Pioneers of the Picket Line: Walking Tour
Sun June 29 @ 13:00 - 15:00
Curious to learn more about women’s involvement in Montreal’s garment history? Join us with local expert Melanie Leavitt for Pioneers of the Picket Line, a walking tour that explores the overlaps between industry, activism, and labour movements in Montreal.
From sweatshops to picket lines, discover the stories of women – union organizers, workers, and radicals – who paved the way for the modern labour movement, workers’ rights and women’s rights in Montreal. This walk will delve into the history and evolution of Montreal’s once thriving garment industry, spanning over a century. A special focus will be given to the life and work of Léa Roback (1903-2000), a pioneering union organizer, social activist, pacifist, and feminist in 20th century Québec.
This tour will begin at Ethel Stark Park, and will take approximately 2 hours.
This tour will be offered on June 29 (in English) and July 5 (in French). When purchasing your ticket, please be sure to select it for the date you wish to attend. Your ticket is only valid for the date you purchase for.
Click here to purchase your tickets.
Melanie Leavitt has worked on a variety of public history projects exploring labour and women’s history, including walking tours, conferences, workshops, oral history and radio projects, with a focus on women’s labour history in Québec’s garment and textile industries. She is a Board Member of Mile End Memories and Les Amis du Boulevard Saint-Laurent, a socially-engaged historic society, based in the Mile End district of Montréal. In addition to Leavitt’s own background in labour activism and its histories, she is kin to Léa Roback and serves on the Board of Directors of the Fondation Léa Roback, which provides scholarships to women in financial need who are active and engaged in their communities.
Point of Departure: We will meet at Ethel Stark Park, located on the corner of Prince-Arthur and Clark.
Weather Policy: In the event of light rain, the tour will go on as scheduled. If there is a strong warning of heavy rain and/or thunderstorms, the tour will be postponed. All registrants will have the option to attend the rescheduled tour.
Background Image: En grève avec Léa Roback et les midinettes, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montréal, 1937. Courtoisie des Archives de la Fédération des travailleurs et des travailleuses du Québec, Les Midinettes de Montréal, 1937. Domaine public.