The Reykjavík Summit is the first Council of Europe Summit in 15 years and there are two big items on the PM's agenda. It is a resource for understanding the evolution of Canadian labour.The prime minister landed in Iceland this morning as his whirlwind week on the world stage begins. By engaging artists to create graphic histories based on the stories of their families, community members and comrades, this book opens the door to active, artistic and ongoing knowledge production about labour stories.Īs a whole, Drawn to Change depicts more than just stories of labour activism. The medium is a key aspect of the collection's importance and success. From 19th-century Knights of Labour to the contemporary Live-in Caregiver Program, this collection of chronological graphic histories is a feat of visual expression and storytelling and an incredible resource for Canadian labour history.

So begins the Graphic History Collective's new collection Drawn to Change: Graphic Histories of Working Class Struggle.ĭrawn to Change has over 20 contributors with nine comics portraying different moments in Canadian labour. We are important agents of social transformation, and our power is magnified when we work together.' But workers' lives matter too without our labour, society would cease to function. 'Indeed, much of what we learn about history in school, at the movies or on the History channel revolved around the lives of individuals with the most money and power in society, such as monarchs, capitalists, and politicians. Contributors include Jo SiMalaya Alcampo, Althea Balmes, Christine Balmes, Sam Bradd, Paul Buhle, Nicole Marie Burton, David Camfield, Sean Carleton, Conely de Leon, Robin Folvik, Ethan Heitner, Greg Kealey, Orion Keresztesi, Mark Leier, David Lester, Andrée Lévesque, Zenee May Maceda, Dale McCartney, Doug Nesbitt, Bryan Palmer, Andrew Parnaby, Joan Sangster, Kara Sievewright, Julia Smith, Ron Verzuh, Tania Willard (Secwepemc Nation).

Illustrate! Educate! Organize!Įdited by the Graphic History Collective, with Paul Buhle. But, working-class history is not just interesting and exciting it also contains important lessons for labour and social justice activists today. It has the drama of defeat mixed with the thrill of victory, though not always in equal measure.

The history of working-class struggle is a fascinating story of conflict and coercion, of resistance and triumph. Each comic showcases the inspiring efforts and determination of working people who banded together with others to fight to change the world.

Canadian labour history and working-class struggles are brought to life in this anthology of nine short comics, each one accompanied by an informative preface.

Drawn to Change by Paul M. Buhle