The National Day of Mourning is observed annually in Canada on April 28 to honour those who have lost their lives while working on the job. The purpose of the National Day of Mourning is two-fold … to remember and honour those lives lost or injured and to renew the commitment to improving health and safety in the workplace … to prevent further deaths, injuries and diseases from work.
Every year workers, families, employers, and others come together at ceremonies held around the province and the country to remember those who have lost their lives to work-related incidents or occupational disease, and to renew their commitment to creating safe workplaces. Since its inception, the observance has spread to over 80 countries around the world, but is known in most other countries as the Workers’ Memorial Day.
The Canadian flag on Parliament Hill is typically flown at half-mast on April 28, and workers and employees observe this day in various ways including observing moments of silence. To mark our school district’s commitment in observance of the National Day of Mourning, Coast Mountains School District flags will be lowered to half-mast before the start of school on Friday, April 28 and raised at the end of the school day on April 28.
For more information, please visit the BC Day of Mourning website at dayofmourning.bc.ca.