The Town of Cobourg will observe Sunday, April 28 as the National Day of Mourning and recognize all of those who have lost their lives or suffered an injury or illness on the job resulting from a work-related event or tragedy.
“The National Day of Mourning provides us with an opportunity to look beyond the statistics and reflect on the devastating effect that these tragedies have on the worker, the families who
are left behind, and our community,” says Mayor Lucas Cleveland. “Health and safety are everyone’s responsibility. In the decade that I spent in the Oil and Gas industry, I learned very
deeply that sending our employees home healthy to their families, is more important than our bottom line. We must continue our commitment to workplace safety so that we can learn from the past and create a safe environment for all.”
Members of Council will be attending the Northumberland Labour Council’s National Day of Mourning event on Sunday, April 28 in Lucas Point Park. Flags across the Town of Cobourg
will be lowered to half-mast to commemorate the day.
The Town of Cobourg asks the community to please take the time on April 28 to acknowledge those who have lost loved ones as a result of a workplace incident and to recognize workers
who have had their health and wellbeing impaired due to workplace events.
About the National Day of Mourning Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
In 1991, eight years after the day of remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Parliament of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Act making April 28
an official Day of Mourning. Today the Day of Mourning has since spread to more than 100 countries around the world and is recognized as Workers’ Memorial Day, and as International
Workers’ Memorial Day by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
It is the hope of CCOHS that the annual observance of this day will help strengthen the resolve to establish safe and healthy conditions in the workplace, and prevent further injuries,
illnesses, and deaths. As much as this is a day to remember the dead, it is also a call to protect the living and make work a place where people can thrive.