CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

Grand Falls-Windsor holds 90th Labour Day parade
Last Updated: Monday, September 6, 2010

Union supporters marched through Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., Monday in their 90th Labour Day parade.

The morning parade kicked of celebrations that also include children's activities, a concert and a big Labour Day scoff.

Kathy Oake, president of the Central Newfoundland District Labour Council, said local unions are bouncing back after the closure of the AbitibiBowater Mill last year.

"We move on from here," she said. "Labour does not stop."

Oake said the roots of the Newfoundland labour movement started in her district.

"We're very, very passionate about what we do here, passionate about our community, and we're definitely passionate and very proud of our 90th Labour Day celebrations."

NDP Leader Lorraine Michael was also upbeat as she prepared for the parade.

"They still have … a lot of unionized workers and they're going to celebrate who they are," she said.

In February 2009, AbitibiBowater shut down its paper mill in Grand Falls-Windsor, ending a century of operations in central Newfoundland. That put 450 mill workers and 250 foresters out of work in the community of 13,000 people.