MEDIA LAUNCH: Alberta Federation Centennial Picnic Friday, April 20, 2012 10:30 am

WHAT:              Old Fashioned Picnic in the Park (Theme of 1912)

• The picnic will be led off by a parade of unions from City Hall that ends in Galt Gardens
• Beef buns, hotdogs, potato salad, ice cream, old fashioned lemonade
• Face painting

• Cotton candy, popcorn and shaved ice carts, water stands
            • Music from the 1900’s by the Gold and Silver Band, U of L
            • Additional entertainment by the Bamboo Guppies

• Galt Museum Saturday at 1 program brings old-fashioned games from 1 to 4pm to the park

WHEN:              Saturday, May 5, 2012; 12-4pm

WHERE:            Galt Gardens

In attendance:

• Rick Merrick, President Lethbridge & District Labour Council

• Leslie Hall, Community Program Coordinator, Galt Museum & Archives Wendy Aitkens, Curator, Galt Museum & Archives

• Members of the Labour History Committee

BACKGROUNDER:

Unions invite public to old-time celebration picnic

Lethbridge and District Labour Council sponsor old-time family picnic as part of 100 years anniversary celebration of the founding of the Alberta Federation of Labour

 LETHBRIDGE — Private and public sector unions invite the public to join in a free, family-fun old-fashioned picnic on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Galt Gardens.

This event is of special significance to the labour movement in Southern Alberta as the founding meeting was held in Lethbridge, when a group of railway workers, miners, farmers, typographers and tradespeople met to unite in the struggle for better wages, safe working conditions and political reform.

 “We’re proud to come together and celebrate our rich history,” says Lethbridge and District Labour Council president Rick Merrick. “Unions have always been an important part of Alberta’s communities and we want our neighbours to share in this fun family celebration.”

Any donations will be given to the Lethbridge Food Bank.

Other events celebrating the 100th anniversary include a concert by labour activist Maria Dunn on Friday, May 4 at the Galt Museum & Archives. Dunn will perform her “Trouble Makers” concert, an evening of songs, archives and multi-media. In addition, the Galt Museum is preparing a labour history exhibit that will include archives, photos, posters and documents of all the different unions in Southern Alberta.  The exhibit runs May 3 to October 8th.  Saturday at 1 family program moves to the park for the day bringing three-legged races and other old-fashioned picnic games (free admission). 

 For more information on all events and programs at the Galt Museum & Archives visit www.galtmuseum.com.