Laborem Ex Machina: A History of Operating Engineers and Heavy Machinery in Canada’s Construction Industry
The GLRC presents Laborem Ex Machina, a podcast series with a digital companion developed by our associate Dr. Gilberto Fernandes. This 8-episode series explores the fascinating technological, business, labour, military, cultural, gender, racial, children and youth, and environmental history of modern construction machines and their operating engineers in Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its digital companion includes photos, artwork, videos, interactive maps, infographics, historical records, and other illustrations meant to be browsed through while listening.
![](https://www.yorku.ca/research/glrc/wp-content/uploads/sites/425/2024/08/Laborem-Ex-Machina-3-1024x791.png)
This project was sponsored by the International Union of Operating Engineers’ Local 793 in partnership with the Global Labour Research Centre and Department of History at York University.