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Labour council observes National Day of Mourning

May 4, 2017   ·   0 Comments

By Jasen Obermeyer

The Orangeville and District Labour Council commemorated the annual National Day of Mourning in council chambers at Town Hall last Friday, with several guest speakers, dignitaries, and residents helping mark this sombre event.

National Day of Mourning, or Workers’ Mourning Day, is observed in Canada each April 28. It commemorates workers who have been killed, injured or suffered illness due to workplace-related hazards and incidents, and to raise awareness and prevent further deaths and injuries.

Workers’ Memorial Day was started in Sudbury in 1984, and has since grown to be observed in over 80 countries. In December 1990, it became a national observance with the passing of the Workers Mourning Day Act, so that on April 28, 1991, it officially became the National Day of Mourning.

The theme this year was “Remember Westray”, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Westray mining disaster. On May 9, 1992, at Plymouth, Nova Scotia, eight months after the Westray coal mine opened, an underground methane explosion took the lives of all 26 miners working underground.

A report was eventually filed, and stated the reason for the explosion was that the mine was mismanaged, the miners’ safety was ignored, and there was poor oversight by government regulators. In 2004, parliament passed Bill C-45, also called the “Westray Bill”, imposing criminal liability on corporations and executives that fail to ensure a safe workplace.

Primrose Short, president of Orangeville and District Labour Council, thanked everyone for attending, and asked them to keep remembering those who have been killed working, and the safety regulations needed.

“Workers in this community go to work each day to earn a living. This simple activity has grave consequences. This sad reality can and must change.”

Several other speakers gave accounts of personal tragedy in their lives.

Linda Casey spoke of her youngest child, son John James, who was a tire technician. On July 8, 2011, just a week into his new job, he was crushed by a backhoe; he was 36 years old. She recalled the evening before, looking after his kids, and when he came by “He kissed me goodnight, said ‘love you, see you later.’ I never saw my son alive again.”

Ms. Casey said his death has changed the family, “brought the best of us, and also the worst of us.” She said workers must be educated on the dangers in the workplace, and know their rights, because “someone else’s mistake took my son’s life.”

Rev. Barbara Moulton, co-ordinator of Spiritual Care at Headwaters Health Care Centre, gave a prayer for all affected by a loss in the workplace. “This year I just don’t come to pray, I come as one who’s experienced the personal loss.” She lost her brother-in-law, who was exposed 30 years ago to asbestos and died last year because of it.

Councillor Don Kidd spoke on behalf of Mayor Jeremy Williams, who was called away shortly before the commemoration. He thanked everyone for attending, and proclaimed this day as the National Day of Mourning, and encouraged others to remember.

Mr. Kidd said although injuries have been reduced in Ontario and despite the progress, “too many people continue to lose their lives or suffer an injury or illness as a result of their job. Every worker has a right to return home safe and sound at the end of each work day.”


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