from all over the world. From Eastern Canada, to the North Eastern United States, these trains were filled with nurses, medical supplies, food, blankets, and repair men and women. The first trains to arrive were from Nova Scotia, Montreal and Ottawa. Not all these trains were able to make it to Halifax as easy as it seems, as the railroad tracks around the area of the accident were thoroughly destroyed, and uncontrollable weather would’ve caused train tracks to be slippery and cold. Once the relief trains had finally arrived, they immediately set up over 400 tents, with floors, blankets, heating and beds as well as over 40 pop up hospitals. To this day Halifax is overly grateful for all the donations, so much that they send a Christmas tree every year as thanks for their efforts. These relief trains helped Canada and the world learn to help a city in need of assistance. Below is a chart of how much certain cities donated at the time of the disaster and how much that equals in today's value.

Who Donated the Money 1917 Value 2008/ More Recent Value Canadian Government $8 000 000 $129.4 million Great Britain $5 000 000 $80.9 million United States (Congress) $5 000 000 $80.9 million Australia $250 000 $4.1 million New Zealand $50 000 $0.8 million

Not everyone caught in the blast of the explosion died, but many still suffered serious injuries. Hundreds of people had to have dangerous operations done on their eyes, since glass shards coming from broken windows left them permanently blinded. In the days following the accident, twelve ophthalmologists helped 592 people suffering from eye injuries, as well as preformed 249 enucleations, (getting your eyes removed). After the forerunner of the Canadian National Institute of the Blind, (CNIB) or previously known as the Canadian Free Library for the Blind, heard about the news, they started to raise money for Halifax’s relief. With Nova Scotia already a North American leader in care for the blind, the company saw potential and learning opportunities in what had happened. The combination of the mass blinding and the knowledge gained by caring for returning soldiers, led to the founding of the CNIB in 1918, one year after the explosion. Today, the CNIB helps people to learn braille and to knit and help them with their overall independence so that they can return to their regular lives. One of the most important skills that is quite essential in becoming the captain of a ship is communication. But, in the case of the Halifax Explosion, this is something that the captains of the SS Mont-Blanc and the SS Imo were lacking. The SS Imo was departing the harbour, and had emerged from the and was travelling south through the Narrows, which is the harbour’s tightest navigation section. The Imo’s path required incoming ships to pass on its right side, rather than it’s left. The Imo had a well experienced captain aboard who knew the rules well, however, recent encounters had resulted in the unusual positioning of the Imo right in the Mont-Blanc's path. Neither of the captains were held at fault for the collision, but serious changes were made to ship communication systems such as the automation of ship to shore communication and VHF technology. At the time of the accident, the radios were having trouble accessing other ships that were certain distances away, which is why VHF (Very High Frequency) technology was introduced to the survival radio systems for World War Two. Survival radios today also come with built in Global Positioning Systems or as we call it GPS. All of these high-tech discoveries and adaptations have helped today’s ship Captains ensure that collisions only happen on very rare occasions. The aftermath of the explosion left the citizens of Halifax shocked and scared. But not only did it affect the people involved, but as well as the soil, water, and climate around the main area of the incident. Climate change caused by explosives would’ve affected water temperatures, which in the long run, could lead to changes in coastal ecosystems, affecting the species that inhabited those areas. Climate change can also affect sea levels and change the frequency and intensity of storms, as well as an increase in precipitation. Certain explosives can also produce radiation, so when the cloud of smoke from the explosion gets pushed around by the wind, it picks up soil and water. This fallout can cause far-reaching environmental damage. Although the Halifax explosion didn’t cause the whole world’s climate change by itself, it’s reoccurring events such as this that are a big contributing factor. The Halifax Explosion was an unfortunate event that was caused by miscommunication and bad timing. Many cities were able to send in their efforts, for hope of relief, which limited the long-term effects of injuries from lack of medical supplies and doctors. But with 2000 dead and 9000 injured, it is something that will always be remembered in Canada’s heritage.