Friends of the Morden Mine

Welcome to the Friends of the Morden Mine website. We are a non-profit society dedicated to the preservation of the most complete above-ground remains of an historic coal mine on Vancouver Island. The concrete remains of the head frame, 75 feet ( 23 m.) tall, and tipple are located in Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park in South Wellington, just south of Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Since the society was formed in 2003, we have been actively promoting awareness of the need for preservation of the structures, which were built in 1913, and also the history of Morden Colliery and the men who worked there. We are in a race against time to prevent further deterioration, as the first collapse of a horizontal beam on the head frame took place in November 2005. In order to prevent further damage, we need your help and welcome new members and donations. We are a registered charity and issue income tax receipts for monetary and "in kind" donations.

We welcome comments, suggestions, information, volunteer assistance, and contributions of various materials, such as newspaper clippings, letters, maps, for the Friends of Morden Mine fond recently established at Nanaimo Community Archives.

For those wishing to contact us our e-mail is info@mordenmine.com

Constitution

Friends of the Morden Mine was established in 2003 under the B.C. Society Act (RSBC 1996, ch433) In 2006, the society applied and was approved for charitable status.

1. The name of the Society is: FRIENDS OF THE MORDEN MINE.
   
   
2. The purposes of the Society are:

   (a) To form a society under the Societies Act to promote awareness, interest, understanding and support for the preservation and restoration of the Morden Colliery and railway within the boundaries of Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park.
   
   (b) To research and preserve the history of the Morden Colliery, railway and the terminal facilities at Boat Harbour on Vancouver Island.
   
   (c) To collect and preserve artefacts and archival material relating to the Morden Colliery.
   
   (d) To provide interpretive opportunities to educational groups, tourists and the public.
   
   (e) To organize and promote special events related to the mine and the coal mining industry on Vancouver Island.
   
   (f) To enter into agreements with the Province of British Columbia, other government bodies, and organizations sharing similar purposes for the benefit of all.

3. In the event of winding up or dissolution of the Society, any funds of the society remaining after the satisfaction of its debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such organizations that work for the benefit of the Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park or organizations promoting the same objective of this Society, as may be determined by the members of the Society at the time of winding up or dissolution; and if effect cannot be given to the aforesaid provision, then such funds shall be given or transferred to some other organizations, provided that such organization referred to in this paragraph shall be a charitable organization, a charitable corporation, or a charitable trust recognized by Revenue Canada as being qualified as such under the provisions of the “Income Tax Act” of Canada from time to time in effect. This provision is unalterable.

Bylaws

The bylaws of the society are those set out in Schedule B to the Society Act, with the following variations, deletions and additions:

• Bylaw 25(1) of Part 5 be revised to:

The number of directors must be 7 or a greater number determined from time to time at a general meeting.

Directors: 2011/2012

President: David Gogo. Noted blues guitarist/singer from Nanaimo, dedicated to preservation of local mining history.

Vice-President: John Hofman. Chair of Nanaimo Community Heritage Comission, professional engineer.

Recording Secretary: Frank Garnish: Director of SWACA (South Wellington and Area Community Association) as well as President of CSCES (Cedar School and Community Enhancement Society).

Treasurer: Louise Shuker. Businesswoman. Considerable volunteer involvement with Alpine Canada, School District 68 as secondary school treasurer and in other capacities. Great grandaughter and granddaughter of two Nanaimo area coal mining families.

Ingrid Greenwell: Longtime FOMM member and director for Friends of Morden Mine. Volunteer for other non-profit societies. Director in charge of memberships.

Eric Ricker: Former professor of Educational Policy, Dalhousie University, raised in Nanaimo, now living here in retirement. Writer/editor currently involved in community planning and heritage issues. Director in charge of fundraising.

Directors at Large:

Tom Paterson: Historian, author, columnist, heritage activist, well known for his efforts supporting Morden Colliery's remediation as a unique coal mining monument on Vancouver Island and elsewhere in B.C.

Allen McDermid: Originally from Winnipeg, MB. Relocated to Ladysmith in 2001. Now active in local and regional heritage associations including Ladysmith Heritage Advisory Commission, Ladysmith District Historical Society, and Friends of Morden Mine.

Dave Bodaly: Coordinator of two First Nations archives, Assistant to the Administrator at Snuneymuxw First Nation, Administrative Assistant at Te'mexw Treaty Association. Photographer.