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Vol. 16, No. 1, Wednesday, November 25, 2020 www.LamontLeader.com
60th anniversary of our worst tragedy Inside this edition of the Lamont Leader we honour the memory of our 17 youth lost in a sickening accident which occurred on the morning of Nov. 29, 1960 at 8:55 am when a school bus carrying 41 students from Chipman and surrounding area was struck by a westbound freight train travelling 80 km/h at the railway crossing at Lamont. The lives of family and friends of the victims were forever changed. The 24 survivors were never the same, living with survivor guilt and the horror haunting their memories forever. The goodness of our community shone through the catastrophe when a recently organized action plan went into affect signalled by three short blasts of the Lamont fire siren. The race was now on to save the lives of 24 young students and the bus driver, most badly injured. Archer Memorial Hospital’s five doctors, 31 registered nurses and 42 students quickly took their posts as outlined in the 13 page disaster plan finalized in 1957. It took but 45 minutes to remove all the students from the wreckage with 25 admitted to hospital. Very many Lamont women were busy making and serving sandwiches and coffee to volunteers and terrified family. Specialists and nurses from Edmonton and neighbouring towns came to assist saving lives. Several changes came as a result of the accident including reduced train speeds and school bus safety. Please see more Pages 6-11
The scene outside of the Chipman School on Dec. 3, 1960 where services for seven of the 17 victims of the Lamont bus accident were held. Four additional victims had services at the Greek Catholic Church while four more were held at the St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church. Two remaining victims had services held in Edmonton.