"Halt the trek"

The federal government refused to negotiate with the strikers, despite the strong public support. At a huge organizing meeting, strikers voted to take their greivances to Parliament Hill.

On June 3, 1935 the first group climbed on board the boxcars and left Vancouver. Others joined the trek in Kamloops, Field, Golden, Calgary and Moose Jaw.

The trekkers were met at each stop with offers of food and shelter from women's groups, service clubs, labour councils, churches, unions and caring citizens.

More than 2,000 unemployed workers had massed in Regina by mid-June. Thousands more in Winnepeg, Thunder Bay and Toronto were waiting to join.