Yellowknife man who blew up Giant Mine, killing nine people, gets day parole

MISSION, B.C. – A Yellowknife man who killed nine people when he bombed an underground mine during a volatile strike 21 years ago has been granted day parole.

Roger Warren, 70, is serving a life sentence for setting explosives that killed replacement workers at Giant Mine, where he had been a longtime miner and union member.

Warren appeared at a hearing in Mission, east of Vancouver, and choked back sobs as he apologized for all the pain he has caused.

Board member Bent Andersen says Warren has taken responsibility for his actions, demonstrated remorse and is considered a low risk to re-offend.

Warren initially confessed to setting the bomb, retracted that confession at trial, was convicted in 1995 and finally confessed again years later while in prison.

The 19-month dispute at the mine was considered one of Canada’s worst outbreaks of labour violence and described by the sentencing judge as an act of terrorism.