Editor:
The Sunshine Coast Labour Council’s annual Labour Day Picnic at Dougall Park in Gibsons has been an opportunity for us to give back to the community for over a quarter-century – to celebrate labour with good food, games, entertainment, and inspiring labour speakers.
All of this is at no cost to the guests. It has been a chance for members of our affiliated unions to come together and work in solidarity and realize how blessed we are to have a well-established “union” job, and share our prosperity with others.
Since COVID-19 protocol measures continue, the SCLC Labour Day Picnic committee has decided to focus our energies on assisting our local food bank with union local affiliates’ financial donations to purchase a pallet of canned tuna and jars of peanut butter instead of hosting the large Labour Day Picnic.
We have been working with United Way’s Union Protein Project (proteinproject.ca) again this year to ensure we make a noticeable impact in our community.
Food banks in B.C. regularly experience shortages of protein-based food and struggle to ensure that vulnerable people get this key nourishment. Many families are struggling to provide the nourishment that is essential for their health, and children make up over 45 per cent of people relying on B.C. food banks.
The Union Protein Project is one of the community partnership programs to address the shortages of protein at B.C.’s food banks and the shortages of governance that leaves people vulnerable. SCLC believes that in a more inclusive and equal society, no child, family or community needs food banks. People need real choices and good jobs that feed them, their families and their community.
Please stay tuned for more Labour Day activities and we look forward to seeing you in person at the 2022 Labour Day Picnic.
Miyuki Shinkai, President, Sunshine Coast Labour Council