April 28 signifies the Day of Mourning across Canada, where workers, employers, families, and communities pay tribute to workers who lost their lives due to a workplace injury or illness. British Columbians will gather at 30 ceremonies across the province today to pay tribute to fallen workers and renew a collective commitment to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all workers. In Prince George, ceremonies will take place at Connaught Park – Workers’ Memorial Statue – 1112 Connaught Dr, (Corner Patricia Blvd and Queensway Ave), at 10:30 a.m.
Workplace injuries and illnesses claimed the lives of 175 B.C. workers last year.
Occupational disease remained the number one killer of workers in 2023, claiming the lives of 93 workers, with 48 of those deaths resulting from asbestos exposure often decades ago. A total of 60 workers died from a traumatic injury last year, including falls from elevation, being struck by objects, and being caught in equipment and/or machinery. In addition, motor vehicle incidents claimed the lives of 22 workers in 2023.
Many students across the province are taking part in the Day of Mourning B.C. Schools Project. In its ninth year, this curriculum is aimed at educating students and young workers about their health and safety rights at work.
The National Day of Mourning began in Canada in 1984 and is now observed in over 100 countries worldwide. The solemn day serves as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety and the need to prevent work-related injuries and fatalities.
Those who wish to post a virtual dedication or read what others have shared can do so on the Day of Morning wall at: dayofmourning.bc.ca.
“Today, we mourn those workers we’ve lost to workplace injury and illness and think of the workers who’ve survived, but whose lives have been deeply altered,” said Sussanne Skidmore, President, BC Federation of Labour. “Despite the real progress we’ve made in making workplaces safer, the number of workers who die every year because of their jobs remains near its all-time high. That’s why this day is not about grief and remembrance alone; it’s about action. On this day every year we – labour, employers and government – must recommit to the urgency of workplace safety. People’s lives depend on us.”