Halifax Explosion documentary to tell untold survival story of deaf students

Two novice documentary filmmakersare hoping to spread the word about the Halifax School for the Deaf and its students who miraculously all survived the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917.

Linda Campbell and Jim McDermott, who areboth professors in Halifaxand are both deaf,say the story of the school during that timeis well-known in the deaf community but has not been shared more broadly.

"Many deaf individuals, especially older deaf individuals, who have been passing away have told me these stories," said McDermott. "There's no book that's been written on that no movies, no documentation at all."

None of the survivors of the school at the time of the explosionare alive today.

Hundreds dead, thousands injured

Twenty minutes after shipsMont Blanc and Imo collided inHalifax harbourin 1917, the Mont-Blancwhich was loaded with explosives blew up, killing about 1,500 people immediately. Hundreds more later died of their injuries. More than 9,000were injured. It was the largest man-made explosion the world had ever seen.

McDermott and Campbell are in the process of filming their documentary, which will be released in time for the 100th anniversary next year.

The Halifax School for the Deaf was a boarding school, attended by about 90 students from all over the region. It was located on Gottingen Street where the George DixonCentre stands today. It was about one kilometre from the blast site.

Campbell teaches environmental science at Saint Mary's University. In 2013, she andMcDermott, who teaches in the deaf studies department at theNovaScotia Community College, attended a workshop offered by the Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival. That's where the idea for the film was born.

'Before people had the concept of explosions'

Campbell explains that all the students were in the assembly hall for their morning prayers at the time of the explosion one of the safest rooms in the building.

"There were windows, unfortunately, so they did get hurt when the windows were blown out and doors flew off from the impact of the explosion," said Campbell. "But many of the children were situated away from the buildings and the windows."

Confusion ensued and the principal took charge of the situation immediately, adds Campbell.

"It was before Hollywood movies. It was before people had the concept of explosions. They had no idea what had even occurred. A lot of people were hurt or injured in the school. They were cut by the glass and bleeding. There was shock and panic and stress."

Everyone was ushered to the basement. Because it was a boarding school, they had all the supplies they needed, including a nurse. They were able to weather the winter storm that blanketed the city the next day.

"They had the resources there at their disposal and they were able to bring them in. They had the community to help each other," said Campbell.

The film is based on stories that have been shared in the deaf community through the years byfamilies of survivors. Campbell and McDermott also researched original documents.

"The Nova Scotia Archives has an excellent deaf collection. There are pictures there, reports and so forth. So we went through those archives," said Campbell.

They even found a handwritten log book by the chair of the board, describing the events of the explosion.

The film will be narrated byMcDermott through sign language and it will include English subtitles. The filmmakers received $25,000through various grants, including $10,000through the Halifax Explosion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Fund.

• Halifax Explosion photos, letters donated for anniversary
• Halifax Explosion 100th anniversary funding may be expanded