A lasting tradition

The 90th annual Labour Day parade was not a huge one in size, by any means. In fact, it just barely met the criteria for a Labour Day parade, by Grand Falls-Windsor’s standards.

A single paper hat was seen. Only a dozen or so union members walked the route. Two kids on decorated bikes.

But that was not the point.

The biggest story about the Labour Day parade was that one was held at all.

A sidebar to that story is the number of people who came out to watch.

Hundreds of folks lined the parade route from Main Street and up Lincoln Road to the parking lot of the union building.

These people must’ve known there was not going to be floats in abundance for them to see. Many of them had marched in previous parades. Maybe they had even worn the paper hats paper makers donned every year for the walk.

But the people came to watch anyways.

The tradition of a Labour Day parade has survived wars, economic strife and the closure of the paper mill.

It has persevered – just as the people who have marched in it and those who watched  it have persevered.

The organizing duo of Kathy Oake and Dianne Murdoch will sheepishly deny they have carried the parade for the past couple of years, but it is because they refuse to let it end that it has carried on. They and their band of helpers deserve a hearty thank you.

There were politicians and union leaders in attendance as well. And while we often berate both groups for having only their best interests at heart, the fact they arrived to take part in the event gives it credibility.

These people could have taken a day off for a change to do renovations on their homes or simply enjoy the sunny day with family, but they chose to march for an hour to thank those who also work hard to keep our economy going.

As many of the speakers Monday said, Labour Day is not just about organized workers, it is there for all people who work.

So again the people of Grand Falls-Windsor have shown they are not about to pack up their lunch baskets and move away. Traditions such as the Labour Day parade – possibly the only parade in Atlantic Canada – are what will help sustain our identity since papermaking is now a part of our history.

The simple act of stopping traffic and walking a few miles has served, once again, to show the rest of the province who we are and that we will not give up easily.

David Newell