Telling Alberta Workers' Story

Abstract

Alvin Finkel, "Telling Alberta Workers' Story": This paper will deal with the strengths and weaknesses of the Alberta Labour History Institute's efforts to work closely with the union movement in "Project 2012" to tell the story of 100 years of the Alberta Federation of Labour and the working class more generally. Project 2012 involved a variety of initiatives including a peer-reviewed book on the history of working people in Alberta, a number of pamphlets dealing with important themes in Alberta labour history, a series of videos, and various public events throughout the province. On the one hand, the collaboration meant financial help from the Fed and individual unions, easier access to workers for interviews, and easier dissemination of our research to working people. On the other hand, it raised issues of self-censorship to please our funders.