This year, in recognition of the recent tragic workplace deaths of two bricklayers, Luigi Cudini and Shane Jennings (members of LIUNA Local 183), the Toronto and York Region Labour Council has announced Toronto’s Day of Mourning ceremony will be held this year at High Park.
The new location for the Toronto ceremony, beginning at 12:00 p.m., is on the south side of Bloor Street just east of High Park Ave. It is expected that many workers from the jobsite will attend. Co-organizer ONIWG will be participating also at the Woodbridge ceremony (starting at 11:00 a.m.) to be held in the usual site at Woodbridge Memorial Arena, Highway #7 and Islington.
Day of Mourning events around the Province
For details on the many Day of Mourning events to be held April 28th throughout Ontario, download the 2015 listing prepared by the Workers’ Health & Safety Centre.
First held in 1984 by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), a national Day of Mourning, known in the U.S. as Workers’ Memorial Day, has since been adopted by more than 100 countries.
The Ontario Federation of Labour, citing WSIB 2013 statistics which show an alarming 36% increase in traumatic on-the-job fatalities over the past five years, points to “Why We Need a Day of Mourning” . According to The Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada statistics, 266 Ontario workers died in 2013 from workplace accidents and occupational diseases – a figure that grossly underestimates the true numbers, given that it includes only those with claims officially recognized by the Board and excludes workers in the approximately 30% of industries and occupations not covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.
See more information and resources on the Day and toll taken by workplace injuries and disease.