Frank Kusch; Ross Isinger

Frank Hall, Stanley Knowles, Claude Jodoin, John Diefenbaker and Minister of Labour Mike Starr in the Prime Minister's Office in the East Block, circa [13 May] 1958. Typed inscription on back reads: "Rail Dispute - elimination of firemen from Diesel."

This picture shows a view of Cannington Manor with the mill at right.

Bio/historical note: The Mill, planned in 1884 and built by local labour with local materials. It was of great benefit to a wide district. A gold metal was won at the Paris Exposition from local wheat ground in this mill.

John G. Diefenbaker, University Chancellor, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to William G. Davies at spring Convocation held at Centennial Auditorium.

Bio/Historical Note: William Gwynne "Bill" Davies (1916-1999) was born in Indian Head, Saskatchewan, and moved to Regina with his family at the age of 7. Davies worked as an office boy at the Regina Daily Star. He was present at the Regina Riot of 1935, where he was tear gassed by police. During the 1940s he worked at the Swift Canadian slaughterhouse in Moose Jaw and helped organize the plant for the United Packinghouse Workers of America. Davies served on the Federal Wartime Labour Relations Board and the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board. Davies was executive secretary for the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour for 25 years. From 1948-1956 he was a member of Moose Jaw City Council. Davies served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Public Works and as Minister of Public Health. Medicare was introduced in Saskatchewan while he held the Public Health portfolio. Davies published a book of poetry called The Buffalo Stone. He also researched and wrote a history of the Saskatchewan trade union movement in partnership with Murray Cotterill. In 1975 Davies was named a member in the Order of Canada.

Law award presented by F.C. Cronkite, dean of Law, to Nicholas William Sherstobitoff at Convocation held in Convocation Hall.

Bio/Historical Note: Nicholas William Sherstobitoff was born near Langham in 1935. He attended elementary and high school in Saskatoon. In 1956 he graduated with a B.A. magna cum laude, and in 1958 he obtained his Law degree cum laude, both from the University of Saskatchewan.. He was admitted to the bar in 1960. From 1960 through to 1985 Sherstobitoff practiced law in Saskatoon. His areas of practice were civil litigation, labour law and administrative law. From 1974-1979 Sherstobitoff served as a member of the Saskatchewan Community Legal Services Commission. From 1977-1982 he served as Chairman of the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board and Chairman of the Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety Council. He also served as Chair on numerous consensual labour arbitration boards. In 1985 he was appointed a judge of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. Justice Sherstobitoff retired in September 2010.

Head and shoulders image of Glen Makahonuk, Senior Library Assistant and CUPE Union President.

Bio/Historical Note: A senior library assistant at the University of Saskatchewan, Glen Makahonuk served as president of the Saskatchewan division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees from 1992 until his untimely death in 1997. During the same period, he served as president of CUPE Local 1975 (representing University of Saskatchewan support workers), regional and general vice-president on CUPE's National Executive Board, and vice-president with the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour. Despite his many union offices, Makahonuk took pride in being part of the “rank and file.” He continued his work at the university and found time to chair his Local's grievance committee for almost twenty years, handling over 1,200 grievances. Makahonuk was a strong proponent of “social unionism.” He believed that unions should not be focused solely on collective bargaining and grievance handling, but rather should strive to advance the broad interests of the working class and the unemployed, forge strong ties with social justice coalitions, and organize workers. He was a constant fixture at picket lines. Indeed, he is fondly remembered as one of the best picketers during Saskatoon's Common Front municipal strike of 1994. It was also a common sight to see Makahonuk at the microphone speaking to resolutions at union conventions, which he saw as an opportunity for workers to educate each other about the issues facing the labour movement. In letters to politicians and “letters to the editor,” he called for measures to improve the lives of working people and the unemployed, such as anti-scab legislation, pay equity, a higher minimum wage, and well-funded social programs. While Makahonuk won widespread respect as a tireless labour activist, he was also a keen student of labour history, which helped shape his deep sense of social justice. He completed his Master's thesis on the Estevan coal miners' strike of 1931, and was a frequent contributor to Briarpatch and Saskatchewan History. Just prior to his death on 10 Dec. 1997, Makahonuk authored the booklet Class, State and Power: The Struggle for Trade Union Rights in Saskatchewan, 1905-1997.