Teaching materialsVideo
"Ghosts" from British Columbia's past visit a new union member to remind them why "labour history matters" in this clever video produced in 2018. Viewers are reminded of the many historical achievements of the labour movement, and why being an...Article
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...Video
This nine-minute video is a tribute to the life and legacy of Jack Munro (1931-2013), a powerful and iconic figure in the British Columbia labour movement.Video
Stephanie Smith was the first elected woman president of the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) in its over 100-year history, holding the post from from 2014 to 2024. Born in Canada and educated in New Zealand, Stephanie attended teacher’s college...Video
Colin was born in northern England in 1940. His working-class consciousness developed at an early age. At 16, he apprenticed as a shipwright and during his apprenticeship participated in a short strike. Colin’s father died in the war, but his...Article
Ken Johnstone made a point of attending the annual Ironworkers Bridge Memorial on each anniversary of its deadly collapse. He was a humble man who would stand quietly at the back. Like many in Vancouver, Johnstone couldn’t forget June 17,...Plaque
This bronze plaque is located in the Bowen Road Cemetery, 555 Bowen Road, Nanaimo. It is immediately west of the maintenance facility. It was developed with the support of the Nanaimo Historical Society and the BC Building Trades Council. It...Audio
For most of the 20th century, garment workers (mostly women) sewed, pressed and wove fabric on factory assembly lines throughout the Lower Mainland, before the domestic industry began to decline with globalization. This episode of On the Line features an...Video
Barbara Stevens grew up in a fishing community on the Fraser River in British Columbia. Her father, Homer Stevens, was a leader in the fishing industry and the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (UFAWU). Barbara shares stories from her...Video
Dire working conditions and unfair treatment fueled a movement to advocate for BC farmworkers’ rights in the 1970s, soon becoming the Canadian Farmworkers Union, a first in Canada.Video
This 11-minute video provides a comprehensive overview of the history of the fishing industry in British Columbia, focusing on the evolution of health and safety for shoreworkers.Video
Verna Ledger got her first job in 1953 at a plywood mill in New Westminster, BC. She found the working conditions challenging due to the noise, dust, and strong chemical smells from resins that caused breathing difficulties.Video
Produced by the United Steelworkers, a full decade before asbestos was banned in Canada, the video "Asbestos: The Silent Killer" discusses the harmful effects of asbestos exposure on workers, particularly those from the Trail, BC smelter.Video
A poignant tribute to the four carpenters who tragically lost their lives in the Bentall IV tower construction accident in downtown Vancouver on January 7, 1981. The video highlights the victims, the accident, the aftermath and legacy.Video
Jack Munro (1931-2013), a prominent BC union figure, shares his life's journey and career, highlighting his dedicated work in championing workers' rights and enhancing workplace safety within the forest industry.Video
This video tells the life story of Lloyd O'Brien. After losing his leg in an industrial accident at 18, Lloyd recognized the critical need for proper emergency medical care, leading him to become a part-time ambulance driver.Video
This 13-minute video chronicles the evolution of safety measures in British Columbia's fishing industry, highlighting the significant challenges and eventual improvements in working conditions for fishers.Teaching materials
These teaching materials are a case study on workplace health and safety, focusing on two sawmill explosions in British Columbia: Babine Forest Products in Burns Lake and Lakeland Mill in Prince George.Teaching materials
This video series offers a comprehensive look into the evolution of workplace health and safety in British Columbia. Designed for audiences such as secondary students and those undergoing union orientation, the focus is on individual workers’ stories and tragic events.Video
Asbestos is the leading cause of death in today’s workplace. Because diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis can take decades to appear, it will continue to be a killer for many more years. This video is part of our Labour...Video
A tribute to Sarbjit Sidhu, Amarjeet Kaur Bal, and Sukhwinder Kaur Punia, who tragically died in a van accident on March 7, 2007. The crash, which occurred on the Trans-Canada Highway in British Columbia, involved a van carrying 17 farmworkers.Video
In this seven-minute video, retired logger Al Lundgren shares his experiences and contributions to health and safety in the logging industry. Al began his career in the woods in 1962, where he notes the initial lack of formal safety training.Video
A deeply personal story is set against a broader historical backdrop of asbestos use and its devastating consequences in Canada. The video implicitly and explicitly touches on a historical narrative that explains why Dave Ford, and so many others became...Plaque
This bronze plaque is located along Dewdney Trunk Road at 248 Street in Maple Ridge, BC. It was developed with the support of the BC Federation of Labour. The plaque was cast at Ornamental Bronze, a unionized foundry in Richmond...Plaque
This bronze plaque is located in Dallas Square, in downtown Nanaimo, BC. It was developed with the support of the Nanaimo, Duncan, & District Labour Council. The plaque was cast at Ornamental Bronze, a unionized foundry in Richmond which has...Teaching materials
Designed for secondary students and union orientation classes, this case study provides a historical perspective on asbestos exposure in British Columbia. Participants are encouraged to consider the ongoing dangers of asbestos for workers and their families and to discuss the...Teaching materials
Designed for secondary students and union orientation classes, this case study guides participants to identify occupational health and safety concerns at the Stave Lake Quarry leading to the untimely death of a new and inexperienced worker.Plaque
This bronze plaque is located at the Barriere Bandshell, on Barriere Township Rd. It was developed with the support of the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society. The plaque was cast at Ornamental Bronze, a unionized foundry in Richmond which...Historical materials
On the Level began as a mimeographed publication in 1961, published by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 452 in Vancouver, BC. Visit the On the Level digital archive (external link).Booklet
An explosion at the No. 3 Mine at Coal Creek, BC on April 5, 1917 instantly killed all 34 men working underground. The disaster profoundly affected the community. Investigations into the cause of the explosion yielded no clear explanation, and...Booklet
A devastating coal dust explosion while the SS Queen of the Pacific was being loaded with coal in Nanaimo, BC on July 29, 1886 caused the deaths of 9 longshoremen and seamen. The immediate suspect for the blast was highly...Booklet
"Grant's Law," tells the story of Grant De Patie, a 24-year-old gas station attendant who was killed in March 2005 during a "gas-and-dash" incident in Maple Ridge, BC. Grant was struck and dragged to his death after attempting to record...Booklet
This booklet examines the explosion on board the SS Green Hill Park, a Canadian merchant vessel, in Vancouver, BC harbour in 1945, killing two seamen and six longshoremen, and the Inquiry in the aftermath.Teaching materials
Out of the loss of her husband to an occupational-related illness came one woman’s crusade for change. See the rest of our Working People Lesson Plans here.Teaching materials
Highlights the 1912-1914 Big Strike in Vancouver Island coal mines where miners and mine owners clashed over worker safety. The film highlights the methods used by both sides to resolve the conflict including the use of police, militia and violent...Teaching materials
‘Dunsmuir’ is an infamous name in British Columbia, particularly related to coal mines on Vancouver Island, this film presents a snapshot of working in Dunsmuir-run coal mines in the 19th century. See the rest of our Working People Lesson Plans...Teaching materials
Gold Rushes attracted people from around the world to British Columbia. Although hopes were high, very few struck it rich. How did the Gold Rush affect the development of British Columbia? See the rest of our Working People Lesson Plans...Teaching materials
This film examines the working lives of “Canada’s Forgotten Workers,” the farmworkers whose labour fell outside much of the protective labour legislation. Provides an overview of their living and working conditions in the 1970s and invites students to compare with...Teaching materials
On June 17, 1958, the bridge under construction at Second Narrows collapsed. In memory of the workers killed, the bridge is now known as the Ironworkers’ Memorial Second Narrows Crossing. See the rest of our Working People Lesson Plans here.Teaching materials
Young children have always been part of the work force in British Columbia. Through the story of the explosion at Coal Creek mines in Fernie, this film examines the issue of child labour. See the rest of our Working People...Teaching materials
This vignette provides insight into the role that steamship transportation played in the lives of workers in the early years of transportation. Not only was the steamship important to resource workers to get to the job, but for many isolated...Audio
In 1976, simmering discontent at the Alcan smelter in the northern community of Kitimat launched a full-scale revolt. A few union members staged a wildcat strike; they were soon joined by 1,800 others. 150 RCMP officers in riot gear and...Video
Bob Waghorn grew up in North Vancouver. In this interview, he shares memories of accompanying his Teamster father, the last milkman in Vancouver to deliver milk by horse. He trained as a mechanic and his early jobs were as a...Video
Wayne Mills is a second-generation operating engineer with decades of involvement in the labour movement. In this interview, Wayne discusses his early training and work experiences operating large cranes on various construction projects across British Columbia, including dams and mines....Video
Born in a small farming community is Northern Saskatchewan, Frank ventured to Quesnel in 1971. He was 18 years old when he arrived and was looking for work in the forest industry. The first job was in a planer mill...Audio
Horace Mackey (1880-1970) was Legislative Chairman and later Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in the BC District. He began working on the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1899, retiring in 1948. He was a member of the Regional War...Video
Neil Menard was born in Nipawin, in northern Saskatchewan. Neil joined the navy and served as signalman on the HMCS Fraser and the HMCS St. Laurent. When he returned from the navy, Neil worked a few years alternating between hockey...Video
Amber Hockin was born in Brantford, Ontario. She attended elementary school in Kitimat, BC and attended high school in Ontario. Amber left home at 16, and soon after that her interest in travel led her to become a flight attendant....Video
Chris Allnutt’s deep desire to fight for people who can’t fight for themselves and make the world a better place led him to work in the labour movement. This interview was conducted by Rod Mickleburgh on May 7, 2024 in...Video
This interview with Joey Hartman covers her extensive history as an activist and labour leader in British Columbia. Joey discusses her upbringing in Vancouver and her early work experiences in early childhood education. A particularly formative experience was the mentorship...Video
In this far-reaching conversation, Lee Loftus discusses his experiences as a third-generation insulator, and union member and executive with the Heat and Frost Insulators Union Local 118 in British Columbia. This interview was conducted by Ken Novakowski on March 19,...Article
Miners’ Union Hospitals were a radical response to the critical need for inclusive health care in B.C.’s mining communities more than 100 years ago. At least six local unions of the Western Federation of Miners established their own hospitals in...Video
Bill Routley was born in 1948 in Chatham, Ontario. He was the son of two ministers who raised him in Duncan, on Vancouver Island. The treatment of employees at a shoe repair business in Victoria kindled his interest in workers’...Video
Sy Pederson was born into a logging family of fallers in Courtenay and followed the family tradition when he turned 21. Falling was a dangerous job and Sy recognized the hazard posed by the piecework system. He organized fallers in...Video
George Heyman was born in Vancouver to parents who were survivors of the Holocaust. They were assisted by the Japanese Consul in Lithuania, Chiune Sugihara, to escape Poland. George attended high school in Vancouver, working the night shift at Safeway,...Video
Leila Harding was born into a naval officer’s family in Nova Scotia but moved to Victoria as a child. As a young adult, she moved to Vancouver and worked for Fred Deeley Motors, where she had her first involvement with...Video
Tom Dufresne was born and grew up in Montreal. When he was about 15, he started working in a variety of jobs in Montreal including at lawn chair and ladder factories, delivering pop, and roofing. In 1969, he headed to...Video
Jim Sinclair was born and raised in Ontario, where his early work experiences brought him into conflict with employers and demonstrated the need to advocate for workers. He moved to Vancouver and worked there for Co-op Radio and the Union...Video
In this fascinating and wide-ranging interview with Patricia Wejr, she describes her long career in communications, nursing, reproductive health, and the labour movement. Patricia attended Simon Fraser University for Communications, and while there took a co-op position at Co-Op Radio,...Video
Anne Harvey was born in a tenement in Manchester, U.K. Her father made patterns out of wood for casting metal parts, and her mother sewed clothes piecework as he built his pattern making business. Anne moved to Canada with her...Video
In this interview, Bonnie Pearson talks about growing up in Saskatchewan and the early influence of her activist parents. Bonnie details her early union involvement as a national representative with CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) in 1980s; the Devine...Video
Kristina Vandervoort was born in Stockholm, Sweden. She moved to British Columbia with her parents when she was eight and they settled in North Vancouver. After high school, Kristina started her first job at Lions Gate Hospital and that is...Video
Judy Darcy started out as an enthusiastic public speaker and leader in her kindergarten days in Sarnia, Ontario, and has never looked back. Judy was very active in the student movement and in the women’s movement, including being on the...Video
Barry O’Neill’s unionism began on Vancouver Island where he worked for several school districts and was rooted in workplace health and safety. He went on to hold elected positions in CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) locally, provincially and nationally....Audio
The Canadian Farmworkers’ Union (CFU) was a grassroots champion for BC's Fraser Valley farmworkers, who toiled in dreadful, unregulated conditions in the 1970s and ‘80s. The story of this union is about a social movement as much as an organizing...Audio
Unions have been fighting since the 1970s for strict regulations in the use of asbestos and decent compensation for those ill and dying from its deadly fibres. People are still getting sick from exposure decades ago. In this episode of...Video
Paul Ramsey was born in the United States in 1944. His father was an engineer and a Democrat, who served as a council member for 16 years in the suburb where Paul grew up. Paul aspired to be an academic...Video
John Burrows was born in 1954 in Victoria BC. His career started at Victoria Plywood where his interest in unions was quickly ignited. John soon transitioned to the City of Victoria, progressing over the years from a casual role to...Audio
Bea Zucco's campaign against the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) helped shift provincial policy on silicosis claims and remains a notable example of grassroots advocacy for workers’ health and rights. In this episode of On the Line we recount the remarkable...Article
It Was No Holiday! BC’s only union barber reflects on the COVID shutdown of 2020 In March 2020 all personal service establishments in British Columbia were closed by order of the Provincial Health Officer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic....Video
Henry van der Wiel first came to Prince Rupert in 1963 to work on a fish boat, and relocated permanently in 1966. He eventually bought his own gillnetter. When he became a member of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers...Video
John Radosevic was born in Croatia (former Yugoslavia) before moving to Canada as a young boy. As a teenager he worked on an uncle’s ranch in Alberta and in the dangerous job of tie-up man in seine fishing in BC...Video
Cathy Walker was born in Vancouver, BC in 1949 and grew up in Burnaby. Her father was a member of the Machinists Union which influenced her perspective while growing up. She attended Simon Fraser University (SFU) during a time of...Video
Sharon Yandle was born in 1941 in Vancouver, BC Raised in the East Side of Vancouver, Sharon spent the majority of her career as a freelance negotiator for various unions across the province, specializing in arbitration and “duty to accommodate”....Video
John Jensen was a Danish-born union and community activist in Northwestern BC He was an active member of the Carpenters’ Union and a delegate to the Kitimat and Terrace District Labour Council for 50 years. This interview was donated to...
