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Two Days In May

On May 1, 1979, a friend, who was working on a documentary video of the May Day celebrations, asked me if I would take still photographs. I did.  First at the Legislature and later at a second rally held at the Ukrainian Farmer Labour Temple on Pritchard Avenue. During the day, it was mentioned (often) that 1979 was the 60th anniversary year of the 1919 General Strike. Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister and Sterling Lyon was Premier of Manitoba.

When 1994 arrived, I photographed the May Day celebrations, on the 75th anniversary of the 1919 General Strike. It truly was a celebration. May Day 1979 had been more of a solemn observance (I saw only one woman handing out balloons). In 1994, there were plays, giant puppets, musicians, huge banners and an expanded world view. And, at the same time, it was about the 1919 General Strike. Jean Chretien was Prime Minister and Gary Filmon was Premier of Manitoba.

There is a comments section at the end of the exhibit. Comments and/or additional information are welcome.

Parade marshalling area, Lily Street Winnipeg

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade marshalling area, Lily Street, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade marshalling area, Lily Street, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Dick Martin, President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, center right, rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade marshalling area, Lily Street, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade on Main Street, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade on Main Street, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade on Main Street, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade at Portage Avenue and Main Street, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade at Portage Avenue and Main Street, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade on Portage Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

On Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade on Portage Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Parade on Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Al Cerilli in performance on 1919 Strike leaders, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Judy Wasylicia-Leis (l.) and Al Cerilli (r) during performance on the 1919 Strike leaders, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Leader of the Opposition, MLA Howard Pawley, rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Performance on 1919 Strike leaders, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Rally at Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at Manitoba Legislature, Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Rally on Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at the Ukrainian Farmer Labour Temple, Pritchard Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Children with the world, rally on Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at the Ukrainian Farmer Labour Temple, Pritchard Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Rally on Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at the Ukrainian Farmer Labour Temple, Pritchard Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Paul Moist, President of CUPE Local 500, at rally on Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at the Ukrainian Farmer Labour Temple, Pritchard Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979

Rally on Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1994

Rally at the Ukrainian Farmer Labour Temple, Pritchard Avenue, Winnipeg Mb

May 1 1979
Two Days In May

6 Responses

  1. Great exhibit. I was a month from turning 11 years old in May 1979. I remember my dad talking about Pawley quite a bit. I recognized him immediately in the photo. Funny how some people a burned into memory.

    1. Thank you Brian. One of my first jobs was with the Mb government doing a printing for the Provincial Archives… began my 1919 Strike education there.

  2. Really great photos, Rob! Both documentary and artistic. Not sure how I missed the ’94 parade, other than working on the exhibit at MMMN.

  3. Rob,
    Excellent documentation coupled with a great eye. Reminds me of some of the classic WPA photo work.
    Congratulations.
    Chuck Sutyla

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