100 Year Memorial Ceremony for the Black Bridge Collapse

October 8, 2024

The Black Bridge disaster in Kamloops is a tragic event that occurred on October 6, 1924, when two construction workers, Patrick Fardy and John Walstrom, lost their lives. While working on the Black Bridge, which was being built to replace an older wooden bridge, a scaffolding they were on gave way, causing both men to fall into the Thompson River. Unfortunately, they drowned, likely weighed down by their work clothes and tools. Fardy, 52, hailed from Newfoundland, and Walstrom, 56, was originally from Sweden. Both are now interred at the Pleasant Street Cemetery in Kamloops.

The bridge itself, known as the Black Bridge, no longer stands today. Only two concrete pillars remain at the site, a lasting reminder of the incident. To commemorate this event and honor the men, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115 and the Kamloops Heritage Society organized a memorial on October 6, 2024, marking the 100th anniversary. This vigil, held at the Pleasant Street Cemetery, also aims to raise awareness about workplace safety and honor the memory of Fardy and Walstrom by restoring their shared tombstone and a flagpole at the cemetery​

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