Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 26, 2013 -- Today, Mr. Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, in the name of the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, honoured the efforts of Canadians in the recovery of victims of the RMS Titanic disaster. Mr. Kerr unveiled a commemorative plaque to recognize the key role that Canadians played in recovering the victims as an event of national interest.
“It’s human compassion that we’re honouring,” said Mr. Kerr. “The lesser-highlighted parts of the Titanic disaster, the victim identification, transport and burial preparations, are those in which Canadians brought comfort to the families that lost their loved ones.”
The British passenger liner RMS Titanic, billed as the “unsinkable ship,” left Southampton, England on April 10, 1912 with more than 2200 passengers on board. Four days later, the ocean liner struck an iceberg off the coast of Canada and sank the following day, April 15, 1912, in the early hours of the morning.
Halifax played a pivotal role, by becoming the base of the recovery for the RMS Titanic. Within days of the disaster, the cable ship CS Mackay-Bennett from Halifax was chartered by the Titanic’s owner, the White Star Line, to recover victims. Shortly thereafter, the cable ship Minia and the Canadian Government lighthouse supply ship Montmagny departed Halifax. The sealing vessel Algerine from St. John’s, Newfoundland, followed. The bodies retrieved by these ships were prepared for burial at sea or transported to Halifax for burial.
“When tragedy arrived on its shore, Halifax did not shy away from its responsibility to the victims and to their families,” said Minister Kent. “Its people prepared the bodies of the deceased, to return them to their families with dignity. Its churches held religious and burial services. Its cemeteries bear the graves. And in this museum, as well as many others, artefacts and exhibits help visitors understand the important actions of Canadians in the chronicle of the Titanic and the mark left on Halifax.”
Of the more than 300 bodies recovered by Canadian seaman, 119 were buried at sea, and 59 bodies were sent home. The remaining 150 victims were buried in three Halifax cemeteries: Mount Olivet, Baron de Hirsch, and Fairview Lawn Cemetery. The majority of the victims, 121 in all, rest at Fairview Lawn Cemetery.
Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at Canada’s treasured natural and historic places.
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