Welcome to Labour Day, a celebration that has become so ingrained in Canadian culture that few people stop to think about its real significance. Why is Labor Day observed in Canada? While having an extra day off from work is usually the reason for celebration, it could be helpful to understand why you will have the day off.
In both the United States and Canada, the first Monday in September has been a recognized holiday since 1892. However, the first Labor Day celebrations took place 20 years earlier in Toronto and Ottawa to commemorate the 1872 Toronto printers’ strike, the first “battle for fairness” that resulted in significant reforms, including the legalization of unions in Canada. The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to the demands for justice and the struggles of the working class. In this instance, the push for a 9-hour workday (the usual was a 12-hour work day and a 6-day work week) and a spring 1872 strike by printers in Toronto made it a reality. The nation’s first large worker’s rights demonstration was, however, organized by the Toronto Trades Assembly. People’s participation in parades in support of the strike and the Nine-Hour movement gave rise to what is now an annual holiday.
Many individuals use the weekend to travel and visit family, while others go to their summer vacation destination for one last party. The festival is observed with fireworks and parades in urban areas. Impressive fireworks displays are available for viewing by families in Canada in places like Whistler, Montreal, Edmonton, and Niagra Falls. Also, The Labour Day Classic is an annual event when some of the most thrilling football games of the season are played on Labour Day.
Hundreds of towns across Canada celebrate the day with picnics, marches, concerts, and parades. The custom of utilizing Labour Day to advance workers’ rights and promote policies that will enhance the quality of life for working people and their families is continued by unions.
So on Monday, when you’re enjoying your barbecue, picnic, cottage, or other means of celebration, take time to think about the employees who sacrificed to enhance your working circumstances and bring you this holiday. Together, we can win a better world.