In the summer of 1935, thousands of unemployed men rode freight trains eastward. Their journey changed Canada.
At the height of the ‘dirty thirties’, federal relief camps paid men a meagre 20 cents a day for grueling labour. Fed up, more than a thousand workers left the camps in B.C. in early June 1935, launching what became known as the On‑to‑Ottawa Trek. As the trains rumbled across the Prairies, people gathered trackside to offer food and cheer.
When it entered Saskatchewan on June 4, support grew. The largest group reached Regina on June 14, camping at the Exhibition Grounds while leaders travelled to Ottawa. Their arrival drew national attention to the plight of the unemployed and put pressure on governments to reform relief programs. Within weeks, the failed negotiations would ignite the July 1 Regina Riot. But the Trek’s message had already sparked lasting change in how Canada treated workers.
Learn more about 100 Years of CKRM at 620ckrm.com.
100 Years of Saskatchewan History
This article is part of a series that celebrates both the history of Saskatchewan and the 100th anniversary of one of Saskatchewan's most storied radio stations. For more key moments from the last 100 years, visit the CKRM timeline.
