Welcome to the BC Labour Heritage Centre

Our non-profit organization preserves, documents, and presents the rich history of working people in British Columbia.

FEATURED

  • The Apple Box Belles

    For over 100 years, fruit from the orchards of BC's Okanagan Valley has fed families across Canada and the hard-working women in the fruit packing plants became known as the “Apple Box Belles”. While much has been written about Okanagan...
Illustration woman pointing to a looking glass with document behind

Search the collection

Historical artifacts, booklets, videos, podcasts, plaques and more.

Featured videos

  • Stephen Kelleher Interview: Labour Relations in BC

    Stephen Kelleher recounts the story of his career, from growing up in a non-union family to becoming chair of the British Columbia Labour Relations Board in the 1980s and 2000s. He also discusses his activities since retiring from his position...
  • The Backstory: Labour and Politics 1961-1991 | Video

    In this conversation, Colin Gabelmann and Ron Johnson describe the difficult relationship between the BC Federation of Labour and the BC NDP leadership from the 1960s through the 1980s. Gabelmann and Johnson are both retired staffers from the BC Fed,...
  • Larry Kuehn Interview: Solidarity, Justice, and History

    The interview covers Larry Kuehn's extensive involvement with labour and social justice organizations beyond his work with the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF). His time as president of the BCTF is covered in an earlier interview, available in our BCTF Past...

Download the Walking Tours App

Learn about the workers who built British Columbia, one story at a time.

The BC Labour History Walking Tours app guides you through sites of significance that commemorate the importance of labour unions, individuals, collective actions and much more.

App as shown on a smart phone
Couple walking under an umbrella illustrated drawing

Sponsors

Although funding for projects is often raised outside of the trade union movement, the BC Labour Heritage Centre relies upon the ongoing financial support of its sponsoring unions in order to continue its operations from year to year.

BC Federation of Labour
BC Teachers’ Federation
British Columbia Building and Construction Trades Council
Canadian Union of Public Employees-BC
Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 15
Hospital Employees’ Union
United Steelworkers