Sisters and Brothers:
Labour Day in Canada has been celebrated since the 1880s, in the beginning it was a day for workers to lobby for better working conditions and pay. On July 23, 1894, Prime Minister John Thompson passed a law making Labour Day official in Canada and it has since evolved into a Statutory Holiday and a long weekend for workers to gather and recognize our struggles and celebrate our achievements.
This year Labour Day will be celebrated differently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, many events such as traditional parades have had to be cancelled or changed to a virtual event. Other inventive events such as caravans have been organized to show our solidarity and continue celebrating the struggles and achievements of the labour movement.
I want to thank you all for everything you do and let you know that I could not be prouder of how our membership has responded to the challenges presented by the pandemic. Many of you were deemed essential, rose to the occasion and made the IBEW proud.
Please take some much-deserved time to spend with your family and friends and get some much-needed rest and relaxation, but please do so safely. If you are involved in any of the Labour day activities, please remember to wear a mask, wash your hands regularly and to social distance in all settings. We cannot let down our guard against this terrible virus. Stay safe and stay healthy.
Thank you again for all that you do for the IBEW.
In solidarity,
Tom Reid, IVP
IBEW 1st District
Please note the list of Labour Day events in your region hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress, Provincial Federations of Labour and District Labour Councils:
https://canadianlabour.ca/events/labour-day-events-2020/