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Labour Day
1st Monday in September
1st Monday in September
Labour Day, the first Monday in September. Labour Day has been a statutory holiday in Canada since 1894. We were not part of Canada then, of course, but some industrialized towns in Newfoundland began celebrating Labour Day in the early 20th Century. Grand Falls held its first Labour Day parade in 1918. From 1920 onward, parades were held in some towns the last Monday of July. Shortly after we joined Confederation, the holiday was moved to the first Monday in September to align with other Canadian provinces.
In my research of the holiday on Bell Island, the first indication I have found related to it is a photograph (below) of the Safety Float in the 1947 Labour Day Parade. The first mention I found in print was in the Submarine Miner of September 1954. From descriptions of the main Tug-o-War competition over the five years the Company magazine covered it, it seems that the Labour Day Sports Field events had been going on at least since 1950, but there was no actual history of Labour Day celebrations, and no mention of a parade in that magazine.
The Labour Day Sports Field events were organized jointly by the Sports Committee of Local 4121 of the Miners' Union and the Lions Club. The main sporting attraction each year was the Tug-O-War event between various mines and mine departments. Other sporting events held included the usual track and field sports plus youth baseball games. Side attractions included games of chance, ticket spins, cotton candy and other food stalls.
In my research of the holiday on Bell Island, the first indication I have found related to it is a photograph (below) of the Safety Float in the 1947 Labour Day Parade. The first mention I found in print was in the Submarine Miner of September 1954. From descriptions of the main Tug-o-War competition over the five years the Company magazine covered it, it seems that the Labour Day Sports Field events had been going on at least since 1950, but there was no actual history of Labour Day celebrations, and no mention of a parade in that magazine.
The Labour Day Sports Field events were organized jointly by the Sports Committee of Local 4121 of the Miners' Union and the Lions Club. The main sporting attraction each year was the Tug-O-War event between various mines and mine departments. Other sporting events held included the usual track and field sports plus youth baseball games. Side attractions included games of chance, ticket spins, cotton candy and other food stalls.
Safety Float in the 1947 Labour Day Parade. Written on the back of the photo was, "snap of float - parade on Bell Island 1947." Gordon (Rocky) Highmore is standing at the cab door. Information from Charlie Bown, 1990. Photo courtesy of A&SC, MUN Library: Coll-202, #1.08.001.
This is probably an earlier parade, considering the float is horse-drawn, perhaps in the 1930s. The location is the intersection of Greenwood Avenue with the East Track (now Steve Neary Blvd). The houses in the background were 3 large 2 1/2-storey Company staff family houses facing north on Greenwood. The float is near the water tower at the NE corner of the Sports Field, just behind the DOSCO Main Office. On the float is a small rock car with flap doors on the sides for the waste rock to fall out at the rockpile. Is that a drill at the back of the float? Get in touch at historic.wabana@gmail.com if you have more information on this picture. Photo posted to If You Grew Up on Bell Island Facebook Group by Kelly Babb.
Photo above of a parade going past Joe Pynn's Store at "Pynn's Corner," on the northwest corner of Main Street at Memorial Street, sometime in the 1950s or early 1960s, courtesy of Gerald Purcell. Is this a part of the Labour Day parade? If so, you can get in touch at historic.wabana@gmail.com.
The articles below regarding Labour Day celebrations on Bell Island are from the Submarine Miner from 1954 to 1958.
Labour Day, September 6, 1954 from the Submarine Miner, V. 1, No. 4, p. 6.
Labour Day, September 5, 1955 from the Submarine Miner, V. 2, No. 9, p. 7.
Labour Day, September 3, 1956 from the Submarine Miner, V. 3, No. 10, p. 7.
Labour Day, September 2, 1957, p. 8 from the Submarine Miner, V. 4, No. 9, p. 8.
Labour Day, 1958 from the Submarine Miner, V. 5, No. 10, 1958, p. 8.