October 1944

While armies clashed in the European and Pacific theatres, a tragedy was unfolding in a little community in Northern Ontario.

                A hardrock miner died 18 levels underground in the Little Long Lac gold mine. Alex Heino had been working there since 1935. At 56 years old, Alex left behind a wife and a closely-knit community to grieve.

                His partner, 40-year-old Jan Bies, was hospitalized. Jan (John) had six children, soon to be joined by son Ernest Bies on December 31. Ernie was born in Geraldton and raised on the family farm near Hearst. Ernie Bies was a longtime Hearst resident, now retired in the Ottawa area. Ernie’s search for his family history led him to Geraldton. Ernie supplied the family photos.

(Continued in Part 2)