The Day of Mourning for those workers who have lost their lives on the job or suffered an occupational disease draws folks together on April 28 each year.
In Squamish, the Squamish and District Labour Committee is arranging a gathering at the Workers’ Memorial monument in Junction Park on Sunday, April 30 at 11 a.m.
The event is to remember the Squamish workers who have lost their lives as well as to continue the committee’s commitment to fight for safe workplaces.
Squamish is not the only nearby place holding a Day of Mourning event, as Vancouver, Gibsons and Sechelt also have scheduled events to take place on April 28.
The Day of Mourning is also recognized throughout the country.
Canada officially passed the Workers Mourning Day Act in 1991 although remembrance recognitions occurred before the official commemoration.
According to the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, there were 1,081 fatalities and 277,217 lost time claims in Canada during 2021 alone.
The 2021 fatalities were the highest since 2005 when 1,098 deaths occurred, and remains the second highest total since data was collected in 1993. In B.C. there were 181 fatalities in 2022, 74 of which were due to traumatic injury and 107 due to occupational disease.
The entire B.C. fact sheet is set to be released on April 28, 2023.
If interested in learning more information about the Squamish event, please call 604-898-1559.
