Winnipeg's first Labour Day, 1894

August 30, 1894, Winnipeg Tribune

The origins of Labour Day in North America date back to 1882 and a motion passed by New York City's chapter of the Knights of Labor. They chose the first Monday in September as a day when working men would put down their tools and celebrate their achievements. 

The Knights introduced it to other cities and it was soon celebrated across The United States.

In some of Canada's larger cities there were small celebrations to coincide with the American Labour Day, the Knights had branches in Ontario and Quebec, but it was not until 1894 that it was proclaimed a legal holiday in Canada by an Act of Parliament.

September 1, 1894, The Voice

The organizer of Winnipeg's first official Labour Day celebration was the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council. It was left to them as labour wanted to ensure that the event was not fractured with several unions or labour organizations doing their own thing. Despite the name, the council also had provincial reach.

The chairman of the organizing committee was the council's vice-president, Hugh Cowan, a typographer at the Nor'Wester newspaper and head of the city's Typographical Union.

Cowan's committee began meeting in early August and put together a day of activities that started with a morning parade followed by an afternoon of sporting events and other activities at the Exhibition Grounds.

Though the council got a wide range of support for the day, including the participation of the military, politicians and businesses, it tried to dampen expectations for the first Labour Day celebration.

In the The People's Voice, the council's newspaper, a few articles appeared in the lead up to the festivities reminding people that the event would not be as big as in other cities because of the city's smaller manufacturing base compared to Toronto or Montreal. It also noted that due to harvest, many labourers would not be able to make it into the city for the event.

A couple of days before the event, a tougher sounding editorial reminded members of the labour movement: “It should be considered an honour to be present, and each should bury any local differences – any petty squabbles etc. – and come out enthusiastically to swell the throng and add appearance to the whole affair.”

Parade line-up and sketches of floats. Sept. 4, 1894, Winnipeg Tribune

The day began with a parade led by Captain Billman of the 90th Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Mayor Thomas Taylor and W. J. Hodgins, president of the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, rode in the lead car.

With more than 50 entries ranging from marching bands to industrial floats, it was reported to be the largest parade ever held in Winnipeg that stretched for a couple of miles and took 40 minutes to pass a fixed point.

Many companies funded floats that allowed their workers to show off their skills. The Vulcan Iron Works float had men in the act of constructing a boiler as it rolled along the route. The bricklayers' float, on which they were to build a miniature house, fell apart on its approach to Main Street.

 Exhibition Grounds activities. Sept. 1, 1894, The Voice

After the parade, the Exhibition Grounds were the scene of a picnic featuring speeches, tug-o-war contests, and foot races. The organizing committee amassed $500 in cash, trophies, and other prizes to give away.