A Prince George Labour Day tradition is once again happening in the city. The 47th annual Labour Day Classic kicked-off Sunday morning, despite a little rain.
It’s a road race that includes a 17 mile run, 8.5 mile run, 8.5 mile walk, 8.5 mile wheelchair, 5 km run, and kids 1 km fun run beginning at Canada Games Plaza in downtown Prince George.
While the Labour Day Classic was put on hold for the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, runners were eager to once again participate in this Prince George tradition.
“This is officially the second year that the Prince George's Road Runners have been putting on the Labor Day classic before that it was a whole separate board,” explained Gillian Roberts, vice president of the Prince George Road Runners.
“We really wanted to make sure that we continued the legacy of the Labour Day classic and that's why we are continuing to put on this race.”
The Labour Day Classic is a very significant event not only for Prince George's history but for Canadian history as well.
“In 1979, Terry Fox and Rick Hansen came to Prince George to run this race. At that time, it was called the Prince George to Boston Marathon but since then it’s changed names,” explained Roberts.
“And the reason that Terry Fox came here from down south was he was looking for a longer run, to participate in and at that time, there wasn't any long runs like that happening down in the Lower Mainland in British Columbia so he came here to Prince George to do the 17 mile.”
Despite coming last in that race, it’s what inspired him to move forward with his plan to do the Marathon of Hope in 1980.
The Terry Fox statue currently located in Community Foundation Park commemorates this historic event.
Robert said there was a good turnout for the return of the Labour Day Classic, as there has been for all Prince George Road Runners events this year.
“We find that the community this year, after two years of not having stuff, they're really hungry to come out and participate and be out together in the community running. So, this race has been no different than our other races. This year, we've had just bigger numbers than we really ever had before,” said Roberts.
“We really thank the runners that want to come and speak with us, but also the people that support us.”
Roberts said the club is thrilled to continue the legacy of the Labour Day Classic in Prince George, but is also welcoming new runners.
“If people are looking to run in the community of Prince George, we're a good place to start,” said Roberts.
“We're on all the social media, we have a website. We do multiple running events from March to October and we do group runs twice a week, all year long, even in the winter, so we can keep you moving and even in the snow will be out here running.”
The Labour Day Classic concluded in the afternoon with a special banquet and awards ceremony for the participating runners.
