Cassiar was an idyllic place to grow up. But living in a town built around an asbestos mine brought long-term risks that have taken years to materialize.
Decades after the town's mine was shuttered and the community abandoned, residents continue to deal with asbestos-related health effects. But the abandonment of the town and scattering of its residents have made it difficult to assess the health consequences of living in Cassiar — and help those who have found themselves suffering the ill effects of asbestos exposure.
In this two-part series, Amanda Follett Hosgood talks to former Cassiar residents and mine employees, wades through historical documents and talks to experts to explore the life and death of a small town with a long legacy.
In This Series
The Town That Asbestos Built. The Cancer It Left Behind
Former residents of Cassiar say they weren’t warned about the risks. Now, they struggle to find support.
A Mining Town Scattered Residents, and Asbestos, to the Wind
Cassiar exposed residents to asbestos for 40 years. But little has been done to follow their health outcomes.