ALHI to sponsor free concerts and workshops on Summer of ’86

The Alberta Labour History Institute plans free events in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton on the Summer of ’86 – the year “Alberta workers rebelled against efforts to hold them responsible for an economic crisis” and took part in six major strikes.

On Saturday, May 28, Juno Award winning musician Maria Dunn and company will present “Packingtown” at the Red Deer Museum, 4525-47A Avenue at 7:30 pm. This free concert is jointly sponsored by ALHI and the Red Deer and District Labour Council.

On Sunday, May 29, Maria Dunn and company present another free performance of Packingtown at the John Dutton Theatre in the Calgary Public Library, Central Branch, 616 Macleod Trail Southeast, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. This concert is jointly sponsored by the Canadian Committee on Labour History, ALHI, the Calgary and District Labour Council, Mount Royal University, the Calgary Public Library, the Chinook County Historical Society, the Society for Socialist Studies, and Between the Lines Press. Former CDLC Chair Gord Christie will also speak.

The largest event will be a free Edmonton workshop on June 4 on the Summer of ’86, proving a chance to learn about and discuss the lessons of that summer of labour militancy 30 years ago. The workshop will be at the Ukrainian Centre, 11018 - 97 Street in Edmonton from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Participants will attempt to answer this question: What can we learn from that summer of discontent? Participants will also be asked how Alberta working people should respond to a new economic crisis. The workshop will include a video presentation of “Packingtown.”

Lunch, dinner and childcare will be provided at no charge.

While the workshop and concerts are free and open to all, ALHI asks that participants register at albertalabourhistory.org or ALHI’s Facebook page so they know how much food to prepare and child care attendants to have on hand.

~