Updated on [Apr 25, 2025]
Each year on April 28, Canadians across the country observe the National Day of Mourning ; a time to remember those who have lost their lives, suffered injuries, or experienced illness due to work-related incidents.
Click below to see how Workers' Compensation Boards and Commissions are recognizing this important day:
- Newfoundland and Labrador: WorkplaceNL
- Prince Edward Island: Workers Compensation Board of PEI
- Nova Scotia: Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick: WorkSafeNB
- Québec: Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail
- Ontario: Workplace Safety & Insurance Board
- Manitoba: Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
- Saskatchewan: WorkSafe Saskatchewan
- Alberta: Workers’ Compensation Board
- British Columbia: WorkSafeBC
- Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health & Safety Board
- Northwest Territories & Nunavut: Workers’ Safety & Compensation Commission
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
- The Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support
- Workers Health & Safety Centre
History
In 1984, April 28th was established as a Day of Mourning by the Canadian Labour Congress. This was a day to “mourn for the dead and fight for the living.” In 1991, the Canadian federal government passed legislation marking April 28th as a national “Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace”. This has since become an international movement. The International Labour Organization celebrates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28th to “promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.”
This April 28th, please take a moment to remember those injured, killed, or afflicted with an occupational disease while on the job.
If you would like to see the latest statistics on the number of Canadians who have suffered workplace injuries and illnesses, please see Injury Statistics.
S.C. 1991, c. 15
An Act respecting a Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace [Assented to 1st February, 1991]
WHEREAS it is desirable that Canadians should designate a day of mourning to remember workers killed, disabled or injured in the workplace and workers afflicted with industrial disease;
AND WHEREAS Canadians seek earnestly to set an example of their commitment to the issue of health and safety in the workplace;
NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows
Short title
1.This Act may be cited as the Workers Mourning Day Act.
Day of Mourning
2. (1) Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the 28th day of April shall be known under the name of "Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace".
(2) For greater certainty, the Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day and shall not be required to be kept or observed as such.
