The Dunsmuir family dominated the province's economy in the late nineteenth century and was a leading force in opposing organized labour.

Dunsmuir managed his family's coal business from 1876 until 1910, increasing profits and violently putting down efforts to unionize.

In the 42 years that the Dunsmuirs owned the collieries, they never recognized their employees' attempts to unionize or create better working conditions.

[2] Mine owners at the time regularly ignored safety and sanitary conditions, and provincial inspectors were slow to bring them to justice.

Hatley Castle, the Edwardian mansion and gardens where he spent his last years is now a Classified Federal Heritage Building[7] on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.