They prepared for potentially 700 people to show up, but the Moose Jaw and District Labour Council was happy to see over 400 people on a hot day for free hot dogs, hamburgers and refreshments for their annual Labour Day celebration.
The annual barbecue celebrates and commemorates the contributions labour and workers have contributed to making the world a better place.
“It’s really nice to see people in person. We had a toned-down version this year but it was sure nice to be back,” Stacey Landin, president of the Moose Jaw and District Labour Council, said about holding the celebration after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID - 19 pandemic.
“We had a good hot day with lots of people,” Landin said. “We really had a really good pace of folks in for a lot of the day. We actually had lineups early on and we kind of petered-out getting closer to the end. It’s been a well- visited day and we are pleased with the results.”
Although there were no speeches as part of the day, it was more about commemorating and remembering not only organized labour in the past, present and future, but also a way to remember all workers past, present and future.
Although the event is mainly one of food and fellowship, it is one of importance and what the event is all about, Landin said.
“We like to remind them that it is Labour Day and that it is not just another stat(utory holiday); it is a day where we celebrate workers and the inroads we have made to protecting people in their workplace…and the moves to have people treated equitably. As well as making it a good day to celebrate workers,” she said.
Despite the heat, people were appreciative to come out and for the free barbecue.
“People sure are excited and we hear lots of thank yous,” she said, adding “of course we didn’t have our entertainment this year or we would have had lots of things to keep the kids busy but we will hopefully build up to that next year,” Landin said.
The Labour Council did not have such things as bouncy castles and other children’s activities this year as an extra precaution to help prevent the spread of the virus that caused the COVID - 19 pandemic.
“We also know when kids congregate, we also know it makes it harder to make sure the surfaces they are on are germ free. We wanted kids to go back as healthy as they could be and not be affected by our event,” she said.
“We didn’t know what to expect so we wanted to be over prepared (by having enough food for 700 people).”
Despite not having the number of people, they were prepared for none of the food will go to waste.
“We were prepared for probably about 700 so the Riverside Mission will see some results from that. They will get the stuff that wasn’t cooked,” she said. “We are not going to waste a thing. But there wasn’t a whole lot made that we didn’t use.”
In the past three years, when the event could not be held due to the COVID - 19 pandemic, the Moose Jaw and District Labour Council made donations to such organizations as the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank.
Landin said she wanted to thank the local unions and organizations whose generous support made the annual free community barbecue a reality.
“We think the best thing we can do is to make sure people have some food in their bellies. And we are thankful to celebrate and thankful to the unions that supported (us).”
She also wanted to thank the Real Canadian SuperStore and the Moose Jaw Co-op who sold the food to the event at well below the regular retail price.
The original story can be found here.
