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Day of Mourning Flyer: CLOSE TO HOME
Day of Mourning: A more accurate picture of the statistics Day of Mourning: 2025 Province-wide Event Listing

Workers are killed by workplace hazards every day. Every year, hundreds of thousands more suffer injury or illness because of their working conditions. They are not forgotten.

April 28 is our National Day of Mourning to remember workers who have suffered work-related disability, disease and death. The Canadian Labour Congress first declared the Day in 1986. The Parliament of Canada would officially recognize the Day with passage of the Workers Mourning Day Act in 1991. Ontario’s Legislative Assembly followed suit in 2016 when it passed the Workers Day of Mourning Act. Today the Day is recognized in more than 100 countries around the world where it is often observed as Workers’ Memorial Day.

Unions, labour councils, families and community partners who gather annually on April 28 to mourn these losses also vow to prevent further suffering. They follow with action in the workplace and community pressing for work that promotes dignity and health.

 

On April 28 

• attend a Day of Mourning event in your community
• encourage others to attend an event
• draft a message for your organization's publication or web site
• use digital tools to create online communities, posting meaningful photos and messages
• update your health and safety knowledge through training and webinars
• work with local media to promote and cover the Day's significance and events
• convince employers and public institutions to among other things lower flags to half-mast
• work with other interested groups to host related events.

On every day

• educate others about health and safety rights, responsibilities and prevention measures
• insist on effective workplace prevention programs developed with full worker participation
• insist on training that supports the identification, assessment and control of workplace hazards
• encourage local media to report on health, safety and environmental issues
• press elected officials to support stronger regulations and better enforcement of existing laws
• create monuments to promote public awareness of workplace health and safety
• host events with similar objectives in mind.