April 28 is the National Day of Mourning. Join the thousands of Ontarians who will honour workers killed or suffering injury or disease caused by hazardous working conditions.

As in past years, the Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) will lend our support to the many workers, unions, labour councils, community partners, and others who will hold special Day of Mourning events and activities across the province. These events are listed online on the WHSC website.

Our Day of Mourning theme for this year is A Strategy of Our Making: Tried, Tested, Proven, Priorities. For Day of Mourning is also a day to remember our ultimate goal—ensuring workers return home healthy and whole every day of the year. However, safer, healthier work doesn’t just happen. It takes thoughtful planning and dedicated action. Years of experience and some research have shown us specifically what works and what doesn’t work to prevent worker injuries, illnesses and death. Using every effective tool available to us, we can build a strategy of our making.

The National Day of Mourning was first recognized by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984 to raise public awareness about worker injuries, illness and death. The Canadian Parliament officially acknowledged the Day of Mourning in 1991 as a result of a private member’s bill put forward by the New Democratic Party. Today the day is observed in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Keep the spirit and goals of this special day alive—attend a Day of Mourning event in your community. Take action now to secure safer, healthier work.

Want to know what DOM events are happening in your community?

Want to learn more about the many WHSC training programs aimed at securing safer, healthier work?