Labour Day festivities in North Bay will be greatly diminished this long weekend.
The event was previously known for a colourful parade and music, ending with a picnic featuring free food, bouncy castles and vendors.
According to the North Bay Labour Council website, "Every year, the Labour Day Picnic Committee organizes a huge Labour Day event. The Labour Day Picnic is family-friendly and held at North Bay’s beautiful waterfront park. Families enjoy a BBQ lunch, inflatables, carousel and train rides, and much more."
This year it will be greatly scaled down to just a march to City Hall, then MPP Vic Fedeli and MP Anthony Rota's constituency offices, which will all be closed for the long weekend.
A spokesman for Anthony Rota said there are no plans for him to participate in the parade. Likewise Fedeli's office. Mayor Chirico did not respond.
Speeches will be given at each stop on Monday, with the event ending at Rota's office on Main St. West.
"Yeah, we're definitely in a rebuilding phase for the Labour Council, so Labour Day this year is not going to be like previous years where it's been a big production down at the waterfront," Council acting president Arlene Phillips told BayToday. "Because of the rebuilding of the Labour Council this year, we're getting something much smaller."
Several retirements and family commitment issues have left the council and picnic committee short-handed. In fact, it's now a committee of one...Arlene Phillips. who is not only acting president but also acting VP and treasurer.
But she's giving it her best and hopes to cover the office windows of Fedeli and Rota with Post-it notes from constituents.
Curt Martel, Canadian Labour Congress Northern rep says "There's been some changes with the Labour Council recently and they had to change up their plans from what normally happens. It can be a challenge to fill a volunteer role sometimes."
The day starts with a small catered brunch at the OPSEU office on First Avenue starting at 11.
Organizers will also collect messages from the public to be left at the various stops
At around 12:30 marchers will walk a couple of blocks to City Hall for a pair of speeches at 1 p.m., including Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield. Executive Director Dennis Chippa from the Gathering Place will speak at Fedeli's office at 2, and then CUPW local president Cara-Lee Lyttle will wrap up the day at Rota's. at 3.
This year's theme is corporate greed.
Martel says he hopes the traditional picnic returns next year.
"That is the goal that we're working towards right now."
