06/11/2026
🖤⛏️ Davis Day ⛏️🖤
Today, we remember William Davis and honour the generations of miners whose sacrifices helped shape the rights and protections workers enjoy today.
In the years leading up to 1925, Cape Breton miners faced difficult working conditions, low wages, and growing tensions with the British Empire Steel Corporation (BESCO). When miners went on strike in an effort to secure fair treatment, the conflict escalated. On June 11, 1925, during a confrontation between striking miners and company police in New Waterford, William Davis, a miner and a father of nine, was shot and killed.
His death became a rallying cry for workers across the region and a lasting symbol of the struggle for fairness, safety, and dignity in the workplace. Each year, Cape Bretoners gather on Davis Day to remember not only William Davis, but all miners who fought for a better future for their families and communities.
Today, we reflect on their courage, resilience, and solidarity. Their legacy continues to live on in our communities and in the stories we share.
A memorial will be held today at 10:00am at Miners Park in Sydney Mines.
