View this email in your browser

April 2020 Newsletter

This newsletter is produced monthly by the staff of the BC Labour Heritage Centre on behalf of our board of directors.

Bakers Union group portrait taken on Labour Day 1892. Vancouver Archives VLP 117. Colourized using MyHeritage In Color technology. Scroll down to see the original version.

We are all in this world together, and the only test of our character that matters is how we look after the least fortunate among us. How we look after each other, not how we look after ourselves. That's all that really matters, I think.

Tommy Douglas, Premier of Saskatchewan
Introduced the continent's first single-payer, universal health care program, commonly known as Medicare in 1961.

In 1974 British Columbia established the first provincial ambulance service in Canada, and it became a model for jurisdictions across North America. The story is told by ambulance pioneer Lloyd O'Brien.

The Ambulance Paramedics of BC are members of the
Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 873.

WATCH the full 5-minute video here

BC Labour Heritage Centre Online Resources

Sharpen your bookmarks! We have lots of updates and online resources to share with you.

UPDATED: Teaching Tools to Support Online Learning

Lesson plans for teachers and parents wanting content on labour history, workplace safety for young people and more are available online. Look here for links to videos, lesson plans and case studies.

April 28 Day of Mourning in BC Schools Project is now online.

Teaching young workers about their health and safety rights at work is at the core of our Day of Mourning Schools Project. We have just updated our materials to support online and independent learners. Download here.

Unemployment and Resistance in 1980s

In the early 1980s, BC experienced high unemployment during an economic recession. Organized labour and the United Way secured federal funding to open 32 Unemployment Action Centres across BC, run by local labour councils. The storefront operations were gathering places where unemployed workers could receive assistance or just a place to talk.

Unemployment Acton Centres also advocated for workers and were central to the 1983 Operation Solidarity organization. Take some time to browse on our online exhibit Solidarity: The Largest Political Protest in British Columbia's History hosted by the Virtual Museum of Canada to learn more.

Go on a Virtual Labour History Walking Tour with our App!

Download the free BC Labour History Walking Tour App on Google Play or the App Store. The app includes tours for Vancouver, Victoria and Prince Rupert. More to come!

Thank you for scrolling to the end! This is the original black and white photo we "colourized" and featured at the top this month's newsletter. Bakers are one of the many groups of workers keeping our communities going. We salute your labour!

THIS MONTH IN BC LABOUR HISTORY

April 5, 1917 - Coal Creek Mine Explosion kills 34 workers.
April 6, 1980 - Canadian Farmworkers Union founded
April 13, 1903 - Union organizer Frank Rogers shot during strike on Vancouver waterfront; he died two days later.
April 28, 1902 - Local 604 of Retail Clerks International Protective Association held its first meeting in Victoria
April 28, 1991 - First National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job.

Facebook

Twitter

Website

Instagram

The BC Labour Heritage Centre office is located on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) territories.