Close to Home. Plan to attend a Day of Mourning Event

On April 28 workers, families, labour, and community partners will gather at Day of Mourning events across Ontario to remember lost loved ones and recommit to prevention efforts. Plan to attend a brief ceremony in London at 11:00 a.m. Details here. The following is from the Workers Health and Safety Centre (WHSC):

When a worker dies or is critically injured in a preventable workplace tragedy it hits hard. Whether or not they were our loved ones it still strikes close to home.

Solutions to those same uncontrolled workplace hazards that can rob us of a loved one or their ability to earn a living are also found close to home. Our collective, ‘buy Canadian’ response to recent bullying tactics levelled at our trade agreements and national sovereignty demonstrates our capacity, resilience, and motivation to draw on our better instincts. When we do this and work together in search of solutions it helps safeguard all of us.

On April 28 workers, their families, labour councils, unions and community partners will gather at Day of Mourning events across Ontario to remember workers injured, killed, or made ill because of hazardous work and unhealthy environments, and they will reflect and recommit to finding solutions to secure safer, healthier workplaces and communities.

ATTEND A DAY OF MOURNING EVENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

Towards safer, healthier work

Protecting workers’ lives and livelihoods has never been more important. Seeking home grown solutions to these challenges and others, Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) has focused its 2025 Day of Mourning communications around the theme “Safeguarding worker lives and livelihoods: CLOSE TO HOME.”

For WHSC executive director, Andrew Mudge, the Day of Mourning is a sombre reminder of loss but also an opportunity to remember our many hard-won gains including health and safety laws. “Workers and their representatives struggle to improve workplace health and safety protections beyond the minimums provided by law. Many fight to secure even those basic safeguards.” In these uncertain times, Mudge wants to remind workers that WHSC has their back. “WHSC exists to provide workers with the training and support they need to fight for safe and healthy work. Governments at all levels need to demonstrate that, along with a strong economy, they will also fight for workers’ lives and livelihoods by enforcing their right to safe, healthy work.”

The Canadian Labour Congress first declared April 28 a National Day of Mourning in 1986. The Parliament of Canada would officially recognize the Day with passage of the Workers Mourning Day Act in 1991. Ontario’s Legislative Assembly followed suit in 2016 when it passed the Workers Day of Mourning Act. Today the Day is recognized in more than 100 countries around the world where it is often observed as Workers’ Memorial Day.

WHSC Day of Mourning Resources

Visit our dedicated Day of Mourning web page. We will update our events listing as additional information becomes available. Plan to attend at least one event.

Download and share WHSC Day of Mourning resources:2025 Day of Mourning brochure Safeguarding worker lives and livelihoods. Close to home.A list of Day of Mourning events across OntarioTowards a more accurate picture of worker disability, disease, and death.To achieve their goal of safer, healthier work and environments workers and their representatives require comprehensive instructor-led learning in real-time, in-person or virtual classrooms. WHSC training is always led in real time by an experienced, WHSC-qualified instructor to ensure critical learning is achieved. WHSC virtual classrooms are highly effective, but in-person training remains the gold standard.
 
WHSC coordinates training delivery through regional service hubs. This allows us to offer in-person courses in communities across the province including at our regional training facilities in Hamilton, London, Markham, Ottawa and Sudbury.

WHSC offers essential and legally mandated training such as joint health & safety committee certification, GHS-WHMIS, workplace violence and harassment, supervisor awareness and competency, and worker health and safety awareness.

REGISTER FOR ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING.

Need training in French? Check out our extensive French catalogue or contact WHSC Training Services Representative, Christopher Gervais at cgervais@whsc.on.ca or 613-407-2187.