On Sunday April 28, union workers across the country will mourn the loss of workers who died on the job.
The National Day of Mourning started in 1984 in Ontario. The date of April 28th was chosen because it was 70th anniversary of the approval of the Ontario Worker’s Compensation Act in 1914. It was declared a day of national observance in 1990 and is now in its 40th year.
Every year an observance is held in Toronto. This year, commemorations were held on Apr. 26 at Larry Sefton Park behind city hall. Local unions were in attendance including multiple CUPE branches, Steelworkers of Toronto and Local 416 of the Toronto Civic Employees Union.
Members of Municipal and Federal government also attended in support of the workplace safety. Mayor Olivia Chow and leader of the NDP Jagmeet Singh were in the crowd and spoke to the union members.
