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Learn about some of the most significant moments, movements and people in British Columbia’s labour history.
The On-to-Ottawa Trek was a major protest movement in Canada during the Great Depression, taking place in 1935. It involved thousands of unemployed men who were living in government-run relief camps in British Columbia. Frustrated by poor living conditions and low pay, they organized and decided to take their demands directly to the federal government in Ottawa.
In 1983, labour and activist organizations across the province came together over the course of several weeks through escalating actions in what would effectively become the largest political protest in BC’s history. It was in response to the most sweeping assault on rights in Canadian history by the newly re-elected Social Credit government.
Ginger Goodwin was an English coal miner who came to Canada before World War I. After being blacklisted for union activity on Vancouver Island, he led a strike in Trail, BC advocating for the 8-hour workday. Despite poor health, Ginger was reclassified as fit for military service. He went into hiding, but was hunted by a special constable, shot and killed. His death led to Canada’s first general strike.
British Columbia has a long and often tragic history of health and safety. Asbestos, once widely used for insulation and fireproofing, exposed many BC workers to deadly illnesses before its dangers were recognized and regulated. In 1958, the Second Narrows Bridge collapsed during construction, killing 19 workers.
From early exclusionary practices to a recognition that racism is a tool of the boss to divide workers, the tenacity and strength of community has always been forward-looking. Our collaborative project, Union Zindabad!, traces the contributions of strong South Asian Canadian workers, activists, and members to BC’s labour movement.
Ready to dive deeper into BC’s labour history? Take a journey through our carefully curated content, ranging from detailed articles to 3-minute videos. Explore projects we’ve worked on, including installing plaques around BC to mark sites of significance to the labour movement.
