May 1, or May Day, is the traditional workers’ holiday, a day that working people celebrate the gains they have won over the years and commit to fighting for a better future for everyone. It’s also just 1 month before the June 2 provincial election.
Join CUPE members, and workers from across the province as we take action and call for better public services, higher wages, making the wealthy pay their fair share, strengthening workers’ rights and fighting inequality and the climate emergency. Click here to find your local event and RSVP to the OFL’s (Ontario Federation of Labour’s) May Day events across the province.
CUPE Ontario is working closely with other unions and community groups through the Ontario Federation of Labour, to support all the different actions taking place across the province. There will be actions in cities across the province, as well as a rally right in Doug Ford’s backyard at 2pm at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
| Region | Event | Time | Where | Additional Info | Confirmed CUPE Presence |
| Barrie | Rally | 10:00 a.m. | Meridian Place
30 Simcoe St |
Join the send-off rally to support those traveling by bus to participate in the Toronto rally at 2:00 p.m. To book your seat on the bus, email [email protected].
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Yes Many CUPE Locals Join Laura Walton, President of the OSBCU, who will be speaking at the rally |
| Brampton | Rally and March | 12:00 p.m. | Gage Park
45 Main St S |
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| Brantford | 66th Annual Soap Box Derby | 9:00 a.m | Top of Icomm Drive Hill
Brantford |
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| Guelph | 11:00 am
12:00 p.m. 1 p.m. 2:00 p.m |
Goldie Mill Ruins, 75 Cardigan ST
139 Gordon St |
Alan Pickersgill Soapbox memorial
Community Walk and Rally Decorating party for Car Caravan Send off Rally for Car Caravan |
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| Hamilton | Rally
May 1st celebration |
12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. |
Gore Park
1 Hughson St S Gage Park 1000 Main St E |
Join us to fight for a workers-first agenda and decent work for all. Following the rally, buses will take participants to the May Day Celebration in Gage Park. | Yes
Many CUPE Locals Join our CUPE Ontario Board member, Barry Conway, who will be at the rally |
| Kenora | Brunch and celebration | 9:30 a.m. | 300 MCCLELLAN AVE | Kenora Pancake Breakfast Celebration | |
| Kitchener-Waterloo | Rally | 3:00 p.m. | 85 Frederick St, Kitchener | Rally and carnival of resistance | Join Our Secretary-Treasurer, Yolanda McClean, who will be in this rally and carnival of resistance. |
| London | Rally | 9:30 a.m
11:00 a.m 12:30 p.m 2:00 p.m |
81 Front St W, Strathroy
331 Thames St 580 Clarence St, London |
Rally, Labour Minister Monte McNaughton’s
Tolpudddle Award ceremony Rally in Victoria Park Car Caravan |
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| North Bay | Rally | 12:30 p.m. | 200 McIntyre St E | Rally and March followed by outdoor social | |
| Oshawa | Rally | 1:00 p.m. | Memorial Park
110 Simcoe St S |
Join this family-friendly event to celebrate the struggles of working people in our communities. Following the rally, a community fair will take place with food, live music, and entertainment. |
Join Members of the CUPE Dhuram-Thumberland District Council, who will be present at the event. Join Our 4th VP, Sandra Forsythe, who will be at the rally |
| Ottawa | Rally & March | 12:00 p.m. | Ottawa Court House
161 Elgin St |
Rally at Ottawa Court House (12:00 PM), followed by a Block Party at Confederation Park (2:00 PM) | |
| Peterborough | Rally | 1:00 p.m | 500 George St N | ||
| Sault Ste. Marie | Rally | 12:30 p.m | 390 Bay St. | Rally MPP Ross Romano’s Constituency Office | Join Our CUPE Ontario Indigenous Rep, Dawn Bellerose, at the rally |
| St. Catharines | Rally & March | 1:00 p.m. | ServiceOntario Building
301 St Paul St |
Join Our 3rd VP, Brittany Nisbett, who will be at the rally | |
| Strathroy | Rally | 9:30 a.m | 81 Front St W | Rally at the constituency office of local MPP and Labour Minister Monte McNaughton. | |
| Sudbury | Rally & March | 1 p.m. | Tom Davies Square
200 Brady St |
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| Thunder Bay | Rally | 2 p.m. | Waverley Park
Thunder Bay |
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| Toronto | Rally | 2:00 p.m. | Queen’s Park, south lawn
College St & University Ave Our leader, President Fred Hahn will stop at many of these feeder marches and will be at Queens Park |
Climate justice: 11:30 a.m. at Grange Park, south of Dundas St W & Beverley St
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists: 1:00 p.m. at Grange Park, south of Dundas St W & Beverley St Decent Work & Health Network: 11:30 AM at Grange Park, south of Dundas St W & Beverley St Education: 12:30 PM at Heydon Park Secondary School, north of Dundas St W & Beverley St Health care: 1:00 PM at Toronto Region Courthouse, 361 University Ave, University Ave & Armoury St Justice for Workers: 11:30 11:30 AM at Grange Park, south of Dundas St W & Beverley St Post-secondary: 12:30 p.m. at X University, Gould St & Victoria St Labour May Day Committee: International workers day celebration. Rally at noon in Nathan Phillips Square and march to Queen’s Park at 1:30 p.m Migrant Workers: 11:30 AM at Grange Park, south of Dundas St W & Beverley St Migrant Workers: 11:30 AM at Grange Park, south of Dundas St W & Beverley St Steelworkers: 12:30 PM at United Steelworkers’ Hall, 25 Cecil St Transit Workers: 12:30 PM at Toronto Coach Terminal, 610 Bay St |
Join hundreds of Local 4400 workers in this march. Ice cream truck will be in place
Join our university workers with their leader, David Simao, who will be at this feeder march Join a group of CUPE activists along with our CUPE Ontario Young workers rep, Moe Alqasem, who will be speaking at this rally |
| Windsor | Rally | 1 p.m. | Charles Park Square
215 Chatham St. E. |
It’s time to elect a government that believes in strong public services and making life better for workers – and for everyone across Ontario.
RSVP and check back here to stay updated on the details for May 1 actions across the province and the participation of CUPE members in all these events.
