Day of Mourning - Health, Safety & Wellness

committee:

Health, Safety & Wellness

National Day of Mourning - April 28

In 1990, Parliament passed the Workers Mourning Day Act to recognize April 28th as the day to remember workers killed or injured on the job. Over 1,000 Canadians lose their lives at work every year. On this day, we honour those whose lives have been forever changed by a workplace incident.

A Story of Remembrance

When Jason Cunningham went out with his crew to work on a tower’s aircraft lighting, he took the time to share Bruce Halladay’s story - a man who’s memorial sits atop the tower from two decades earlier.

As many on the crew were new apprentices, they were unfamiliar with Bruce’s story. Together, the team took a moment of silence to honour and pay their respects to their predecessor. Then, they got to work cleaning up Bruce’s memorial with a fresh coat of paint, straightening out the cross and adding his name to the monument installed to enshrine Bruce and his legacy. For Bruce, and for the others who lost their lives on the job, they remembered.

Events and Resources

Some of our employer and organizational partners have provided resources for us to come together. Take the opportunity to participate in an event in your community.

A Message from John Wabb

Good Morning, thank you for joining today as we take a moment:
To Remember – the family, friends and co-workers who have needlessly suffered life altering injuries and death in our industry.
To Reflect – on what we missed that resulted in their death or serious injury.
To Support – the families and friends of those we lost. For those close to them, not a day goes by without them entering our thoughts.
To Commit – to do better together to prevent all serious injuries and fatalities in our workplaces.
Whether you are a worker, supervisor, joint health & safety committee member, or manager, an apprentice or experienced journeyperson, everyone has a role to play in keeping our workplaces safe and healthy.

Read the full message

Day of Mourning Video

Take a moment to watch this 2.5 minute video where members talk about what the day means to them. Towards the end of the video is a tribute to the CUSW members we've lost over the years.

Partner Resources

Our primary partner in the fight for Health, Safety & Wellness in the workplace is the Workers Health & Safety Centre. The WHSC Day of Mourning Page includes a list of events taking place in our communities on the 28th. Be sure to have a look for an event in your community.

Learn more

The CCU has produced a series of posters in recognition of the National Day of Mourning. You can now have a digital copy of each. Feel free to download the PDF files and print them out. Visit the CCU Day of Mourning Page at the link below.

Learn more

The Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support, known as Threads of Life, is a Canadian registered charity dedicated to supporting families after a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease.

Learn more