Holiday: Labour Day Parade

The Scarborough Pipes and Drums marched in Toronto's Labour Day Parade down Queen Street West on 7-September-2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Toronto's Labour Day Parade has the distinction of having what is likely the highest participant to observer ratio of any parade here. The route tends to quite empty along virtually its entire length. There are a number of reasons for this, including a relatively long route (west on Queen Street from University to Dufferin, and then south to the Canadian National Exhibition grounds) and high percentage of parade supporters marching in the parade itself (since all unions participate and all parade participants get into the Canadian National Exhibition for free).


Toronto Mayor David Miller addressed the crowds in front of City Hall before the Labour Day Parade on 7-September-2009

The Labour Day Parade always starts with a rally in front of City Hall before the procession itself moves west. Despite his role in the city worker's strike just weeks ago, mayor David Miller did address the crowd along with Canadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza. Though he received praise from Lewenza and other union leaders during the rally, Miller did not walk the parade route.


The "Sisters in the Trades" marched past Campbell House during the Labour Day Parade on 7-September-2009

The Labour Day Parade is remarkable for its sheer length. There are so many different unions with their members that the parade runs continuously at its starting point from 9:30 in the morning to nearly 1 pm, and does not conclude at the Canadian National Exhbition until 2 pm.


A group demonstrated for changes to the Employment Insurance program along the Labour Day Parade route on 7-September-2009

An amusing side show was taking place near Spadina during the parade. A group was lined up on the north sidewalk of Queen holding up large letters spelling out "Fix E.I." referring to the ongoing controversy over inequities in Employment Insurance nationwide. A figure caricaturing Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood to the right, and would make the "E.I." letters crooked periodically, then the people carrying the "Fix" letters would come over and beat on Harper and fix the letters. The spectacle was quite popular with the passing parade. I thought it would have been a nice touch if they had moved the the "F" and "I" together and stood Harper in front of the "I" as that would have made "AXE" Harper.


A child marching in the Labour Day Parade held one of the best of the day's giveaways, a Frisbee-style throwing ring on 7-September-2009

One of the best aspects of the Labour Day Parade is the quality of the giveaways for the observers who do attend. This year, Coca-Cola was giving away free cans of their products, Canadian Auto Workers local 4457 was handing out a foam maple leaf-shaped visor, and the United Food And Commercial Workers Union gave out frisbee-style throwing rings.

It may have been a tough year for unions, but other than a few "locked out" and "on strike" signs, there was no sign of that in the 2009 Labour Day Parade.