THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2013

May 10th, 1973 was an explosive day in Kenora!  At 2:30 on a Friday afternoon, a balaclava clad man entered the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce with a handgun, a rifle and dynamite strapped to his chest. He was 5'8" tall, about 145 lb. with a red beard. The robber handed a note to the bank manager and demanded money and a getaway truck. Hostages were held for 90 frightening minutes. 

An off duty policeman, Don Milliard, offered to be the getaway driver. The photo above, from the Daily Miner and News, shows the bandit following his hostage out of the bank door. 

The above photo, from the Daily Miner and News, shows Constable Milliard opening the getaway truck door.

The detonation device, known as a "deadman's switch", was held between the robber's front teeth.

Constable Milliard saw his chance, dropped to the ground, as a fellow police sharpshooter shot the robber. What happened next shocked the hundreds of  bystanders. The dynamite exploded, blowing out windows along the street and covering buildings with pieces of the robber!!!  Constable Milliard survived the blast, likely saved by the knapsack of money strapped to his back. 

To this day, the robber's identity is unknown. DNA evidence is available should a lead come to light.