Hundreds of Union Members marched from Memorial Park to Vimy ridge Park to picnec with their families to celebrate the 120th Labour Day Parade in Winnipeg.

On the first Monday in September, 1894, the organized labour movement in Winnipeg began a tradition that has lasted ever since – we held the first Labour Day Parade in Canada, following the federal government’s proclamation of the law establishing that day as a statutory holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to the development of our society.  It stretched some 5 kilometers. The tradition of a Labour Day celebration quickly spread across Canada and the continent.

In fact, Canadian Union members had celebrated a “labour day” since 1872 on a variety of dates as part of the campaign have the work week shortened to 58 hours, but it wasn’t recognized by  government until 1894.

Celebrating Labour Day in a family environment is a fun way to mark the achievements of working people and the contributions they made, and still make, to building Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canada into a great place to live and raise a family.

Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck said, “This is a highlight marked on every working family’s calendar and serves to remind all of us about the gains we’ve made and challenges we still grapple with.

“The day focuses us on the struggle to create a fair society – one that sees working families being treated fairly and having a fair share of the nation’s economic success.”