April 28th is the National Day of Mourning. A day that we take time to honor workers who have been injured or killed on the job. It also marks the first day that the Workers Compensation Act was accepted. Workplace accidents can happen at any time and can significantly impact those involved as well as their families. As we pay tribute to those we have lost, let us also acknowledge and extend our thoughts to the workers who have survived, but whose lives have been irreversibly altered. Their struggles, their pain, and their resilience deserve our recognition and support. They carry the physical and emotional scars of their experiences, reminding us of the urgent need for safer working conditions.
There has been progress in making workplaces safer. However, workers continue to become injured or killed in the on the job. This day also reminds us that we need to be vigilant and hold the employer to task to ensure workplaces are safe. We are all responsible for reporting hazards in the workplace.
In honoring the memory of those we have lost, let us reaffirm our commitment to the safety and well-being of all workers.
Tracy Arrowsmith
PSAC BC Health and Safety Coordinator and BRUSH Committee Chair
Day of Mourning Events Across BC
Every year, on April 28, workers, families, employers, and others come together at events held around the province to remember those who have lost their lives on the job, and to renew our commitment to creating safer workplaces.
Here is a list of events take place across this province this year.