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In this series, we celebrate the life of the late Gerry Stephenson (1931-2019), a former chief engineer and assistant general manager for the coal mines in Canmore from 1968 to 1974. Before then, Gerry worked in the mines in the UK and in India. Mining was his passion and his life. A terrific storyteller, Gerry brought to life his rich experiences to all that would listen. He was an avid gardener and fisherman. Gerrywas responsible for the creation of Quarry Lake and Canmore Creeks recreation areas and inspired others to get involved in the future of Canmore. Stephenson was a living historical resource in the community and led over 1,000 visitors on a tour of the Canmore mine sites for the Canmore Museum before he passed away in 2019. This series is made possible with the financial support of the estate of Gerry Stephenson and his close friend Kay Anderson as a tribute to this remarkable individual.
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Introduction
In this series, we celebrate the life of the late Gerry Stephenson (1931-2019), a former chief engineer and assistant general manager for the coal mines in Canmore from 1968 to 1974. Before then, Gerry worked in the mines in the UK and in India. Mining was his passion and his life. A terrific storyteller, Gerry brought to life his rich experiences to all that would listen. He was an avid gardener and fisherman. Gerrywas responsible for the creation of Quarry Lake and Canmore Creeks recreation areas and inspired others to get involved in the future of Canmore. Stephenson was a living historical resource in the community and led over 1,000 visitors on a tour of the Canmore mine sites for the Canmore Museum before he passed away in 2019. -
Episode 1 | The Early Years, 1931 to 1951
Gerry reflects on his upbringing as a lad in the UK and his experiences in school and sport. -
Episode 2 | Experiences in UK Coal Mining, 1951 to 1960
Following family tradition, Gerry began his mining career working deep underground. In this episode he talks about some close calls and then moving up the ranks into a management position. -
Episode 3 | A Mine Manager in India, 1960 to 1963
Gerry’s early experiences managing a coal mine in India was an eye-opener for him. Working conditions were markedly different from those in the UK and there were also challenges with the labour unions. -
Episode 4 | Challenges and Adventures in India, 1963 to 1965
Despite the challenges of running a large mining operation, Gerry had a strong connection to the people. And of course there was more adventure. This episode includes some of Gerry’s favorite India stories. -
Episode 5 | A New Life in Canmore, 1968
After leaving India and gaining management experience in several other mining operations, Gerry was drawn to Canmore with the prospect of a Chief Engineer job at Canmore Mines. The job and the location were a perfect fit for Gerry and he relocated with his family to what was then, a small mining town in the Rockies. -
Episode 6 | - Shakespeare, Opera and Personal Heroes
In this episode Gerry reflects on people who have had a major influence on his life and also talks about his introduction to opera and a lifelong love for it. -
Episode 7 | A Mining Lamp Collection
Gerry’s collection and knowledge of mining lamps is impressive. In this episode he shows a number of examples and how the technology has changed over the last 100 years.
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