The City of Delta honoured fallen workers Tuesday morning during a virtual Day of Mourning Ceremony at City Hall in Ladner.
All public ceremonies were cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but municipalities across the province held smaller ceremonies and streamed them virtually so the community could still recognize the day and pay their respects.
During Delta’s ceremony, CUPE Local 454 president John Gibson said this is an important day for all workers in B.C.
“The negative impacts it has on families of workers as a result of these work-place tragedies forever changes all of their lives,” said Gibson. “Today more than ever the global COVID-19 pandemic is fundamentally changed the way we live and work. While everyone is effected by this crisis, workers on the front lines are performing critical and vital work every day so that others can stay safe in our communities as they do everything they can to stop the pandemic. We owe it to all these workers to make sure we continue to provide the protections and support they need to work safely every day.
“On this Day of Mourning and in the context of this global pandemic, let’s take a moment to recognize the workers that have been impacted and the families every day who have suffered the loss of their fathers, mothers, their children, family and friends.”
Across Canada, April 28 has been designated the Day of Mourning. On this day, workers, families, employers, and communities across B.C. come together to remember those workers who have lost their lives on the job, and to renew a commitment to creating healthy and safe workplaces.
In B.C. last year 140 workers lost their lives due to workplace injury and illness. Of these, 40 were due to a traumatic workplace injury, 16 involved a motor vehicle incident, while 84 were due to an occupational disease. Asbestos exposure continues to be the number one killer of workers in B.C.
“Today is about reflecting on those workers who have lost their lives…who have been injured at work,” said Gibson. “Now more than ever let’s commit ourselves to mourn for the dead and fight for the living. Let’s pledge to do better when it comes to safety in the workplace. We must protect and fight for workers and their families and learn from these terrible workplace accidents and prevent these incidents from impacting more workers because one workplace accidents is too many.”
Mayor George Harvie said the national Day of Mourning serves as a reminder of the importance of occupational health and safety.
“We must as a city continue to do better to prevent deaths, injuries and diseases from work,” he said. “As an employer and local government Delta is committed to the safety and well-being of all city workers, members of Delta fire and Delta police departments. You are the backbone of our city. We owe so much to our employees in keeping our community safe and providing essential services especially during this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Canadian Labour Congress first recognized the Day of Mourning in 1984, making Canada the first country to formally commemorate workers killed in the workplace. In 1991, the federal government officially proclaimed the national Day of Mourning. Today, it is recognized in 100 countries around the world.
