The Comox Valley was once home to many coal mines, one of those being at Bevan., Little remains of Bevan today but you scan still see some of the concrete foundations of the mine.

The mine was part of the Great Coal Strike of Vancouver Island 1912-114, a long serious strike just before World War One. This song comes out of that strike. The miners were striking for an eight hour day as well as recognition of the union.

Ginger Goodwin was heavily involved with the strike

My son Daniel von Schulmann is performing the song

The song was collected by Phil from the singing of John Strachan, of Union Bay, in 1969.

Some links:
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Lyrics:

Well, hello, stranger, how do you do?
There’s something I’d like to say to you.
You seem surprised I recognize;
I’m no company stool but I just surmise
You’re from the place I’m longing to be.
Your smiling face seems to say to me
You’re from the island, your land and my land,
So tell me can it be-

Chorus

Are you from Bevan? I said from Bevan
Where those fields of stumps they beckon to me.
I’m glad to see you!
Tell me how be you,
And those friends I’m longing to see?
If you’re from Union Bay or Courtenay or Cumberland
Any place below that Bevan second dam-
Are you from Bevan? I said from Bevan,
‘Cause I’m from Bevan too!

Now it was way back in 19 and 12
Our gas committee was put on the shelf.
First we walked out, then we were locked out-
Then by a foul we were all but knocked out.
Our union miners faced guns and jail,
Hundreds of us were held without bail,
But by August 1914 our labor they were courting,
But they blacklisted me-

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