Day of Mourning 2015 at Laurentian University in Sudbury
Day of Mourning 2015 at Laurentian University in Sudbury

By Angela Gemmill

On April 28th every year, labour groups and communities take a moment to remember those workers who were killed, injured or suffered illness due to workplace conditions.

Over 200 people attended Sudbury’s Day of Mourning at Laurentian University this morning, including numerous union reps.

The ceremony began with a Proclamation from Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger.

The Day of Mourning was first started 31-years ago by labour groups in Sudbury.

The movement moved Canada-wide in 1991 and is also marked internationally.

The slogan is “Mourn for the Dead and Fight For the Living.”

President of the Sudbury & District Labour Council, Jamie West, says we can each honour victims with our own actions.

He says we need to be more focused on preventing workplace injuries and addressing hazards which should in turn reduce accidents on-the-job.

International President of the Steelworkers Union, Leo Gerard, feels more needs to be done by upper levels of government to reduce the number of fatalities or injuries on-the-job.

He says some of the best savings the government could make is to invest in health and safety so there are less workers’ compensation claims to pay out.

Nickel Belt M-P-P France Gelinas says the day is also about taking action to improve health and safety in the workplace.

She says the statistics are going in the wrong direction, but she is optimistic several recent reviews and reports will help bring about positive changes.

One of the speakers at the event talked about collisions and how streets and highways are “work environments” for many workers, like truckers, health care workers, police officers, etc.

While another speaker, a Child Protection Worker talked about the number of injuries to workers in his field due to the high level of violence.

He says parents tend to respond emotionally and physically when workers attempt to protect or rescue a child or youth from an uncertain home environment.

After the service inside the Fraser Auditorium at LU, the crowd moved outside to the flag poles on campus where the four flags flew at half-staff.

A moment of silence was then observed outside.