The Regina Riot: 1935
Date
1967
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The depression of the 1930's confronted Canadians with
shrinking markets, falling prices, a drought-stricken Prairie
region and mass unemployment. Consequently there was an
enormous burden of relief and welfare. Financial support
from the Dominion was needed in all areas, but since not all
areas were affected equally some required more assistance than
others. The federal government gave grants and loans to the
provinces to assist "('with relief costs and Ln some cases
increased provincial subsidies. To alleviate distress the
Dominion also carried on a public works program and established
relief camps for single men.
No t everyone viewed the depression in the same way.
In 1930 the Horkers' Unity League was established to organize
labour into "revolutionary unions" for the struggle against
capitalism. The League worked under the assumption that a
time of crisis was favorable both in terms of the expansion
of the League and the onslaught on the existing system.
At the mid point of the 1930's several hundred men on
the initiative of a union established in the relief camps by
the ';forkers' Unity League left these camps in British Columbia.
After months in Vancouver they started on a trek to ottawa
to present six demands to the government. They were stopped
in Regina. On July 1, 1935 a riot, which has been termed
the Regina Riot, broke out in the city. Although some writers
have referred briefly to this event a detailed study has not
been made. The writer hopes to make a small contribution to
the examination of the events of the 1930's by examining the
Regina Riot.
The main purpose of this study is to trace the events
which culminated in a serious riot. The examination is primarily
concerned with a study of the events in an attempt to
explain why there was a Regina Riot. Al though the riot was
related to the broader problems of the depression and government
policies in coping with the depression, these aspects are
touched upon only to the extent that they related specifically
to the events surrounding the riot. Relief camps are discussed,
but it is outside the scope of this study to make a detailed
evaluation of this or any other type of relief measure.
Although the leader of the trek was an avowed Communist
and the organization in the camps had been established by a
Communist organization, the question of Communism in the 1930ls
is not examined except where it applies specifically to the
events of this study.
The movement of the men out of the camps to Vancouver
and their stay in Vancouver involved to a greater or lesser
degree the striking relief camp men, the municipal, provincial
and federal governments, as did the trek eastward. The decisions
and actions of each are examined.
The trek was stopped in Regina by the federal government.
that very important decision resulted in a confrontation
of the strikers and the federal government and also
involved in the dispute the provincial government. The events
of this period are examined, along with the incidents that
touched off the actual riot. Finally the inquiry into the
riot and the eventual disposition of the relief camps are
discussed.
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Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
History
Program
History