Labour history

Clock In: Diane and Martin

ECAMP Comms

Diane Connors grew up knowing her dad Martin did cool work as an astrophysicist. But she’s always been curious to know more about it. In this episode of Clock In, host Jay Gilday guides Diane and Martin through a conversation about astronauts on TV, burning the midnight oil, and the changing nature of work.

A black and white photograph of a streetscape on Jasper Avenue. There is a dirt road, and a few one and two story tall wooden buildings. The middle building has a sign that reads Wing Lee Chinese Laundry. Three people in suits and hats are standing near the door.

Chinese Hand Laundries: A History of The First Chinese Entrepreneurs in Edmonton

Jessica Szeto

Cafes and laundries were common businesses for Chinese pioneers to start in early-20th century Edmonton. But the stories of their owners – and the discrimination that forced them into these industries – are less well-known. In the newest addition to ECAMP’s labour history series, author Jessica Szeto writes about laundry owners like Chung Kee and Sam Sing Mah, and the brutal conditions for laundry workers.

Clock In: Stephanie and Henry

ECAMP Comms

Stephanie Harpe says she got a lot of things from her dad Henry, including a wicked work ethic and a positive outlook on life. On this episode of Clock In, host Jay Gilday speaks with Stephanie and Henry about how he made the most of tough situations, why their family moved to Edmonton, and what Stephanie admires most about her dad to this day.

Cover art for this episode of Clock In. The text Clock in is at the top, and Tamisan Bencz-Knight and Marjorie Bencz look at the viewer below. They are each wearing headscarves and smiling.

Clock In: Tamisan and Marjorie

ECAMP Comms

Working at the same place as your mom can be a privilege and a pain. Tamisan Bencz-Knight is the Manager of Strategic Relationships & Partnerships at Edmonton’s Food Bank. Marjorie Bencz is the Executive Director, a member of the Order of Canada, and her mom. In this episode of Clock In, host Jay Gilday talks to Tamisan and Marjorie about putting food and hope on tables, following in someone’s footsteps, and what kind of team it takes to meet a crisis head on.

Cover art for this episode of Clock In. The text Clock in is at the top, and Nas and Saniya Ghalehdar look at the viewer below.

Clock In: Saniya and Nas

ECAMP Comms

Saniya Ghalehdar wants to make sure her dad Nas makes it into the history books. Nas Ghalehdar owned Teddy’s Bar & Grill on Jasper Avenue from 2006 – 2017. In this episode of Clock In, host Jay Gilday meets Saniya and Nas to learn about long hours, love stories, and finding just the right salt for the corned beef.

: A three-storey brick cell block is connected to a workshop and another large industrial building with two tall chimneys. There is a large hole in the side of one of the buildings suggesting it had started to be dismantled and/or suffered structural damage. A tilled farm field that would have been worked by prisoners is in the foreground.

Hard Times in the Alberta Penitentiary, 1906-1920

Matt Ormandy

The Alberta Penitentiary operated on Edmonton’s River Lot 20 from 1906 – 1920, where Clarke Stadium is today. It was the first federal prison in Alberta. One constant in prisoners’ lives was unpaid hard labour, from mining coal to farming potatoes.

Eight players pose for the camera in their jerseys, with their coach and a basketball.

Women Wanted to Work, and Win: The Grads Take Flight

Renée Englot

In 1932, Edmonton had the best women’s basketball team in the world: the Edmonton Commercial Graduates. But it looked like they’d have to miss a charity game that May in Calgary – they’d never be able to get there in time after work. Until, that is, the Grads’ coach rallied supporters to strap some seats into the back of two little aircraft and make history.