COVID-19 has forced celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the annual Labour Day parade in Grand Falls-Windsor online.

While there is disappointment that the historic occasion has been marred by the pandemic, labour leaders are forging ahead with a virtual event this morning.

Grand Falls-Windsor was founded as a company town in the early part of the last century.

Every year since 1920 the town has held an annual Labour Day parade – except in 1962 when organizers decided not to hold the parade in protest of repressive labour laws.

Federation of Labour President Mary Shortall is among those who will be on hand for a modified event this morning at 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society.