On To Ottawa

Vancouver  1992  53:00

Produced by Sara Diamond, Women’s Labour History Project & The On To Ottawa Historical Society

A documentary about the struggles and activism of the unemployed and their supporters during the 1930 s depression. Herded into isolated relief camps, single unemployed men found governments hostile to their demand for meaningful work at decent wages. In 1935, thousands boarded freight trains and headed for Ottawa in protest, while others provided encouragement and support along the way.
Based on the play by Tom Hawken, and the testimonies of those who were there, this video combines live performance with historic footage to create an important document of a fascinating time in Canadian labour history.