The Cassiar Road
Cassiar was a small company-owned asbestos mining town located in the Cassiar Mountains of Northern British Columbia in western Canada. After forty years of operation, starting in 1952, the mine was unexpectedly forced to close in 1992. Most employees were laid off. Efforts to attract new purchasers to keep the mine running company failed so in September 1992 the town, mine and mill infrastructure was auctioned off. The closure was driven by a combination of factors including diminished demand for asbestos and expensive complications faced after converting from an open-pit mine to an underground mine. Most of the contents of the town, including a few houses, were sold off and trucked away. Most of the houses were bull-dozed and burned to the ground in this resource town north of Dease Lake. The mill was briefly reactivated in 1999 by Cassiar Chrysotile Inc which had a reclamation permit to clean up the site. 11,000 tons of asbestos were exported before the mill burned down on Christmas Day of 2000, effectively halting all production. Cassiar was once the largest town in British Columbia north of Fort Nelson, with a population approaching 2,000, its own store, school, hospital, churches and recreation facilities and set in a beautiful alpine valley 100 miles southwest of Watson Lake, Yukon. Asbestos had been known in the area by white men since 1872 and the local Indians had known for centuries that the mountain sheep bedded down on the yellowish-white "fluff" at the north end of Mount McDame. The established asbestos companies in Quebec, Johns-Mannville and Asbestos Corporation thought the deposit too remote, as did ASARCO. Conwest however, recognized the potential of the iron-free long fibre, and in the spring of 1951, began to develop the mine and bring to production, against a monopolistic market, in one of the most inaccessible and remote areas of Canada, the high-grade Cassiar Asbestos Mine. The mine is on the top of a mountain in northern B.C. at 6,000 feet elevation, 86 miles south of Mile 648 on the Alaska Highway and 100 road miles from Watson Lake, Yukon. By 1953 the property was in production. From the beginning it was realized that to maintain a stable work force in this isolated area, provision must be made for married staff. At first the open pit mine was operated only in the summer and ore was stockpiled to feed the mill through the winter but as markets increased it became more economical to operate the mine all year. The product was marketed through Bell Asbestos of Thetford Mines, Quebec, a subsidiary of asbestos manufacturer Turner & Newall of England, whose supply of fibre from South Africa was diminishing. From Whitehorse, the fibre in pallets went by White Pass & Yukon Railway to Skagway, Alaska, then by freighter to Asbestos Wharf in North Vancouver and from there to markets all over the world. For more about the town of Cassiar, check out the website, www.cassiar.ca/home/home.htm . For current information on asbestos, the hazards of exposure and to learn how you can help prevent asbestos-related disease, link to and join the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an independent organization founded in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is the largest victims' organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education and legislation. ADAO's mission includes supporting global advocacy and advancing asbestos awareness, prevention, early detection, treatment, and resources for asbestos-related disease. For more information visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org. This is clipped from the 1960 film "The Cassiar Road (the story of a mine on a mountain top)." Sponsored by the Cassiar Asbestos Company, the film shows the sponsor's asbestos mines in British Columbia, including showing mining and milling operations, grading, packing and transport to the docks in Skagway, Alaska. The mining and milling operations in British Columbia began in 1953. They ceased operations in 1992, when it went the Company went bankrupt and subsequently dissolved. Cassiar did not itself manufacture or sell any finished products. Instead it sold the raw asbestos fibers to manufacturers, including companies such as Johns-Manville, Fibreboard, and CertainTeed.
Пікірлер: 59
I worked there for 7 years. Lot's of great memories. Met my first wife there also.
Breaks my hear. All the people who have died from asbestos related cancer. My father was one of them. All for the greed of companies. All these men were trying to do is provide for their families. So sad, I wish I would give them all their full lives back.
@xr6lad
3 жыл бұрын
The sad thing was the danger was well known when this film was made. We had the same issue in Australia. People should have worn masks - I would have even bought my own although you can’t wear it in the home and it would have been all over town.
@1966cambo
3 жыл бұрын
@@xr6lad I am not sure they had filters good enough for the tiny asbestos fibres. My dad also died of Mesothelioma, didn’t look like much fun......
@jeffmelchior8573
3 жыл бұрын
My dad worked in Cassiar and always swore the risk of asbestos was overrated (to be fair, he lived a good long life of 82 years).
@Indeewoods
2 жыл бұрын
@@jeffmelchior8573 did you ever ask him if others lived as long who worked there or was it rare to not have health problems?
@danielfantino1714
Жыл бұрын
Isn´t freaking to see employees filling bags with that cotton look falling on floor, sticking to bag. Imagine fine particles floating in the air, sticking to hairs and skins in summer heat... This document is an hisyorical one that can not being reproduced today....at least not with asbestos. And the lady "combing" samples just under her n'ose. Congrats to all those anonymous workers, and sorry for their illness and death.
I admire the video for telling us what happened in the past, when people toiled for a living, perhaps not realizing the dangers. The mountains while beautiful would have had landslides, sudden floods. The film gave the beautiful side but avoided telling of the heartbreaks.
It was interesting to know how and why the road was built. But hard to see all the folks working it and to realize most if not all died a horrible death from lung cancer caused by it. I have driven the road a couple times and loved it. It is a great story. Thank you for sharing it.
I lived in Dease Lake in the mid 80's. We used to go to Cassiar for the bank and the grocery market. Other than that, we avoided Cassiar as you drove by a huge tailings pile on the way into town. You went into the market with a clean car, and came out to a car with green dust all over it. I hated to think what it was doing to our lungs. Luckily, I have no effects from living near it and going there. No loss when the town died.
@thatguycarmine1
3 жыл бұрын
Thousands think differently
@dougabbott8261
3 жыл бұрын
I have heard similar stories from others about the dust hanging over the town, how many grew up and suffered. A big problem or little I do not know.
@timkaczmarowski8151
6 ай бұрын
@@thatguycarmine1in the end what good was it, none
Very informative video, but yes the dangers of asbestos is to real. Lost a friend to asbestosis at an early age. He worked in the boiler house in a pulp mill, and even back in the late 70's proper PPE was not mandatory, and being a young kid starting out you just did what you were told, crawling around in that contaminated environment. He ended up getting a settlement from the company, but that didn't stop the process of dying early.
They titled this the building of the road yet nothing of the road (The Cassiar Highway) is in the movie. This is just a company public relations film.
We lived there over a year, worked at the hospital, my husband was electrician working at the construction of a new school at 1991. We have a wonderful memories.Our friend Gigi was taking us for hiking and gold search. Visiting Stewart big Glacier, Hyder Alaska and many more unforgettable places. I got pregnant there with my first son. He is 32 years old now. This town was like one big family. Remember that people didn’t locked their houses. Was so trusting and safe. Great Party every weekend at the restaurant owned by Ida, Derek and Tim( great people)
The way we used to make documentaries with that 1950s background music is a relic from the past now.
@timkaczmarowski8151
6 ай бұрын
surprised documentary now doesnt do more mock docs in this style, they could probably do a black comedy one that directly rips off this vid
Such a wonderful, soft, strong, insulating, resilient and fire proof material. Too bad that it kills.
@Buzzard1
4 жыл бұрын
Cassiar asbestos (green) was the least harmful. Asbestos (blue) from Asbestos Quebec was was the really bad stuff.
@EskimoCanadian44
3 жыл бұрын
Too good to be true.
@junglejim5785
2 жыл бұрын
@@Buzzard1 What is the difference John? And what makes the blue more dangerous?
It was cool seeing a tram line in action!! Wish there were more videos of these mines when they were open
I used to live here when my Dad worked at the mine - so long ago but I remember the snow!
@1966cambo
3 жыл бұрын
Did your dad suffer any health effects from working there?
A friend of mine named axel worked as a surveyor at this mine in the 1990's. He liked it there. The Cassiar company hid the facts that asbestos caused silicosis of the lungs. This was known from reseach at the Quebec Asbestos industry. Anything for money!
@wheressteve
Жыл бұрын
Shovelling in human life to extract dollars.
love to see a video of Tahsis Vancouver Island 1950's 60's one way in one way out Boat mom dad lived there with sister/ brother/ and I think me as an Infant mill town on the west coast of V/I my Sister my mother my brother my father have all passed away 66 yr old only one left still have pictures of Tahsis
Watching the poor guys in the main plant. Bagging and checking the machines. A shame. Little did they or anyone know.
@xr6lad
3 жыл бұрын
Ummm actually Asbestosis was well known from the 1920’s and 1930’s. Aka ‘miners disease’. So yes they would have known but neither the company, them, government or the unions did little about protecting workers.
@central3425
Жыл бұрын
@@xr6lad Information was suppressed in the name of profits. Just like the cigarette industry
My step Grandfather Hiram Nelson discovered these asbestos deposits whilst on propecting\hunting trip.
An incredible process, spectacular scenery.. it turns out nature wasn't so good in supplying the wonder mineral.. breathe deep.. ahhhh! cough cough.. poor buggers that unwittingly traded their health and lives in the early years for cash.
My husband rode that highway many times with his dad to sell fresh vegetables and grocery products in the mining town. Fond memories
Wonder how many died inhaling that stuff. And probably no compensation.
@wheressteve
Жыл бұрын
Most of them and not very much.
I lived in Meziadin Lake in the early 80's.I remember the Arrow Transport B Train trucks that used to transport the ore from that mine to Stewart night and day rolling down highway 37
If they only knew then how they all condemned themselves to what must have been multiple agonizing cancers.
The comment section is something else yo.
Asbestos still a problem today. I wonder if the workers were getting sick at the time, and how much concern was being displayed to the company and unions. Jade is big in that area , I wonder how much was mined and tossed as a waste product.
@WhiteCavendish
3 жыл бұрын
Apparently a LOT, because I've read indications that they are currently mining jade out of the massive tailings pile at Cassiar!
Can't imagine having to work in such a toxic environment with asbestos in the air everywhere. I suspect most of the folks who unknowingly worked or lived in this area have ultimately suffered asbestos related ailments or worse.
@EskimoCanadian44
3 жыл бұрын
Even today millions of people worldwide work in and around toxic substances daily and are completely unaware of the risks they are taking on their bodies. Not necessarily ACMs (Asbestos Containing Materials) but a range of other chemical compounds that should be avoided at all costs.
Gosh! I wanna join the asbestos industry!
@central3425
Жыл бұрын
Company propaganda at its finest
@wheressteve
Жыл бұрын
All that and free cigarettes too !!!
I was hoping to see the building of the hwy and why. Not a dam promo video. Think about your title from now on!
I swear I can *HEAR* the lung cancer growing. You might think that's just static, but let me tell you..
put this vid on to learn about the road, found a nice little history of area gold mining then "another type of gold mine" and i thought what? copper? nickel? iron? asbestos!!! oh shit this just turned into a horror film, sad waste of the land and people
Its all gone now. Ghosts of the past
@timkaczmarowski8151
6 ай бұрын
shame it ever existed in the first place
Wonder how many people died from their job here
Them workers are just sucking up the Cancer
give the natives their mountains back
All I see when I watch this is a sad parade of future cancer victims and a fat cat at an oak desk surrounded by stacks of cash.