The Halifax Explosion: A Canadian History Minute

The following spot was produced by Canadian broadcasters in an effort to rescue Canada's history from the depredations of deadly dull historians; the Pop Culture Institute celebrates any effort by anyone to make history interesting even if, as is the case with this clip, the events don't quite match the historical record...

Vince Coleman has long been considered one of the heroes of the disaster; had he abandoned his post for safety the death toll could have been much higher. The fact that his post was located in the middle of the railyard, not next to a busy downtown street as is shown here is almost beside the point. Coleman's heroism - as depicted in this Heritage Minute and in the miniseries Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion - was considerable, and he perished when the Halifax Explosion destroyed the city's Richmond Station.
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