Looks like the City’s ‘interpretive centre’ for the Winnipeg
General Strike is complete. And once again we can see how the legacy
of the General Strike is being downgraded and denigrated by those in power
today.
The steel billboard commemorates a few key words from a
textbook description of Strike events. There is an emphasis on the placement of
the Strike in this part of the city. If the intention was to create something
photogenic for tourists, it has succeeded.
Clearly the intention was not to recognized the courage and
commitment of the thousands of working people who stood up for their rights in 1919. This thing
certainly doesn’t reflect any of the values and principles that played an
important role in the Strike. And to add insult to injury this passive
structure ignores what the Strike means to Winnipeggers of the past and
present.
Come to Market Avenue and Lily Street to see it. Tell me what you think.
See if you can pick out the historical inaccuracies they have cut into steel!
October 2017
Unveiling November 3rd, 2017
Without a great deal of publicity and community participation, the billboard was unveiled today. See the CBC report;
Unveiling November 3rd, 2017
Without a great deal of publicity and community participation, the billboard was unveiled today. See the CBC report;
