PACKINGTOWN

 Video Ballad Brings North Edmonton's Rich Working-Class History to Life

 SUNDAY NOV 15

Through song, story, historical photographs, and video interviews, Packingtown shares the people's history of North Edmonton. The 60-minute live music and video performance features the voices and memories of people who worked at the meatpacking plants and lived in the community during the height of the meatpacking industry, from the early 1900s through the 1980s.

This special presentation also commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Gainers Strike (June 1986 to December 1986), a landmark event in Edmonton's labour history.

The performance weaves original songs by 2022 Juno Award-winning songwriter Maria Dunn with historical photographs and video interviews collected and edited by Don Bouzek of Ground Zero Productions (GZP) and historian-curator Catherine C. Cole, with support from northeast Edmonton resident Janice Melnychuk.

The performance features Maria Dunn, accompanied by Shannon Johnson and Jeremiah McDade of the Juno Award-winning Celtic & Roots fusion band The McDades.

Event Details
DATE: Sunday, November 15, 2026
LOCATION: Edmonton's Ukrainian Centre 11018 – 97 Street, Edmonton
TIME: Doors Open: 6:00 PM and Performance Begins: 7:00 PM
COST: Free Admission and Donations Welcome

Acknowledgements

Packingtown is presented with the support of the Alberta Labour History Institute (ALHI), the Edmonton Heritage Council, and Ground Zero Productions.

Additional information about Packingtown and related projects can be found at:

• Ground Zero Productions: www.gzpedmonton.org
• Maria Dunn: www.mariadunn.com (see "Projects")

In solidarity,
Alberta Federation of Labour