Province unveils design concept for new memorial to honour the contributions and sacrifice of construction workers in building Ontario’s future
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026 on the National Day of Mourning to remember and honour those who have died, been injured or suffered illness in the workplace, the Ontario government unveiled the design concept for a new memorial to commemorate the contributions and sacrifices of construction workers whose lives have been lost or changed forever due to work-related incidents. The memorial, which will be located on the grounds of Queen’s Park near the intersection of College Street and University Avenue, will provide a dedicated space for reflection and remembrance, while serving as a lasting reminder of the shared responsibility to protect workers every day.
“Today, we join communities across Ontario to remember the workers who have given so much to build our province,” said Premier Doug Ford. “For the families and colleagues of workers who lost their lives or were injured on the job, this memorial will serve as a place to honour their sacrifices and stand as a reminder of our duty to make sure workers always come home safely.”
To be built on the grounds of Queen’s Park, the memorial will honour construction workers who have suffered a workplace death, injury or illness and is expected to be completed in 2027. The design features a collection of plaques that come together to form a self-supporting raised design to honour the names of workers who lost their lives on the job. A new plaque will be added each year on April 28 to mark the National Day of Mourning.
“Our government is remembering those we have lost and supporting workers and families affected by workplace tragedy,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “With this memorial, we are honouring the men and women who built this province and reinforcing a clear message that workplace safety is non-negotiable and protecting workers must always come first.”
This memorial builds on Ontario’s ongoing efforts to protect workers and strengthen workplace health and safety. Through seven Working for Workers Acts since 2021 and the proposed Protecting Ontario’s Workers and Economic Resilience (POWER) Act, the government is taking strong action to protect workers and ensure Ontario is the best place to live, work and raise a family.
Quick Facts
- The National Day of Mourning was chosen to coincide with the day in 1914 when Ontario’s first modern Workmen’s Compensation Act was passed in the legislature.
- The Day of Mourning, also known as Workers’ Memorial Day, is officially recognized in about 100 countries worldwide.
- In 2025, there were close to 580,000 construction workers in Ontario, and over the next decade, the province will need an additional 160,000.
- Over the last five years the lost‑time injury rate per 100 workers in the construction sector has declined by 13.5 per cent (WSIB).
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
