With the end of summer approaching, many see Labour Day as a day off in which to savour the last long weekend of summer before becoming immersed in fall routines.

Celebrated since 1894, the day is a reminder of what working lives were like in the past. In 1872, workers in the Toronto Typographical Union struck for the right to work nine hours instead of up to 12 hours for the same pay, and also in that year, the Trade Union Act made union activities legal.

Music was a murky area which wasn’t straightforward in terms of hours worked, length of performances, or job security. It was up to theatre owners to set the terms of employment.

Inspired by the unionization in other trades, a group of musicians including my great-grandfather, Teck Culley, a flautist, music teacher and composer, banded together (forgive the pun) in 1887 to improve their livelihoods.

At that time, there was much debate about whether........

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