Day of Mourning 2020

April 28th is the "Day of Mourning" where society remembers all those who have been injured or killed in the workplace.  A Backgrounder on this Day can be viewed here

At 10:30am - there will be a virtual ceremony.  You can watch that here.

Meanwhile - Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau said the following the 2020 Day of Mourning:

“Today, flags across Canada will be flown at half-mast as we pause to remember those who died, were injured, or became ill from their work. On the National Day of Mourning, we pay tribute to these Canadians, and remind ourselves of the need to do all we can to protect workers.

“The Government of Canada is committed to helping prevent further tragedies and protect the health and safety of Canadians in the workplace. This year, we recognize the thousands of Canadians who continue to provide essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic. They go to work so that we can put food on the table for our families, get the prescriptions we need to stay healthy, and access the services we need to be well – and we will continue to do everything we can to keep them safe and healthy.
“That includes working with our labour and industry partners to ensure the right resources, like additional sector-specific best practices, are in place, and offering a number of online courses and resources related to COVID-19 free of charge through the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. We encourage all employers to go above and beyond standard health and safety measures to make sure that workers are safe in this extraordinary situation, and we thank the many employers who are doing just that.

“As individuals, we also need to do our part to protect these workers. That means listening to our public health experts, and following guidelines put in place by retailers, health care facilities, and other essential service providers, so we can keep them and their families safe. We are grateful for the tireless work of those on the front lines, and we will do whatever we can to help them do their job and support them through this difficult time.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I encourage all Canadians to take a moment today to pay tribute the workers who have lost their lives, been injured, or fallen ill on the job. The health and safety of all workers is a priority for us, and we will continue to work closely with provinces and territories and other partners to make sure that all Canadians can work in a healthy and safe workplace.”

From the Hon. John Horgan - Premier of BC:

“Each year, on the National Day of Mourning, people in British Columbia and across Canada remember those who lost their lives or suffered serious injuries as a result of workplace incidents.

“Last year, there were 140 work-related deaths and many more injuries in B.C. Today, we honour them and acknowledge the grief felt by their family and friends who miss them.

“Everyone deserves to work in a safe environment. Over the past two years, WorkSafeBC has hired 40 more prevention and investigation officers, stepped up inspections and made penalties more stringent.

“B.C. has also significantly increased education on workplace safety. But no injury or death at work is acceptable, and there is more to do.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace safety has taken on new meaning and new urgency. Essential workers are demonstrating great courage and dedication simply by doing their jobs during this challenging time.

“Our government is determined to keep people safe on the job during this pandemic. We are following direction from Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer. We are committed to making sure that workers know their rights and have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information on how to keep workplaces safe and healthy. And, under the leadership of Harry Bains, Minister of Labour, our government is working to make British Columbia workplaces the safest in Canada, today and every day.

“To all those who continue to work during this crisis: thank you for keeping B.C.’s lights on. You are making sure people can get food and access services. You are caring for people’s children, seniors and the most vulnerable populations. You are doing your part, and we will continue doing ours by helping to keep you safe at work.”