Labour Day weekend traditionally marks the end of summer holidays and the beginning of the school year. We were hoping to be finished with COVID-19, but we have to continue to be careful to make sure our schools stay open for in class learning. Our kids need this. You can read the latest special statements from Dr. Vera Etches and Dr. Brent Moloughney at OttawaPublicHealth.ca.
It’s a long weekend.
It should be recalled that Labour Day was set aside to honour workers and the work of the union movement that rallied for advances for workers and their families such as the weekend and an 8-hour workday. After a year and a half of living and working during the pandemic, and facing a 4th wave, it’s still the health care and frontline workers who are are most at risk. Fortunately, we have labour laws in place to protect them from working too many hours and in unsafe conditions.
We have come a long way from the first Labour Day celebrated in Canada in the 1880s and the first victory that celebrated a 54-hour work week. It is important to continue to remember that labour laws are hard won rights to protect workers and we should not take them from granted.
I do hope everyone enjoys their weekend with family and friends keeping COVID-19 precautions in place.
Be kind, stay safe, stay well,
