On this National Day of Mourning, workplaces across Canada are encouraged to remember those who have lost their lives, suffered injury or illness on the job, or experienced a work-related tragedy.
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) is one association commemorating the event, which was made official in 1991 with passage of the Workers Mourning Day Act by the Parliament of Canada. The day is marked annually on April 28.
“The commitment to health and safety in Ontario’s construction industry has never been higher and government, labour and management have never been more engaged,” says RESCON VP Andrew Pariser, chair of the organization’s health and safety committee. “We need to continue to build on this momentum to address and eliminate hazards before they cause an injury or worse.
“Those who work in Ontario’s construction industry understand that it is no longer acceptable to look the other way and ignore health and safety issues before they arise. This applies to both physical and mental health issues and includes racism and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) matters. Everyone in Ontario has the right to a workplace that is safe and free from harassment and violence, including racism.”
RESCON president Richard Lyall says improvements have been made in the industry, but there is still work that needs to be done.
“During the pandemic, government, employers and unions worked in unison to ensure Ontario’s construction industry was able to continue working and build much-needed housing and infrastructure,” says Lyall. “As we reflect on those who have died or suffered an injury or illness due to work, it is critical that we keep that momentum going and continue to work together on ways to better identify and eliminate safety hazards in the future.”
To help commemorate the National Day of Mourning with a moment of silence at 11:00 a.m., the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has made a video available for workplaces to share or watch whether they’re working onsite or remotely.
