Today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Communist Party of Canada. The party was formed in Guelph, Ontario on May 28, 1921. It is the second oldest political party in the country.
As a press release from the party notes:
That historic event for working people in Canada took place in conditions of illegality and secrecy due to the War Measures Act, left in place after World War One to prevent revolutionary-minded workers from organizing a Communist Party and another confrontation like the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. “The War Measures Act didn’t stop history however, with several general strikes since, and a Communist Party that has a glowing history and a growing membership,” said Elizabeth Rowley, leader of the Communist Party.
The Communist Party of Canada’s notable contributions to the history of Canada include helping to build much of the existing labour movement of today throughout the 1930’s and 40’s, fighting against the Cold War McCarthyism that afflicted Canada in the 1950’s, and contributing to massive movements against nuclear weapons, the war in Vietnam and international solidarity movements against apartheid and other fascist governments.
On The Left Chapter we have looked at many of the party's leaflets and writings by some of its most famous members such as those of hero of the Spanish Civil War and Chinese Revolution Norman Bethune, Annie Buller, Tim Buck, Stanley Ryerson and others.
The party will be holding an online celebration of its history on May 30 at 1:30 EDT. It will be streamed on You Tube. See their Facebook event for more details.
“Our celebrations are held under the conditions of a world-wide pandemic, mass unemployment, deep economic crisis, environmental crisis, and new imperialist wars of domination and subjugation. Far from abating, the class struggle and the need for a revolutionary working class party of socialism is greater than ever,” - Elizabeth Rowley.
