Labour Day
Posted by chandra on September 7, 2026 at 8:30 am
Brothers and sisters,
As we head into Labour Day weekend, I believe it is important that we take a moment to pause and reflect not only on what we have today, but on the people who came before us and the sacrifices they made to build it.
The rights, wages, benefits, protections, and dignity we have as working people were not simply handed to us. They were fought for. They were earned through hardship, sacrifice, solidarity, and, at times, great personal cost. Men and women stood together and demanded something better not just for themselves, but for the generations that would follow.
I think about that often.
The IBEW has given me more than I could ever repay. It has given me a brotherhood, a purpose, a livelihood, and the opportunity to stand alongside some of the hardest-working people I have ever known. For that, I will remain grateful for the rest of my life.
But we must also remember that the fight is never far away.
Every day, there are those who would chip away at the things generations of working people have fought so hard to achieve. There are those who believe that the wealth created by working people should flow increasingly into the hands of the few, while the many are asked to accept less.
That is why solidarity matters.
This Labour Day weekend, I will be reflecting on all of this. But most of all, I will be thankful.
Thankful for you.
You are the people who build this country. You keep its lights on. You build its infrastructure, maintain its industries, develop its natural resources, and keep the machinery of Canada moving.
Thank you for the countless weeks and months spent away from your families. Thank you for the early mornings, the long shifts, the difficult conditions, and the miles travelled to put food on the table and build a better future.
Thank you to those who work in our natural resource industries, helping mine and process the resources that keep Canadians safe, warm, connected, and prosperous.
Thank you, you, are the electrical workers who build, maintain, and expand the grid that powers this great country.
And thank you to every working person who gets up each day, goes to work, and contributes to something bigger than themselves.
To those who are away from home this long weekend, know that your sacrifice matters.
To those fortunate enough to be home, hug your loved ones a little tighter. Take a moment to appreciate the time together. Rest, recharge, and enjoy the people who make all the hard work worthwhile.
And as we celebrate Labour Day, let us never forget where we came from, who fought for us, and what we have a responsibility to protect for those who come after us.
Be proud of what you do.
Be thankful for what we have.
Stand together for what comes next.
And above all, be safe.
In solidarity