BOOK REVIEW `Song of praise’ to miners’ saint

Sancta Barbara is a personal statement of one man’s dedication to his profession, its history and spiritual dimension. A labor of love, it is author Jean-Paul Drolet’s “song of praise to ask the saint to extend her good will to all deserving miners and prospectors.” Drolet is a former assistant deputy minister (mineral development) of the federal Department of Energy, Mines and Resources and past president of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIM). The origins of Sancta Barbara, and how she has become known as the patron saint of miners, are the underlying and unifying theme. What makes the book remarkable, however, is the loving care that has gone into the selection of the 26 illustrations (of which 10 are beautiful color plates), the layout, the typography and the design.

The book begins with a wide- ranging survey of the various saints, spirits and legends that have a connection to mining. Then it relates the story of Sancta Barbara, as pieced together from historical records. Drolet also recounts the various legends that have grown up around the story of this colorful young woman.

This reviewer was a trifle disconcerted to learn that we share “our” patron saint with field artillery officers, fire-fighters and gaming-house operations.

The final section relates the origin of the “Order of Merit of Sancta Barbara,” which has been presented annually at the CIM annual dinner, since the author introduced the idea in 1968, to a woman who has made a noteworthy contribution to the welfare of a mining community in Canada. It would be a nice gesture if future recipients were each presented with a copy of Drolet’s book to accompany the beautiful medal designed for the award.

Sancta Barbara: Patron Saint of Miners, by Jean-Paul Drolet. Available in both English and French at 1294 Parkhill Circle, Ottawa, Ont. K1H 6K3. $40 (hardback). John Gammon is the acting assistant deputy minister of mines and minerals division, Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.