Tolpuddle Award Ceremony 2022
11am-12pm followed by a march to Victoria Park
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST Peace Park 331 Thames St. London, ON N6A 5N8
Trade unions in Canada were illegal up to 1872. A protest by workers who demonstrated against the injustices’ imposed on 24 Toronto Typographical Union members who were imprisoned for fighting for a nine hour day caused the then Prime Minister Sir John A. McDonald to abolish the laws that made being a union member illegal.
Whilst Unions were illegal in Canada at that time unions were legal in England and this is where the connection between the Tolpuddle Martyrs begins. Although it was legal to belong to a union, trumped up charges were laid against the martyrs that to take an oath to support the cause of workers collectively, was illegal, thus the sentencing of the Martyrs to serve 7 years in a penal colony in Tasmania “Australia” 1834.
The labour movement in England demonstrated against this injustice and was successful in bringing the Martyrs back home to their home town of Tolpuddle. Still there were those people in authority who did not want the return of the Martyrs. The Martyrs were given leased land in Essex’ England from donations collected by the union movement. There came a time when the lease had to be renewed. The five of the Martyrs decided to move to Canada. It must be remembered that Union were illegal at that time in Canada. The Martyrs made a vow not to disclose to their new found friends in Canada of their deportation to Tasmania. Still the Martyrs led successful and productive lives in London and the surrounding area as leaders within their communities.
The London and District Labour Council invite you to join us for our Tolpuddle Ceremony on Saturday, May 1st, 2022.
We will commence our ceremonies at the Peace Park off of York Street at Thames River at 11:00 am. We will begin a march at 11:30 to Victoria Park to join the other May 1st International Worker’s Day rally at the Northwest corner – Central and Richmond Streets. Once the May 1st rally at Victoria Park, members can then join in the car caravan for an exciting May 1st International Workers Day in Kitchener Waterloo.
Please share with your co-workers, friends, union activists and friends. This is a day for recognition of ALL workers and their efforts and contributions during the past two and half years.
We hope to see you there!