"Years ago, when coal was king, if you would not do the work because of safety - they would find somebody else who would."

During our interview, John Maximick went into detail explaining the methods of mining. The fact that you never had to worry about the weather was one benefit of working underground. It was always the same underground, no rain, snow, or heat to deal with in the summer.

Another thing he mentioned was that it was not seasonal work like logging and fishing. Although mining was not his first career choice he ended up very passionate about his work as a miner.

In 1944, John Maximick was sixteen years old, and mining in the Crowsnest Pass was slowing down, so the family left their home in Natal, now Sparwood BC. His mother and younger siblings were staying with an uncle in Fernie while his dad went to Cumberland to find work. Tom Shilton, John’s best friend, had gone there with his family just a few years earlier. Growing up in Puntledge he enjoyed the various community events which included team sports and the parades just to mention a few.

 John’s Story

“Dad rode the rails out from Fernie. There was no money for the bus, so he came by the freights from Crowsnest to Blairemore and then to Silverton. Silverton was hardrock, and hardrock was good money. Two dollars for a week’s work bought a loaf of bread and a garlic ring to carry on for another day or so. We do not know hard times like that.