Victor Vincent "Dick" Ward (June 24, 1923 - April 17, 2011) was a Canadian miner who was trapped in the mines during the 1956 Explosion

Springhill mining disaster

The term Springhill mining disaster can refer to any of three separate Canadian mining disasters which occurred in 1891, 1956, and 1958 in different mines within the Springhill coalfield, near the town of Springhill in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia....

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Ward was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia

Springhill, Nova Scotia

-Coal mining:The first industrial coal mining in the area took place in the 1870s after a rail connection was built by the Springhill and Parrsboro Coal and Railway Company to the newly completed Intercolonial Railway at neighbouring Springhill Junction....

 to Vincent and Laura Ward. He served on the HMCS Haida

HMCS Haida (G63)

HMCS Haida is a Tribal-class destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943-1963.Haida sank more enemy surface tonnage than any other Canadian warship...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. He was working in the Springhill mines when the explosion occurred, trapping him inside. He was rescued shortly after. Ward worked for Air Canada

Air Canada

Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...

for several years, eventually retiring and returning to Springhill.

Struggling with health for some time, Ward died peacefully at the age of 87 on April 17, 2011 after a short illness. He is survived by three daughters.