On May 10, 1973, a man entered Kenora’s CIBC armed with a rifle, a pistol, and a homemade explosive device. He walked into the bank manager’s office and demanded money.

The robber threatened to detonate his explosives — six sticks of dynamite attached to a so-called “dead man’s switch” — if the police did not provide a truck and driver so that he could make his escape.

With a crowd gathering on Main Street, a plainclothes police officer arrived on the scene with a truck, and complied with the robber’s demands.

As the robber exited the bank with his hostage, he was shot by a police sniper, and the dynamite exploded. Cash and debris filled the smoky street, and the robber was no more.

Broken windows and damaged facades flanked the blast site. Eleven people, including the hostage, were sent to hospital with injuries. The identity of the robber remains a mystery to this day.

This exhibit commemorates the 50th anniversary of Kenora’s CIBC robbery, showcasing the photographs of Clarence Dusang, who worked for the Kenora Miner and News at the time.

Content was gathered from local and national newspapers, as well as from members of our community, who graciously shared their memories.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive account of the robbery, but rather a starting point for conversation. We would like to know where you were, what you experienced, and how you remember the events of May 10, 1973.

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50th Anniversary of Kenora’s Bank Robbery: Presentation by Author Joe Ralko