1930 to 1939
In spite of the crash of 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression, the thirties were, ironically, a time of growth and revitalization for Maillardville and the French community. The Canadian gross national product plummeted by 40% in the first years of the depression and unemployment soared to 27%. This dark time in Canadian history spurred a chain of events in Maillardville galvanizing the French community and bringing new growth to it.
The deepening gloom of the early thirties was not able to completely dampen the spirit of our villagers. People continued to socialize, play sports and work as they could. The life of the church community not only survived the decade, but saw strengthening and growth. Young couples were married in the Church, children baptized. One such occasion, the wedding of Romeo Couture (son of pioneer Louis Couture) to Olida Messier in 1930, was recorded:
"A pretty wedding took place on Wednesday morning in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes when Miss Olida Messier, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zoel Messier, became the bride of Mr. Romeo Couture, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Couture, Brunette Street East. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Father F.X. Teck. The bride, who entered the church with her father to the strains of Mendelssohn's wedding march played by Miss Bertha Marcellin was attired in white crepe de chine and georgette, with hat to match and carried a bouquet of white carnations and sweet peas. Miss Juliette Couture, sister of the groom, who was bridesmaid, wore a gown of pink crepe de chine and georgette, with hat to match, and carried a bouquet of pink carnations and sweet peas. Mr. Exias Messier, brother of the bride was best man. During the service in the church which was attractively decorated with white roses, ferns and sweet peas, solos were sung by Mrs. W. Dicaire, Mrs. Joe Sauve, Mrs. R. Bellerose and Miss G. Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Romeo Couture will take up residence on Nelson Road."
Circle F baseball was still popular, and followed closely in the papers, the Columbian, September 11, 1931:
"FRASER MILLS AND CAFE MEET ON WEDNESDAY Fraser Cafe and Fraser Mills will meet in the second contest of the three game series for the city senior B baseball championship and the Homer Leash cup Thursday evening. The game will be at Queen's Park at 5:45pm Fraser Mills won the first game by one run. The box score of the initial contest follows."
That box score showed the game was won 5-4 with Boileau scoring two runs and LeRoux and Sauve with one apiece.
Nonetheless, Maillardville was not spared the trials of the depression. An early consequence was that Fraser Mills, a mainstay of Maillardville's ongoing livelihood, fell on bad times. With few orders on its books, management initiated a series of wage cuts that eventually led to the strike of 1931.
The strike of 1931
It is important to note the context within which the strike took place. Wage cuts brought on by a worsening economy, unsafe work conditions and no overtime pay all contributed to discontent among the workers at Fraser Mills, making it fertile ground for action. The twenties and thirties were a time of heightened activity for the Communist Party of Canada. The drive to organize labour swept North America, driven in large part by communist interests. The lumber industry of the Pacific Northwest and BC was a particular target of these forces. As one might expect, there was a serious backlash to this movement by government, business and the Church. There is no doubt that the Fraser Mills strike was instigated by outside forces. According to an interview with Harold Pritchett, a key strike organizer, it was at a meeting in New Westminster in early 1931 that the plan to organize and strike at Fraser Mills found its beginning:
"Executives of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union came out from Vancouver and distributed a leaflet at the gate when we were coming out of work and the leaflet called for a meeting at the Labour Temple in new Westminster behind the courthouse and set the time and date. And I went to that meeting. And one of the members of the executive…called the meeting to order and made a short speech on the importance of organizing a union. I would judge about 50 or 60 Fraser Mills workers showed up at the meeting…I walked to the front and signed the first card and all the rest followed. That was in the early part of 1931."
Pritchett himself allegedly had close ties to the Communist Party of Canada, although he denied membership. After several meetings, the recruitment (some say in secret) of members and the formation of a strike committee headed by Pritchett, the fledgling union was ready for action. On September 16, 1931 they presented a list of demands in the name of the Lumber and Agricultural Workers' Industrial Union (affiliated with the communist controlled Workers Unity League). They included a 10% wage hike, equality in wages regardless of marital status or race, and above all, recognition of the union. The owners and shareholders, represented by H.J. Mackin, refused stating that a 10% cut was more likely. On September 17, the workers went on strike. The Columbian Daily ran the headline:
"Big Fraser Mills Plant Closed as Men Call Strike 700 workers idle and Company Management states that no attempt will be made to resume operations--Walk Out follows unsuccessful attempt by Employees to secure wage increase after series of slashes--Firm contends Vancouver Agitators responsible--One man dragged from vehicle by Crowd--Automobile of H.J. Mackin stoned--Many Police dispatched to Mount guard--Members of Unemployed Organization active in Proceedings."
1 return to top next
