In 2026, Miners Memorial Weekend proudly marks its 40th anniversary. For four decades, this community-led gathering has brought together locals, visitors, unions, artists, and activists to remember the miners who lost their lives and to reflect on the ongoing struggle for safe, just, and healthy workplaces everywhere.
Working in continued solidarity, we once again join with the Campbell River, Courtenay, and District Labour Council to host this year’s commemorations. A solemn graveside vigil and the laying of bouquets remain at the heart of the weekend — a moving reminder that remembrance is an active commitment, not just a moment in time.
To honour this milestone year, we’re also adding a little extra celebration and connection. Alongside traditional ceremonies, the weekend will offer music, food, tours, and storytelling — inviting visitors to experience Cumberland not just as a historic site, but as a living, values-driven community.
Honouring Workers Yesterday & Today
Nestled in the heart of the Comox Valley, Cumberland’s rugged beauty is matched only by its powerful labour history. Once home to some of the most dangerous coal mines in Canada, the community lost more than 300 miners to workplace accidents, with countless others affected by work-related illness. These conditions sparked a movement — one rooted in solidarity, resistance, and the fight for dignity at work. Today, Cumberland remains a globally significant place in the story of workers’ rights.
12 Jun 2026
6pm - 10pm
Songs of the Workers
Cumberland Cultural Center
Friday night’s SONGS OF THE WORKERS takes place at the Cumberland Cultural Centre. Saturday features a PANCAKE BREAKFAST, COLD PLATE LUNCH, and a GUIDED LABOUR HISTORY WALKING TOUR. Additional program details to follow!
New this year, we invite you to deepen your experience through cumberlandhistory.ca, our new digital museum. This online resource offers expanded research, stories, and archival material highlighting the people and movements that shaped Cumberland’s labour legacy and Miners Memorial Weekend itself — before, during, and beyond the events.
Whether you come to remember, to learn, to connect, or to stand in solidarity, Miners Memorial Weekend offers a meaningful way to engage with Cumberland’s past — and its future.
Support Miners Memorial Weekend
Honour the past. Strengthen the future.
Miners Memorial Weekend is made possible through community support. Your donation helps us preserve Cumberland’s labour history, host inclusive and accessible events, and continue the work of remembrance, education, and advocacy for workers’ rights.
Donate through CanadaHelps. Every contribution — large or small — supports:
- Educational programming and historical preservation
- Community events and cultural activities
- Ongoing advocacy for safe and healthy workplaces
Thank you for standing with us in solidarity.
Lay a Bouquet
Purchase a fairtrade bouquet on behalf of an individual, organization, or union, to be laid during the graveside ceremony. Proceeds support the Cumberland Museum & Archives.
