Isla Cohen laying a wreath on behalf of the descendants of the explosion survivors Dec 6 2025. Her great grandfather Eric Davidson survived the blast when he was a toddler. Photo by Ally Bowes /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentA crowd gathered at Fort Needham Park Saturday morning to mark the 108th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion, a reminder of the day that transformed the city and brought it closer together. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe ceremony, led by Coun. Virgina Hinch (Halifax Peninsula North), opened with a land acknowledgement and the arrival of Lt.-Gov. Mike Savage and his wife, followed by a moment of silence before the laying of the wreaths by elected officials, emergency services and the descendants of the survivors. Article contentArticle contentArticle content“Nearly 2,000 lives were lost, thousands were injured, and the physical and emotional landscape of the city was forever changed,” Deputy Mayor Patty Cuttell (Spryfield-Sambro Loop) said. Article contentThe devastation swept across neighborhoods, and was compounded by fires, a tsunami and a blizzard on Dec. 6, 1917. Article contentAmongst the hardest hit areas were Africville and Turtle Grove, where the Mi’kmaq community “was nearly entirely devastated, its residents facing extraordinary loss of life, displacement and the erasure of close-knit community.” Article contentBut the deputy mayor said Halifax’s story is also one of resilience. Article content“Neighbours pulled neighbors from rubble. First responders, volunteers, and everyday citizens stepped forward. Help arrived from across Canada, from the United States, and from communities far beyond our shores,” Cuttell said. Article contentArticle content“It also underscored a critical truth that resilience is not an individual effort, but a collective one. It is built by community.” Article contentHistorian Dan Conlin recalled the medical response, with 10 trains of doctors and nurses from across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick coming to aid Halifax doctors with the thousands that were injured. Article content“The arrival of 10 trains from across Nova Scotia, bringing 60 more doctors, doubling the medical capacity of the city within one day, was the most critical response. response that the city needed,” he said. Article contentThe ceremony closed with a prayer from Rev. Ed Travers, who said “suffering builds perseverance. Perseverance brings character, and character brings hope.” Article contentAmongst those in attendance was Isla Cohen, who was there to honour her great-grandfather, Eric Davidson. Davidson survived the blast as a toddler, but was blinded by flying glass and later became a mechanic. Article contentShe said remembering the tragedy so many years later is not just to remember those that were lost, but also the support that formed. “I think they should always be remembered and that we should always keep their memory alive, no matter what, because it was a huge disaster, but it brought the community so much closer,” Cohen said. Article content
A city remembers: 108 years after the Halifax Explosion
