'We've come a far way': Retired rail worker reflects on history of Black activism as force for change When he worked for Via in Winnipeg in the 1990s, Tony McFarlane helped end a practice of booking higher-paid train staff in separate, and sometimes more expensive, hotel accommodations than lower-paid staff — many of whom were people of colour. Social Sharing Tony McFarlane helped break barrier in the rail industry, where Black workers fought for equality for decades Posted: Feb 28, 2021 6:00 AM CT | Last Updated: February 28 Tony McFarlane started as a purchasing agent with Via Rail in Winnipeg in 1989, and retired from the company in 2016 as a contracts manager in charge of capital projects.(Submitted by Tony McFarlane)