Chatham-Kent councillors contribute $21,250 to Dresden 1957

Ensuring that a piece of local history is preserved for future generations

Eric Philpott

7/19/20262 min read

Cinematographer Pawel Kacprzak filming in the town of Dresden in Chatham-Kent

Dresden 1957 is a part of Chatham-Kent's story. On August 14, 1957, six Dutch immigrant workers were killed when a deep excavation collapsed during construction of a pumping station beside the Sydenham River in Dresden. At the time, the disaster was front-page news across Canada and the Netherlands. Within a few years, however, it had largely disappeared from public memory.

Our goal is not only to make a documentary about what happened, but also to preserve the surviving records, stories and personal connections surrounding the tragedy. That work includes interviews with family members and eyewitnesses, research in public and private archives, and the development of exhibits and presentations that will make this history accessible to the wider community.

“The Dresden tragedy is an important part of our local history, but for far too long it has remained largely unknown,” said Councillor Jamie McGrail. “This exhibit, presentation and documentary will help preserve that history and ensure it is shared with new generations, both within Chatham-Kent and beyond.”

We are pleased to share that Dresden 1957 has received $21,250 in Councillor Ward Funding from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

The funding was contributed by seven councillors:

Jamie McGrail and Rhonda Jubenville of Ward 4 (which includes Dresden) each contributed $5,000
Brock McGregor of Ward 6 contributed $3,750
Conor Allin and Amy Finn of Ward 6 each contributed $2,500
Morena McDonald of Ward 3 contributed $1,500
Alysson Storey of Ward 6 contributed $1,000

Their support will help us continue work on the feature documentary while also bringing the history behind the film back to the community through public exhibits and presentations. If you know or meet any of these councillors, please thank them for their support!

Chatting with Councillor Rhonda Jubenville (left centre) after memorial event we held in Dresden in 2024

We are deeply grateful to all seven councillors for recognizing the importance of this story. Their support allows us not only to continue developing the documentary, but also to return this history to the community where it happened.