Oshawa hosting annual Labour Day picnic at Memorial Park

In a city with powerful union roots, the annual Labour Day Picnic at Oshawa’s Memorial Park has always been an important date on the calendar, especially for the city’s many unionized members.

This year the event, put on by the Durham Region Labour Council, takes on extra significance as it’s Oshawa’s 100 birthday since its incorporation as a ‘city’ in 1924.

“This Labour Day, we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Oshawa and honoring the incredible contributions of the workers who have shaped our city over the past century,” the council said in a Facebook post, while encouraging attendees to come “dressed in your union swag.”

“This event is a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together, relax, and appreciate the fruits of our collective efforts.”

The Labour Day event will be held Monday (natch) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Memorial Park in downtown Oshawa and will include free food, events for the kids and the whole family and live music from Postman Dan, with special guest B.A. Johnston.

The Durham Region Labour Council represents more than 25 union locals and about 55,000 unionized workers. The Council brings them together for regular meetings at the IBEW Hall in Oshawa.