Interview with Waino Torkko

Audio recording and transcript of Waino Torkko's 1979 interview with Myrtle Bergren for the Coal Tyee History Project. Torkko shares details from his long career as a miner working on Vancouver Island. Torkko's father was also a miner, and Torkko talks about living in Extension as a child, before his family moved to Ladysmith. He gives details about working at a small mining operation, and he talks about how some families, including the Richardsons and the Fiddicks, were able to retain their coal rights. Torkko talks about his school days in Extension and he also describes some of his family's history. He reflects on his memories of the 1909 explosion in the Extension Mine and the Vancouver Island Coal Miners' strike. Throughout the interview he talks about his experiences working with both mules and horses in different mines, and he also describes the challenges of being a rope rider in the mine, supporting up to 12 contract diggers at a time. Torkko talks about mining equipment and conditions and describes how gas was detected with lamps. Of Finnish background, Torkko speaks about the social life and customs of the Finnish community, including steam baths and connections with Sointula residents.