Kamloops Labour Day Picnic Returns September 7 as KDLC Celebrates 70 Years

Free community celebration at McDonald Park will feature live music, family activities, street hockey, food and prizes

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — August 13, 2026 — The Kamloops & District Labour Council (KDLC) is inviting workers, families and the entire community to celebrate Labour Day at McDonald Park on Monday, September 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This year’s annual Labour Day Picnic will be an especially meaningful one as KDLC celebrates 70 years as part of the Canadian Labour Congress, marking seven decades of solidarity, advocacy and bringing working people together across Kamloops and the surrounding region.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

“Labour Day is about celebrating the gains working people have made together and recognizing the work that still lies ahead,” said Lois Rugg, President of the Kamloops & District Labour Council. “This year is particularly special for us as we celebrate our 70th year. We are proud of the history of the labour movement in our region, and we want to celebrate that history with the whole community.”

The 2026 picnic will feature live music from The Dave Coalmine Band, along with a full afternoon of entertainment and activities for all ages.

Families can enjoy face painting, Sancho the Clown, kids’ activities and Funzone, while the Kamloops Storm hockey club will host a street hockey exhibition on the pickleball court. Community members are welcome to join in and play.

The picnic will also include union and community displays, prizes, and a barbecue hosted by the United Steelworkers (USW). Food from the BBQ will be available by donation, with proceeds going to charity.

“Labour Day has always been about more than a day off,” Rugg said. “The things many of us now take for granted, from safer workplaces and weekends to better wages and a voice at work, were won because working people stood together. The picnic is a chance to celebrate those achievements, enjoy some time together and continue building that sense of community.”

For KDLC, this year’s anniversary is also an opportunity to recognize the generations of local workers, union members, activists and community allies who have contributed to the labour movement over the past 70 years.

The Labour Day Picnic continues a long tradition of bringing union members and the broader public together in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.

Food. Fun. Solidarity. Celebrating workers and building community.

Event Details

What: Annual Kamloops & District Labour Council Labour Day Picnic
Date: Monday, September 7, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: McDonald Park, Kamloops
Admission: Free
Who: Everyone is welcome

Attractions and Activities

• Live music featuring The Dave Coalmine Band
• Kamloops Storm street hockey
• Face painting
• Sancho the Clown
• Kids’ activities and Funzone
• Union and community displays
• Prizes
• United Steelworkers BBQ, by donation, with proceeds going to charity