Editor:
On the occasion of Miners Day and its growing generational parade, there was one unable to join the Main Street flow of ages.
His statue on elevated pose looked over the passing heads as it has done to passersby and admirers since 2008, fixed stare across the street to the wall of concrete and glass. He deserves better.
Over the years, alternative sites were proposed, but his boots remained rooted with the affection of familiarity. Once again with block development his destiny is in question. If only he and his work buddies of old could be asked. It is unlikely they would want to create a flurry in the community.
To the powers that be, if the statue represents the image of miners past, rescue him from his glassy stare across to bricks and mortar and provide a glimmer of reality. If the statue is to be moved, for even one little inch, it can be turned 20 degrees westwards, to a wider streetscape view of town centre and that immense line of vision to the horizon above rooftops to the skyline broken by the far-off mountain summit of Miners Peak.
There, deep below ground was the place of toil, now trodden above year-round by trekkers on the trail shared to Ha Ling Peak, its trailhead plaque dedicated to the mining community.
Preserve that imaginary direct contact line of vision wherever and whenever moved. The miner’s eyes will seem to brighten at the start of this day.
Doug Campbell,
Canmore
