April 28th marks the National Day of Mourning - a day to remember and mourn those who have been killed or injured on the job. Hundreds of events take place across the country to observe the day, including the following in Winnipeg.

Memorial Service and Candlelight Vigil

The Manitoba Federation of Labour hosted a Day of Mourning service and candlelight Vigil. The service recognized the 13 workers in Manitoba who were killed on the job in 2014. 
- Mikull Bourque, a 60 year old truck driver was crushed by a round bale when it rolled off the truck he was loading. (April 23, 2014)
- Mathew McConnell, a 24 year old labourer died while working a night shift at a company called Clint Moffat and Sons Ltd., just northwest of Alexander. He became caught in a machine he was operating, a radial telescopic stacking conveyor designed to transport rock and sand on a conveyor belt. He was declared dead at the scene. (May 22, 2014)
- Darrel Hagyard, a 41 year old truck driver, died suddenly in a moving-vehicle accident while working for a concrete company. (June 5, 2014)
-Arthur Kroeker, a 52 year old supervisor/owner of Art’s Drilling died after being struck by a large steel pipe at his Hochfield, Manitoba work site. (June 18, 2014)
- Lucille Morrison, a 57 year old farmer, died after she fell off the tractor she was driving and was hit by the brushcutter it was towing on her acreage, located northwest of Russell near Lake of the Prairies. (July 17, 2014)
- Glen McLean, a 68 year old farmer died as a result of being crushed in a bale stacker wagon. (August 16, 2014)
Ward Burns, a 44 year old hired hand died as a result of being buried under a pile of grain in a grain bin. (September 11, 2014)
- Dakota Holloway, a 20 year old skilled tradesperson died in Virden, Manitoba when he was caught in a pump jack on the oilfield. (September 30, 2014)
- *MGEU member, Rhonda Commodore, a 44 year old correctional officer died when the van she was driving rolled over on Highway 10, about 45 kms south of The Pas. (November 6, 2014)
- Gerald Waldner, a 36 year old farmer was killed when he was driving fence posts and was struck by the shovel as it came off the loader. (November 11, 2014)
- Justin Dann, a 34 year old mechanic died after a forklift fell on him while he was working at Red River Galvanizing in Oakbank. (November 21, 2014)
- Barry Johnson, a 57 year old truck driver died when the load of steel beams he was hauling on the back of his flatbed truck came loose and crashed through the cab on Lagimodiere Bouldvard and Dugald Road in Winnipeg. (December 16, 2014)
- Chamkaur Sandhu, a 49 year old truck driver died when the semi-trailer he was driving jack-knifed and was struck by another westbound semi while travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway near St Francis XavierThe service also recognized 13 workers who died as a result of workplace illnesses. Another 30,202 people suffered work-related injuries last year. (December 21, 2014)
Also recognized at the ceremony were 13 workers who died as a result of workplace illnesses and the 30,202 people that suffered work-related injuries last year.

Downtown Walk and Ceremony

A noon hour ceremony organized by SAFE Workers of Tomorrow took place today. Workers, representatives from labour, government and students walked from the Union Centre at Broadway and Smith, along Broadway to the Legislature to remind members of the public of the need for safe workplaces.

This year the march commemorated the changing workforce in the province as the number of immigrants from around the world that enter the Manitoba workforce continues to increase. The theme, “New and Vulnerable Workers” and was a reminder that many workers who are new to Canada and new to the workforce are often unaware of the rights they have to safe work and there are many barriers including language and cultural differences that can place new workers at a greater risk of tragic workplace incidents.

The Origins of the National Day of Mourning

The Day of Mourning was first observed in 1984 by the Canadian Labour Congress. It is a day set aside to remember and mourn for workers who have been killed or injured in our workplaces.

On December 28, 1990, the Parliament of Canada passed a private members Bill, sponsored by Churchill NDP MP Rod Murphy, officially declaring that day a national Day of Mourning. It was first held under that status on April 28, 1991.

Since then, the Day of Mourning has spread to more than 80 countries around the world and has been officially adopted by the AFL-CIO and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.