Tartan and coal
A New Waterford man’s long wait for Donkin Mine to open
You could describe Steve Drake as a New Waterford man with blood of tartan and coal.
In 1994, Drake began what he describes as ‘the Steve Drake Road Show.’ It was a one-man battle, waged from Cape Breton to Ottawa, to get Donkin Mine opened. He fought the battle because of his love for Cape Breton and a unshakeable belief in the coal mining industry.
“I just kept going and wouldn’t stop,” he said.
Peace in his heart never came until 23 years later. He arrived at work on March 1 and saw the headline, ‘King Coal’ on the front page of The Cape Breton Post. Production had finally begun at Donkin Mine, bringing his lifelong quest to fruition.
“I was ecstatic,” he said. “I’ve been watching and waiting for this for more than two decades and said to myself, ‘Today is a good day.’
“One coal mining job creates at least three spinoff jobs in our economy
meaning Donkin will generate spending power from about 500 new jobs.”
He felt a rush of other emotions including sadness for his friends in the pit.
“I was so happy for Cape Breton but then sad for my friends as if it had opened back in the 1990s when it should have, a lot of the guys that didn’t get a retirement package would have gotten it.”
He also felt vindication towards those who said it would never happen, such as Devco management and the federal government.
“They did it for political aspirations and we know they were wrong.”
Drake is a third generation coal miner, with family members mining since 1912. He was 21 when he began working in the mines. He worked underground from 1977 until 1992 when Lingan was flooded and shut down. He also knew Phalen was having geological troubles.
“The other two mines were old and in jeopardy. Phalen mine wasn’t old
but they made it old really fast.”
In 1993 he was transferred to Prince Mine when he realized how deep the mine was and that it was operating on a shoestring budget. He said it was obvious a new mine was needed, a contingency plan in case something happened to
Prince or Phalen.
“I said, ‘Donkin is our future and no one disagreed.”
One day as he sat on the top level of Prince Mine having a sandwich with friend Davey Reashore. Drake told him he was going to take a run at a union position.
“He looked at me and said, “If you’re crazy enough to run I’m crazy enough to vote for you.”
In 1994, Drake was president elect for the United Mine Workers. One day he decided to jump the fence at the Donkin Mine.
“It was kind of eerie, nothing there but a few derelict buildings.”
Then he spotted the now infamous Donkin tunnels.
“I walked over and just stood there. The pot of black gold was right under my feet. My buddies needed this coal mine, without it King Coal is dead.”
Drake said it was the start of him becoming ‘a student of Donkin Mine.’
He read every geological report, engineering study and government document he could find and poured over microfiche newspaper reports at the Cape Breton University library.
“I questioned every person I could find who had even one iota of hands-on knowledge about the Donkin operation.”
Drake put together a contingency plan against the shutdown of coal operations and advocating for the opening of Donkin Mine.
Through 1994-1995 he met with two engineers who helped him put ‘The Drake Donkin plan’ together.
“I didn’t know them, called them cold, they put a plan together based on what I wanted to do and did it for free,” he said. “Two guys I really respect and am still friends with today.”
The Drake Donkin Plan was first unveiled at a press conference to show the public Donkin Mine was the saviour of the industry, laying out the plan to media and politicians and challenging Devco to get on board for the future of the industry.
“I did all the work, I was the spokesperson, the researcher and the chief researcher,” he said. The plan was a small scale Donkin operation at first, a room and pillar
with the long view to a full scale retreat mine, employing 60
experienced coal miners to prepare Donkin as a ready for action
contingency plan in the event anything happened to Prince or Phalen.
Then the Steve Drake Road Show began.
“I went on the road anywhere and everywhere and attended any meeting, hearing or legislative session where anyone would listen to me from Cape Breton to Ottawa
His first stop was to the retired miners at the Glace Bay Pensioners Club. Upwards of 30 presentations followed ranging from groups of 30 people to 1,500 packed in the Steelworkers hall. He hit local service organizations, and municipal offices.
“I went to Halifax and I went to Ottawa, stood before legislative and senate committees three or four times. I wouldn’t stop talking about Donkin Mine.”
When he heard senate hearings were going on, Drake talked the senate
into going underground at Phalen Mine to see what was going on.
Drake said in 1978 the federal government announced a $324 million plan to expand the coal industry, part of which included off-shore drilling ships to obtain core samples to verify the coal was of good quality. In the 1980s Donkin got the green light, and two tunnels were driven.
Then politics scuttle the dream.
Drake said the problem was the Liberal government spun a negative narrative about the Donkin Mine which was never true.
“Jean Chretien liberal government adopted the Brian Mulroney government’s agenda to shut down the coal industry and they did it.
“That was my view back then and is my view today.”
He said the coal at Donkin was tested and found to be top quality.
“But politics kicked in, political will vanished and suddenly the Donkin
dream was a victim of escalating negative narrative and stonewalling.
“In 1992 Devco let the tunnels flood. Donkin just sat there.”
Drake’s involvement in the coal mining industry continued. He followed anything happening in the Cape Breton coal industry including any meetings Xstrata held.
“I have every newspaper clipping of everything and anything to do with the coal mining industry, I never missed a thing.”
There was never a point he waved a white flag either.
“I never gave up on the idea that Donkin was an absolute necessity.”