September 2026

September has arrived and with it Labour Day. What is Labour Day? Surprisingly to myself, I didn’t know until I researched it. It started back in 1872 in Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario, with what was called “The Nine-Hour Movement”.

Workers banded together and campaigned for a 54-hour workweek, six nine hour days which was a reduction from the existing 72-hour work week, or six 12 hour days.

Employers rejected the demands and so the Toronto Typographical Union went on strike March 25th, 1872. This probably would have been the equivalent of shutting down the internet by today’s measure.  Canada was still under old British law at this time, which made unions illegal. The strike leaders were arrested and imprisoned.  In response to this, on April 15, 1872 the Toronto Trades Assembly organized a massive demonstration of over ten thousand people in support of the strike leaders.

 Support grew all across the country and the massive public support forced Sir John A. MacDonald to repeal anti-union laws.  A parade was held in Ottawa in 1882 in support of all the demonstrations, and Canada made the first Monday of September officially a statutory holiday and called it Labour Day.  That was in 1894, twenty-two years after the first demonstrations.

 The USA, inspired by Canadian workers followed suit in 1894.  And that’s how democracy works.

 Hopefully our club can get on a better roll in the coming weeks and months. With the picnic cancelled, the Uchuck trip also cancelled and King Richard a no-show, things can only get better. 

 Enjoy September and the long weekend known as Labour Day,

President Pat 

President Pat