Sydney Mines

Sydney Mines
Gaelic: Mèinnean Shidni
Community

Sydney Mines

Location of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia

Coordinates: 46°14′15″N 60°13′10″W / 46.23750°N 60.21944°W / 46.23750; -60.21944Coordinates: 46°14′15″N 60°13′10″W / 46.23750°N 60.21944°W / 46.23750; -60.21944
Country Canada
Provinces of Canada Nova Scotia
Regional Municipality Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Incorporated Town 1889
Dissolved August 1, 1995
Population (2001)
From Statistics Canada
 • Total 7,312
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
 • Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-3)
Canadian Postal code B1V
Area code(s) 902

Sydney Mines (Scottish Gaelic: Mèinnean Shidni; 2011 population: 14,135 ) is a community and former town in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Founded in 1784 and incorporated as a town in 1889, Sydney Mines has a rich history in coal production, although mining activity has now ceased. Prior to a permanent settlement being established, there was significant activity along the shore. Sydney Mines was also home to a large steel company that was named SCOTIA it was the modern to its day between the Sydney Steel Plant (DISCO) and the Sydney Mines Steel Plant (SCOTIA) they produced 50% of Canada's steel during World War I.

History

Census2011 Population14,135
Town
1871 2,500
1881 2,340
1891 2,442
1901 3,191
1911 7,470
1921 8,327
1931 7,769
1941 8,157
1951 8,410
1961 9,122
1971 8,991
1981 8,501
1986 8,063
1991 7,551
Sydney Mines
2001 16,068
2006 15,500
2011 14,135

During the American Revolution, on November 1, 1776, John Paul Jones - the father of the American Navy - set sail in command of Alfred to free hundreds of American prisoners working in the area's coal mines. Although winter conditions prevented the freeing of the prisoners, the mission did result in the capture of the Mellish, a vessel carrying a vital supply of winter clothing intended for John Burgoyne's troops in Canada. A few years into the war there was also a naval engagement between French ships and a British convoy off Sydney, Nova Scotia, near Spanish River (1781), Cape Breton.[1] French ships (fighting with the Americans) were re-coaling and defeated a British convoy. Six French sailors were killed and 17 British, with many more wounded.

Sydney Mines lies immediately northeast of North Sydney and faces Sydney across Sydney Harbour. Sydney Mines was once a major coal-producing community. Mining began locally in 1766, and in 1830 systematic operations were undertaken. One of the area mines extended about 5 miles (8 km) out under the sea. The last mine was closed in 1975.

Sydney Mines is on the northern side of Sydney Harbor, near the mouth. It was earlier known as the Mines due to the coal mines abundant nearby. Although mining has been carried on since 1724, the first shaft for the General Mining Association in Sydney Mines was sunk in 1830. Manufacturing enterprises included corrugated steel culverts and the British Canadian Co-operative Society Limited, operating a dairy and a bakery.

Sydney Mines was the filming location for the 1981 horror movie My Bloody Valentine.

Climate

Sydney Mines experiences cool summers. The summer can be very cool at times due to the fact Sydney Mines borders the cool North Atlantic Ocean. Day time highs rarely exceed 20 degrees Celsius. During Summer nights temperatures can become very cold with the average lows being around 10 degrees celsius, although cold winds can make it seem very colder.

Sydney Mines experiences cold, windy, wet, snowy and very stormy winters. Although low in latitude compared to the rest of Canada and bordering the ocean. Sydney Mines borders the very cold Labrador ocean current. This causes for a cold and very snowy winter. Day time highs during the winter usually stick around minus 2 degrees Celsius but due to the fact Sydney Mines lies around the polar jet stream they can experience arctic outbreaks and very warm thaws at times. Sydney Mines much like the rest of Atlantic Canada is one of the warmest areas in Canada during the winter, but they do receive the most snow storms compared to the rest of Canada. Cold arctic temperatures meeting up with the warm gulf stream forms one of the most powerful storms in the world. Many people who live in Eastern Canada know the term Nor'easter. Nor'easter's can dump huge amounts of snow to Sydney Mines and the rest of Atlantic Canada.

Climate data for Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high humidex 18.2 19.0 24 26.0 36.8 43.4 41.8 41.9 38.9 30.4 25.5 18.5 43.4
Record high °C (°F) 16.9
(62.4)		 18.0
(64.4)		 24
(75)		 27.2
(81)		 31.1
(88)		 34.4
(93.9)		 33.9
(93)		 35.5
(95.9)		 32.3
(90.1)		 25.0
(77)		 22.2
(72)		 16.7
(62.1)		 35.5
(95.9)
Average high °C (°F) −1.1
(30)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 1.5
(34.7)		 6.6
(43.9)		 13.1
(55.6)		 18.6
(65.5)		 23.1
(73.6)		 22.9
(73.2)		 18.8
(65.8)		 12.6
(54.7)		 7.3
(45.1)		 2.1
(35.8)		 10.3
(50.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.4
(22.3)		 −5.9
(21.4)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 2.5
(36.5)		 7.9
(46.2)		 13.2
(55.8)		 17.9
(64.2)		 18.0
(64.4)		 14.0
(57.2)		 8.5
(47.3)		 3.8
(38.8)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 5.9
(42.6)
Average low °C (°F) −9.6
(14.7)		 −10.3
(13.5)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 2.7
(36.9)		 7.7
(45.9)		 12.6
(54.7)		 13.1
(55.6)		 9.1
(48.4)		 4.3
(39.7)		 0.2
(32.4)		 −5
(23)		 1.4
(34.5)
Record low °C (°F) −26.2
(−15.2)		 −27.3
(−17.1)		 −25.6
(−14.1)		 −14.6
(5.7)		 −7.8
(18)		 −3.9
(25)		 2.2
(36)		 2.8
(37)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −12
(10)		 −22.2
(−8)		 −27.3
(−17.1)
Record low wind chill −42.6 −41.1 −34.3 −21.4 −11.3 −6.1 0.0 0.0 −5.1 −10.5 −19.3 −31.3 −42.6
Average precipitation mm (inches) 152.5
(6.004)		 128.1
(5.043)		 130.0
(5.118)		 133.3
(5.248)		 103.2
(4.063)		 96.9
(3.815)		 88.5
(3.484)		 100.2
(3.945)		 118.7
(4.673)		 142.9
(5.626)		 156.0
(6.142)		 167.0
(6.575)		 1,517.2
(59.732)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 80.5
(3.169)		 63.8
(2.512)		 83.2
(3.276)		 112.2
(4.417)		 100.9
(3.972)		 96.9
(3.815)		 88.5
(3.484)		 100.2
(3.945)		 118.7
(4.673)		 142.2
(5.598)		 144.0
(5.669)		 111.2
(4.378)		 1,242.4
(48.913)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 74.3
(29.25)		 65.3
(25.71)		 48.1
(18.94)		 21.4
(8.43)		 2.3
(0.91)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.62
(0.244)		 12.4
(4.88)		 58.5
(23.03)		 283.0
(111.42)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 20.6 16.5 16.6 15.8 14.5 14.0 11.7 12.7 13.5 15.9 18.1 21.0 191.0
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 8.4 7.3 9.5 13.0 14.1 14.0 11.7 12.7 13.5 15.8 15.4 11.5 146.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 16.6 12.6 11.0 5.6 0.83 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.62 5.4 14.2 66.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 91.0 111.6 132.9 141.0 198.0 224.6 246.9 228.4 167.1 130.1 77.0 68.2 1,816.7
Percent possible sunshine 32.4 38.3 36.1 34.7 42.7 47.7 51.8 52.0 44.3 38.3 27.1 25.3 39.2
Source: Environment Canada (1981-2010)[2][Note 1]

Education

Sydney Mines has two elementary schools, Jubilee Elementary (home to the Johnny Miles Gym) and St. Joseph's Elementary, one middle school, Sydney Mines Middle School, one high school, Memorial Composite High School.

Landmarks

In front of Jubilee Elementary on Main Street, there is a bronze statue of Johnny Miles in a running pose. There is a script on it with a small quote and the dates Johnny Miles won the Boston Marathon.

In front of the John J. Nugent Firemen's Centre on Elliot Street (across from the fire station), there is a firefighter statue which resembles all the past fire chiefs of the Sydney Mines Volunteer Fire Department.

Notes

  1. ↑ Sydney's climatic information in the above table are from Sydney Airport (CYQY) for the period 1981-2010. The extreme high and low temperatures are combined from the Airport's long-term records, that start in 1941.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Thomas B. Akins. (1895) History of Halifax. Dartmouth: Brook House Press.p. 82
  2. ↑ Environment Canada (2012a).
  3. ↑ Environment Canada (2012b).
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