M. Ukranian Labour Temple/ Ukrainian Cultural Centre

Category: Sites from the 'Labour, Work and Working People' booklet

Built in 1928, this hall opened its door in support of many progressive causes. The Ukrainian Labor Temple did not just focus its activities around dances, festivities, and feasts that celebrated ethnic nationalism. Organizations from the wider community were invited to hold benefits, memorials and rallies at the temple. The hall served as a community kitchen during the 1935 longshoremen’s strike (see site Q) and the 1938 post office sit in. It also served as an infirmary for the unemployed protestors who fell to tear gas and beatings as the police evicted them from the occupation of the old post office (see site #2)

Because the hall belonged to Communist sympathizers, the government confiscated it from the Ukrainian Farm Labor Temple Association at the start of WWII. The congregation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church bought the hall and used it for church services and as a community centre. When the Soviet Union joined the Allies during the war and fear of the “Reds” and other leftist groups diminished, the government allowed the Temple group to reclaim the hall. As a landmark hall for progressive causes, the Ukrainian Labor Temple served the peace movement, the Communist Party, Solidarity events, and May Day events, and continues to serve the community as the Ukrainian Cultural Centre of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians.