| Title | Historical landslides in Canada resulting in fatalities (1771-2018) |
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| Author | Blais-Stevens, A |
| Source | Geo St. John's 2019: Canadian Geotechnical Conference, proceedings; Canadian Geotechnical Conference 505, 2019 p. 1-7 |
| Links | Abstract - Résumé
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| Image |  |
| Year | 2019 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20190102 |
| Meeting | Geo St. John's 2019: Canadian Geotechnical Conference; St. John's, NL; CA; September 29 - OCtober 2, 2019 |
| Document | Web site |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | digital |
| Related | This publication is related to the following
publications |
| File format | pdf (Adobe® Reader®); docx (Microsoft® Word®) |
| Province | Canada; British Columbia; Alberta; Saskatchewan; Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; New Brunswick; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; Newfoundland and Labrador; Northwest Territories; Yukon; Nunavut;
Canada |
| NTS | 1; 2; 3; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49; 52; 53; 54; 55; 56; 57; 58; 59; 62; 63; 64; 65;
66; 67; 68; 69; 72; 73; 74; 75; 76; 77; 78; 79; 82; 83; 84; 85; 86; 87; 88; 89; 92; 93; 94; 95; 96; 97; 98; 99; 102; 103; 104; 105; 106; 107; 114O; 114P; 115; 116; 117; 120; 340; 560 |
| Subjects | surficial geology/geomorphology; engineering geology; Science and Technology; Nature and Environment; landslides; history; sensitive clays; statistics; Frank Slide; St. Lawrence Lowlands;
Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette 1908 Landslide; Jane Camp Landslide 1915; Saint-Jean-Vianney Landslide 1971; Harbour Breton Landslide 1973; glaciomarine sediments; Infrastructures |
| Illustrations | geoscientific sketch maps; photographs; location maps; histograms; time series |
| Program | Public Safety
Geoscience Marine Geohazards |
| Released | 2019 09 01 |
| Abstract | A map of historical Canadian landslides resulting in fatalities from 1771-2018 has been compiled using technical and scientific reports, newspaper articles, and provincial websites as sources of
information. The map is regularly updated.
A total 774 people have perished in Canada historically because of landslides. British Columbia (BC) experienced the highest number fatalities at 339 (44%) and Québec (QC), the 2nd highest, at 246 (32%).
These fatalities reflect the mountainous terrain in BC and sensitive glaciomarine clay areas in QC. Fatalities occurred in three other provinces and one territory: Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), 102 fatalities (13%); Alberta, 73 fatalities (9%);
Ontario, 13 fatalities (2%); and Northwest Territories, 1 fatality (0.1%). The lack of fatalities in the other provinces and territories are likely related to less population and infrastructure development and fewer landslide occurrences due to
physiographic conditions less prone to landslide activity.
The worst Canadian landslide disaster occurred in 1903 at Frank, Alberta, where 73 people perished from a rock avalanche that partly buried a mining town. In the sensitive clay areas of
the St. Lawrence Lowlands, QC, 25 landslides caused 134 fatalities. In 1908, the village of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salettte along the Lièvre River experienced a landslide and displacement wave that resulted in 34 people perishing. In the rugged Appalachian
hills of NL, rockfalls are the main cause of fatal landslides.
The greatest number of landslides and associated fatalities occurred during the 1880s to 1920s when major infrastructure corridors and cities were being developed and landslide
hazards were poorly understood. Since the 1920s, a greater understanding of landslides and their potential triggers has led to mitigation measures and thus fewer fatalities per decade and per event. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
An article discussing the historical landslides that have resulted in fatalities from 1771-2018 in Canada. It discusses the distribution in certain
physiographic regions and gives details on some of catastrophic historical events. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 314761 |
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