Day of Mourning 2023: Workers’ empowerment key to workplace health and safety

April 28, 2023

As unions across Canada mark the National Day of Mourning, the Canadian Labour Congress wants to ensure workers are empowered to know their health and safety rights in the workplace, defend existing gains and use the tools at their disposal.

April 28 is the National Day of Mourning, a day to commemorate those who have died or been injured as a result of their job. This year’s focus, “Know your rights; Use the tools; Defend our wins,” is aimed at supporting and empowering workers to actively participate in workplace health and safety.

“Workers deserve to arrive home safely at the end of the workday. We expect employers to do their part to keep workers safe, by upholding health and safety standards in the workplace, and providing necessary equipment and training,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “But we want workers to feel supported in standing up for their hard-won health and safety rights. We want to ensure that workers are empowered, not just to push back in unsafe situations, but to take an active role in the process of keeping themselves and their co-workers safe.”

Across Canada, there were 1,081 accepted workplace fatalities and 277,217 accepted lost time claims across Canada, marking a rise in cases from the previous year.

“One death is already one too many and it should be common sense that employers invest in proven prevention tools, like empowered, well-trained health and safety committees. Yet too many employers are quick to ignore their legal duty to provide safe working conditions and are willing to cut corners in the name of saving a few dollars,” said Bruske. “Make no mistake: we will always fight to uphold workers’ rights, and we won’t back down against anyone who would weaken health and safety legislation to appease businesses.”

Canada’s unions have long fought for better enforcement of existing occupational health and safety legislation, and the Westray sections of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Empowering workers starts with ensuring they know their rights, and how to apply and defend them. Workers should also feel supported in demanding better.

“The bare minimum isn’t good enough, and the stubbornly high number of worker injuries and deaths each year proves it. Employers and governments must respect their own duty to create safe work, call out unsafe work, and be part of a culture of safety and prevention. Workers deserve nothing less,” said Bruske.

https://canadianlabour.ca/day-of-mourning-2023-workers-empowerment-key-to-workplace-health-and-safety/

April 28th is the labour movement’s most solemn day, but also one to refocus our commitment to prevent future workplace injuries and deaths. Every year, thousands of workers, friends and families of fallen workers gather at ceremonies across Canada to recognize the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job.

This year, we will gather in communities across the country. As we mourn for the dead, the Canadian Labour Congress continues to fight for the living.

Find an event near you:

Atlantic Region

Newfoundland and Labrador

St. John’s & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
NL Confederation Bldg, 100 Prince Philip Drive, St.John’s
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Patrick Dunne 709-763-4091
SJDLC709NL@gmail.com

Corner Brook & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Holy Redeemer Cathedral, 15 Mt. Bernard Ave, Corner Brook
April 28, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Jim O’Neill 709-634-3695
jloneill@nf.sympatico.ca

Labrador West & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
5795 USW Union Hall, 105 Hudson Dr, Labrador City
April 28, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Claude Gray, 709-944-1014
c_mgray@hotmail.com

Grand Falls Windsor Day of Mourning Committee
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Grand Falls Windsor Forestry Workers Memorial, Lincoln Road
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Contact: David Hillier, 709-290-4907
davidhillier@gmail.com

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Federation of Labour
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
St. Paul’s Hall, 101 Prince Street, Charlottetown
April 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carl Pursey, PEI Federation of Labour President
peifed@pei.aibn.com

New Brunswick

Saint John and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Laying Ceremony
Frank and Ella Hatheway Labour Exhibit Centre
55 Lake Dr S, Saint John, NB E2K 5S3
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Pat Riley, longsure273@gmail.com

Moncton & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Cenotaph in Bore Park (Riverfront)
April 28, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
Contact: Melissa Brown 506-872-4643 melandiade@hotmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/MonctonLabour/

Ontario Region

Guelph District Labour Council
Goldie Mill Park, 75 Cardigan St, Guelph, N1H 3Z7
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Jennifer Hesch jennilynncda@gmail.com
Website (if available): https://www.facebook.com/Guelph-District-Labour-Council-1593522250974861

Huron District LC Day of Mourning
(Across from) 181 Victoria Street North, Goderich ON
April 23, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Jim Vance 226-222-0157 or Drew Macaulay drmacaulay@hotmail.com

Stratford & District Labour Council
Upper Queens Park, 55 Queen Street, Stratford ON, N5A 4M9
April 28, 2023, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Sarnia & District Labour Council
Centennial Park on Sarnia Bay, Front Street
April 28, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Contact: sdlc57@outlook.com

Windsor & District Labour Council
St. Augustine’s Church Hall (formerly St. Aidans’s, Wyandotte at Westminster)
April 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Mike Jee 226-345-6807 mike3jee@gmail.com

Chatham-Kent Labour Council
Day of Mourning Monument
Grand Avenue, across from Canadian Tire, Chatham
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Linda Reaume 519-676-7803

St. Catherines, Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument dedicated to the Fallen Welland Canal Workers, located at Lock 3 on the Welland Canal Parkway – West side of the Canal
April 28, 2023, 7:30 a.m.
Contact: nrlc.clc@gmail.com

St. Catherines, Niagara Regional Labour Council
Under the St. Catherines Skyway. Located on the Welland Canal Parkway – West side of the Canal, under the bridge.
April 28, 2023, 8:00 a.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located at the Centennial Arena
1557 Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil
April 28, 2023, 9:15 a.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

Niagara Falls – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located at Niagara Falls City Hall
4310 Queen Street, Niagara Falls
April 28, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

Fort Erie – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located at Forth Erie City Hall
1 Municipal Centre Drive, along Highway 3
April 28, 2023, 11:45 a.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

Port Colborne – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located at H.H. Knoll Park on Sugarloaf St., beside the hospital
April 28, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

Welland – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the monument located beside the Canal in Merritt Park – 151 King St.
April 28, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

Port Robinson – Niagara Regional Labour Council
In memory of Robyn Lafleur, Esquire Canada
Explosion site (1999) 125 South St. North
April 28, 2023, 3:00 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

St. Catharines – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the Monument located at St. Catharines City Hall- 50 Church St.
April 28, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

Niagara Region – Niagara Regional Labour Council
At the Monument located at the Region of Niagara Headquarters
1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Niagara Region
April 28, 2023, 5:15 p.m.
nrlc.clc@gmail.com

Durham Region Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Oshawa City Hall, 50 Centre St. S., Oshawa
April 28, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
Contact: durhamregionlabourcouncil@gmail.com
Website: https://www.durhamlabour.ca

Brantford & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Fordview Park
5 Fordview Ct, Brantford, ON N3T 5W3
April 28, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Cory Judson 226-388-0547 coryjudson@live.ca
Website: http://www.brantforddistrictlabourcouncil.ca/

Peterborough & District Labour Council
Proclamation and flag raising at Peterborough City Hall, 500 George Street
April 28, 2023, 10:45 a.m.
Contact: Stephanie Levesque 705-313-1103

Sudbury & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning – Laurentian University, Fraser Auditorium
935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury Ontario
April 28, 2023, Doors at 9:00 a.m., event at 9:30 a.m.
Contact: Jessica Montgomery – jmontgomery@ohcow.on.ca
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/692439605904483/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22home%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22groups_highlight_units%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

North Simcoe Muskoka & District Labour Council
Workers’ Day of Mourning
Tudhope Park 450 Atherley Rd, Orillia, ON
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Mike De Rose – (416) 937-7982
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/731216048602213/?ref=newsfeed

North Bay & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning
In front of City Hall, 200 McIntyre St E, North Bay, ON
April 28, 2023, 4:30 p.m.
Contact: Henri Giroux – hgiroux1@hotmail.com

Thunder Bay & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning
Patterson Park, corner of Miles St. & May St. Thunder Bay
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact : Carlos Santander-Maturana – santalfo@tbaytel.net

Sault Ste Marie & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning – 68 Dennis St., Sault Ste. Marie
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m. (doors at 10:30 a.m.)
Contact: Michele McCleave-Kennedy – presidentssmdlc@gmail.com

Waterloo Regional Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Worker’s Monument
Willow River Park (Victoria Park), 32 Dill St., Kitchener
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Jeff Pelich, President president@wrlc.ca
Website: www.wrlc.ca

Hamilton & District Labour Council
Hamilton City Hall
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Anthony Marco, President amarco@rogers.com
Website: www.hamiltonlabour.ca/day_of_mourning_2023

Oakville & District Labour Council
Centennial Plaza, 120 Navy Street, Oakville ON
April 28, 2023, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Dave Buddell 1st V.P
Email: dbuddell@etfohalton.on.ca

Grey Bruce Labour Council
They hold three ceremonies but details are available for one
Bruce Power, Tiverton Facility (*This event is not open to the public)
April 27, 2023
Contact: Dave Trumble
*Details to follow

Orangeville & District Labour Council
Orangeville Monument
Address: 214 Broadway Orangeville ON L9W 1K3
April 28, 2023, 12:15 p.m.
Contact: Sania Wadalia, President swadalia@hotmail.com

Toronto & York Region Labour Council
Two commemorative in-person events

York Region, Woodbridge Memorial Arena, 5020 Hwy 7, Woodbridge
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
Website: www.labourcouncil.ca/events

Toronto, Larry Sefton Park, 500 Bay Street, Toronto
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.
Website: www.labourcouncil.ca/events

Lindsay and District Labour Council
National Day of Mourning ceremony
Victoria Park, Lindsay
April 30, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
Contact: James Mulhern 705 324 7841, oneworldonevoice@sympatico.ca or ldlcouncil@gmail.com

Timmins & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning
Timmins Miner’s Memorial, Lions Park
85 Mcintyre Rd., Schumacher On
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m.

Ottawa & District Labour Council
Vincent Massey Park, Ottawa, ON
Friday, April 28, 2023, 12:30 p.m.
Contact: Jennifer jennifer@ottawalabour.org

Lanark & District Labour Council

Perth Crystal Palace, next to Tay Basin
28 Drummond St E, Perth, ON
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m.

Rideau Canal Museum, Smiths Falls
34 Beckwith St. S, Smiths Falls
April 28, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Ike ike.doornekamp@ucdsb.on.ca

Cornwall & District Labour Council
Lamoureux Park
100 Water St E, Cornwall, ON
April 28, 2023; 11:45 a.m.
Louise Lanctot 613-932-1943

Leeds & Grenville Labour Council
Brockville Museum
5 Henry St. Brockville
April 29, 2023; 11:00 a.m.
James Roy leedsandgrenvillelabourcouncil@gmail.com

Renfrew & District Labour Council
Renfrew at Memorial by Swinging Bridge and Pembroke at Waterfront by Algonquin Campus
April 28, 2023, Renfrew at 12:00 p.m. and Pembroke at 5:00 p.m.
Micheal Wright 613-570-1804

Kingston & District Labour Council
OPSEU Regional Office
824 John Counter Blvd, Kingston
Friday, April 28, 11:00 a.m.
Janet Heyman janetheyman@live.ca

Grey Bruce Labour Council
Heritage Square
358 Tenth St, Hanover, N4N 1P4
April 28, 2023, 10:45 a.m. -11:15 a.m.
Labour and Community Speakers
Contact Hazel Pratt peacegirlhp2@gmail.com, 519-363-2991 or mobile 519-379-7905

Barrie and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning
City Hall 70 Collier Street, Barrie L4M 4T5
April 28, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. flag raising
6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. candlelight vigil
Contact – Michele MacDonald (barrielabourcouncil@gmail.com) OR Donna Beischlag (donnabeischlag@hotmail.com)
Website – barrielabour.ca

Prairie Region

Alberta

Red Deer and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Bower Ponds Stage 4715 Fountain Dr, Red Deer, AB T4N 6W4
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Contact: RDDLC – rddlc1@gmail.com

Wood Buffalo and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Howard Pew Parks – Waterways, Fort McMurray
April 28, 2023, 10:45 a.m.
Contact: WBDLC – omer.hussein@hsaa.ca

Calgary & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Ceremony
City of Calgary Workers Memorial, Edward Place Park, City Hall (SE corner)
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Contact: Alex Shevalier, President 403-819-4159
Website: https://www.thecdlc.caThe Calgary & District Labour Council – Calgary & District Labour Council (thecdlc.ca)

Edmonton & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Wreath Ceremony
Grant Notley Park 116 Street & 100 Avenue
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Greg Mady, President 780-940-6797
Website: https://edmontonlabour.ca

Manitoba

Brandon & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Gathering
Brandon City Hall, foyer area
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Manitoba Federation of Labour
Day of Mourning Gathering
Union Centre, 275 Broadway, Winnipeg
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m., SWOT Leaders’ walk starts 11:30 a.m., ceremony at Workers Memorial at noon
MFL.ca or https://www.facebook.com/ManitobaLabour

Thompson Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
USW Union Hall
April 28, 2023, 10:00 a.m.

Saskatchewan

Saskatoon & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Civic Square 222 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon
April 28, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Don McDonald, President, sdlc@sasktel.net

Regina & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
Regina City Hall, 2476 Victoria Avenue
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Shobna Radons, President, shobna.radons@sasktel.net

Weyburn & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Ceremony
TC Douglas Cavalry Centre, 400 – 10th Avenue, Weyburn
April 28, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Contact: Wanda Bartlett, President, wbartlett@sasktel.net

Pacific Region

North Okanagan Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Ben Lee Park – 900 Houghton Road Kelowna, BC
April 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Ian Gordon, President, nolcpres@gmail.com
https://www.oklabour.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/406757552682107

New Westminster District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Westminster Pier Park – 1 – 6th Street New Westminster, BC
April 28, 2023, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
Contact: Janet Andrews nwdlc@shawcable.com
Website: https://www.nwdlc.ca

North Central Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Connaught Hill Park – 1112 Connaught Dr, Prince George, BC
April 28, 2023, 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Matt Baker, President NCLCboard@gmail.com
Website: https://www.northcentrallabour.ca/

Kamloops and District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
St. Andrews on the Square, Kamloops
April 28, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Lois Rugg, President, kdlcpresident@gmail.com

Squamish & District Labour Committee
Day of Mourning Event
O’Siem Park, Downtown Squamish, Squamish, BC
Sunday, April 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
Contact: Carl Walker (604) 892-4661

Vancouver & District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
April 28, 2023, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Livestream – https://dayofmourning.bc.ca
Contact: Stephen von Sychowski, President president@vdlc.ca

East Kootenay District Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Rotary Park, Cranbrook, BC
April 28, 2023, at 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Francesca Burgon, President franburgon.bcgeu@gmail.com
or Shelley Balfour, Recording Secretary ekdistrictlabourcouncil@gmail.com

West Kootenay Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Lakeside Park (near Worker Memorial), Nelson, BC
April 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Contact: Mike van Hellemond, Treasurer mike@ibew993.org

Sunshine Coast Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event – April 28, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in two locations:
1) Workers’ Memorial Plaque, Spirit Square, 5790 Teredo St. Sechelt, BC
2) Worker’s Memorial Plaque, Dougall Park, 339 Aldersprings Rd. Gibsons, BC
Contact: Miyuki Shinkai, President mellonglass@dccnet.com

Fraser Valley Labour Council
Day of Mourning Event
Abbotsford, BC
April 28, 2023
Time and Location TBA
Contact: Graeme Hutchison, President ghutchison@moveuptogether.ca

https://canadianlabour.ca/events/day-of-mourning-ceremonies-2023/