In an unfortunate turn of events, the SS Mont-Blanc, a military ship, caused a devastating explosion in Halifax. Despite the brave efforts of firefighters, the cargo of the ship caught fire, resulting in a massive explosion equivalent to 2.9 kilotons of TNT. To put it into perspective, this explosion was approximately 20 percent of the destructive power of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. The SS Mont-Blanc was completely obliterated, and the force of the explosion triggered a tsunami in Halifax, destroying homes and leaving 6,000 people homeless. Tragically, the explosion resulted in almost 2,000 deaths and caused 9,000 injuries.

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Fortunately, the city of Boston came to the aid of Halifax by sending numerous doctors and medical personnel across the border to provide assistance. The efforts of these medical professionals led to groundbreaking advancements in medical science, particularly in the fields of eye care and pediatrics. Immediate medical attention was provided to the victims once the chaos subsided. Notably, due to the significant number of eye injuries and resulting cases of blindness caused by flying debris such as wood and glass, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind was established in 1918.