Carmichael's Men’s Wear on 3rd Avenue promoting union made products for Labour Day, September 2, 1958. Courtesy of The Exploration Place.

By Veronica Beltran

history of Labour Day

Labour Day, what is it?

Aug 30, 2019 | 2:22 PM

PRINCE GEORGE– Another long weekend is on the horizon and with people making plans to head to the lake or catch up on household chores, the reason behind the extra day might be forgotten.

What is Labour Day? While the title of the holiday does give you a bit of insight as to what it is, it might be easy to forget just how much it means to you, and anyone else who has a job. Eight hours a day, five days a week–in a nutshell that is what Labour Day commemorates.

Pacific Coast Militia Rangers on parade along 3rd Avenue, Prince George, B.C., Labour Day, 1942. Courtesy of The Exploration Place

But the history behind it is so much more than that. The Labour Day movement originated in Canada in the early 1870’s when a group of union workers in Hamilton, Ontario were on strike for nine hour work days. Trade Union’s were illegal at the time and the strike landed those workers in jail. “They were working more than nine hours a day, and they thought that nine hours was all they should have to work everyday, the rest of the time they should be able to spend with their families,” said Aaron Ekman, Former Secretary Treasurer in an on-camera interview.

John A. MacDonald, former Prime Minister of Canada agreed with the workers demands and introduced “the first Trade Union act in Canada,” which legalized unions in Canada, and introduced the nine hour work week.

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“In 1899 the Canadian government set the first Monday of September as Labour Day,” said Curator at The Exploration Place Alyssa Leier. Celebrations had been occurring before the official date, but since it’s assigned date, it has been celebrated across the country with picnics, parades, and even dog shows held here in Prince George.

Labor Day dog show at the fairgrounds in 1950. Courtesy of The Exploration Place.

Don’t forget to catch our Labour Day special on Monday, September 2nd where we show you the day in a life of several employees throughout the city.