Asbestos in BC: A Tragic Legacy, Video, 2015
A deeply personal story is set against a broader historical backdrop of asbestos use and its devastating consequences in Canada. The video implicitly and explicitly touches on a historical narrative that explains why Dave Ford, and so many others became victims of mesothelioma.
Historically, asbestos was hailed as a “miracle mineral” in Canada, prized for its fire-resistant, insulating, and strengthening properties. Its use boomed in the mid-20th century, particularly after WWII, and Canada became one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of asbestos, primarily from mines in Quebec. Asbestos found its way into over 3,000 products, including building materials like insulation, cement, plaster, and even auto parts.
However, as early as the late 19th and early 20th centuries, medical researchers began to suspect a link between asbestos exposure and lung diseases. By the 1950s, studies definitively showed that exposure to asbestos dust, even at common workplace levels, caused severe occupational diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. The video highlights how Dave Ford, a seemingly healthy and safety-conscious electrician, would have been working in environments where asbestos was widely used and considered safe or its dangers minimized.
Despite growing scientific evidence and international pressure, Canada was slow to ban asbestos. For decades, the Canadian government continued to promote its use and export, often downplaying the risks of chrysotile asbestos, the type primarily mined in Canada. This stance faced strong criticism from health organizations, unions, and victim advocacy groups. The video implicitly points to this historical context when Tracy mentions the lack of support and understanding within the healthcare and compensation systems in British Columbia when her father was diagnosed, suggesting a systemic lag in addressing asbestos-related diseases.
The comprehensive ban on asbestos in Canada only came into full effect in December 2018, long after Dave Ford’s diagnosis in 2007 and subsequent death. This means that for much of Dave’s working life and even during his illness, asbestos was still being used and its dangers were not fully acknowledged or regulated in Canada to the extent they should have been.
Dave Ford’s story, therefore, is not an isolated incident but a tragic consequence of Canada’s historical reliance on and delayed regulation of asbestos. The video underscores the long latency period of mesothelioma—often 20 to 60 years between exposure and diagnosis—meaning that even with the 2018 ban, Canada continues to see a rise in mesothelioma cases as those exposed decades ago, like Dave Ford, succumb to the disease.
Advocacy work through organizations like the AREA Fund, directly addresses this historical legacy, pushing for greater awareness, research, and support for the ongoing victims of Canada’s asbestos history.
This video was produced by WorkSafeBC in partnership with the BC Labour Heritage Centre.