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In 1991, eight years after the day of remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Parliament of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Act making April 28 an official Day of Mourning. Today the Day of Mourning has since spread to more than 100 countries around the world and is recognized as Workers’ Memorial Day, and as International Workers' Memorial Day by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
It is the hope of CCOHS that the annual observance of this day will help strengthen the resolve to establish safe and healthy conditions in the workplace, and prevent further injuries, illnesses, and deaths. As much as this is a day to remember those who have lost their lives, it is also a call to protect the living and make work a place where people are safe and can thrive.
Source: Fatalities, by Age and Jurisdiction, 2023, Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), National Work Injury/Disease Statistics Program (NWISP)
Source: Lost Time Claims, by Age and Jurisdiction, 2023, Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), National Work Injury/Disease Statistics Program (NWISP)
For further statistical information visit the AWCBC National Work Injuries Statistics Program.
Show your commitment by sharing the following messages on your social media channels.
Pause. Reflect. Remember. Commit.
At 11 am, I will honour workers who have died, were injured, or became ill from their job, and will renew my commitment to health and safety in the workplace.
Pause. Reflect. Remember. Renew.
At 11 am, we will honour workers who have died, were injured, or became ill from their job, and will renew our commitment to health and safety in the workplace.
We remember workers who have died, were injured, or became ill from their job. We commit to protecting workers and preventing further workplace tragedies.
We grieve with those whose lives were forever changed by a workplace tragedy.
S.C. 1991, c. 15
An Act respecting a Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace [Assented to 1st February, 1991]
WHEREAS it is desirable that Canadians should designate a day of mourning to remember workers killed, disabled or injured in the workplace and workers afflicted with industrial disease;
AND WHEREAS Canadians seek earnestly to set an example of their commitment to the issue of health and safety in the workplace;
NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows
Short title
1.This Act may be cited as the Workers Mourning Day Act.
Day of Mourning
2. (1) Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the 28th day of April shall be known under the name of "Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace".
(2) For greater certainty, the Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day and shall not be required to be kept or observed as such.
The LifeQuilt, a project by Threads of Life, is a unique and permanent memorial dedicated to the thousands of young women and men between the ages of 14 and 24, who have been killed and injured on the job. The quilt commemorates 100 young workers killed on the job with individual, personalized quilted blocks. One hundred injured young workers are recognized on the centre panel. Learn more about the LifeQuilt project
The following memorials from around the world have been erected and dedicated to workers whose lives have been lost on the job. If you have a photo of a memorial that you would like to share (including those already listed here), please contact us and we'll follow up to get more details from you.
Select the thumbnails below to view the actual monuments.
Select the thumbnails below to view the actual monuments.
