People took to the streets Monday in Ottawa to remind people that Labour Day isn't just an excuse to have a long weekend, but a celebration of worker's rights.
The annual Labour Day parade wound through the streets of downtown Ottawa with a variety of groups walking for the workforce.
"Just to try and ensure the fair wage that they get during the day and that they have a healthy and safe workplace," said Sean McKenny.
"It's all about labour, what we did for all of our lives," said Henry Veilleux of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. "All the buildings you see around here, tradesmen worked at them – built them for the people."
The message especially relevant when there's a strike by college support workers across Ontario.
"It means we're part of a community as a whole," said Jan Strickland with OPSEU local 460. "It just bonds people and it gives us a focus for what we're doing and it gives us support so we don't feel alone in this."
The parade has been happening since 1872, before the holiday was officially recognized by the federal government in 1894.
This edition paid homage to labour supporters from the past, as well as those recently lost.
"Jack (Layton) will be in their minds for sure," McKenny said. "When he spoke, Jack spoke about working people and this is a day for working people."
The wife of Andre Cornellier, the former head of Ottawa's transit union who passed away in January, wore his rings as she rode in the parade in his honour.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Karen Soloman
