BLHC – December 2020 Newsletter

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BLHC – December 2020 Newsletter

Great Coal Strike 1912-1914

New plaque recognizes the most fiercely fought labour dispute in the province’s history.

In Union Is Strength: Vancouver Island Coal Miners march in Ladysmith during 1913 strike. Ladysmith Museum & Archives 2007.034.2578

Virtual plaque unveiling on YouTube and Facebook Live this Saturday

In partnership with the Nanaimo, Duncan and District Labour Council, we have installed a plaque at Dallas Square in Nanaimo recognizing the Vancouver Island Coal Strike of 1912-1914. Our website has more video and teaching resources.

A virtual unveiling will take place on Saturday, December 12 at 10 am on both YouTube and Facebook. Set a reminder to join us!

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A Socialist Funeral for Mrs Kavanagh

Jack Kavanagh was the Vice President of the Vancouver Trades and Labor Council when his wife died during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1919. Kavanagh is well known as a fiery labour orator; his 1913 pamphlet on the Vancouver Island Coal Strike remains a classic treatise on the class struggle on Vancouver Island.

Our blog post explores the question: Who was Mrs Kavanagh? We unearthed the sad story of Hilda Harvey Kavanagh: her life, death and legacy. Our sincere appreciation to her family for helping us share her story. Note: photo at right is Hilda Harvey at a young age.

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BC labour history loses a great advocate

We are sorry to be sharing the sad news that former BCLHC board member Gary Steeves has passed away. Gary was a wealth of knowledge, dedicated to labour history and took every opportunity to share some humour or bring along a new activist. He was a long-time employee of the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU). 

Before his death, Gary was able to complete his book “Tranquility Lost” about the closure of the residential facility Tranquille in Kamloops during the Socred years and Operation Solidarity.

We send our condolences on behalf of BCLHC to Marina and the family.

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Donations are Welcome

The BC Labour Heritage Centre is a registered non-profit society and we issue official tax receipts for donations. We invite you to support our work through a donation via our Pay Pal account. Your donation can be directed to a specific project if desired. You can also mail your donation to us:

BC Labour Heritage Centre
301, 8988 Fraserton Court
Burnaby BC V5J 5H8

Or Donate by Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YSVQQB9URHFTE

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Seasonal Reading – Top Picks by Ken Novakowski

Fighting for Democracy – A Canadian Activist in Spain’s Civil War by Jim Higgins with Janette Higgins.
This book is a memoir of the life of Jim Higgins, from his early life as an orphan in England, to his move to Canada in 1928, recounting his many different jobs and experiences. Much of the book deals with his personal experiences getting to Spain and then as a member of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion of the International Brigades.
To Purchase the book click here: https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000128466221/Jim-Higgins-and-Janette-Higgins-Fighting-for-Democracy

Because They Were Women – The Montreal Massacre by Josee Boileau
It is understandable why December 6 has become a day when, across Canada, we acknowledge our ongoing struggle to end violence against women. Boileau recaps the events of that horrible day including Lepine’s stated intent to kill only women.  She dedicates a section of the book to provide readers with a brief look at the lives of each of the fourteen women, so effectively presented that that one ends up feeling they knew them.
To Purchase the book click here: https://secondstorypress.ca/adult/because-they-were-women

On the Line: A History of the British Columbia Labour Movement by Rod Mickleburgh.
This volume is the most comprehensive overview of labour’s struggle in BC and will be of particular interest to union members, community activists, academics and readers of regional history.
To Purchase the book click here: https://bc-labour-heritage-centre-store.myshopify.com/products/on-the-line-a-history-of-the-british-columbia-labour-movement

 

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