Every year flags are lowered all over Canada to mourn and remember friends, family, and co-workers who have lost their lives to workplace injury and illness.
“The Day of Mourning is where we reflect on how many people we’ve lost to workplace injuries and illnesses,” said Jill Palsat, owner of J-Squared Safety Services.
Bonnyville is commemorating the event for the third year. On April 27 at 10:30 a.m., the Bonnyville Chamber of Commerce, Alberta Construction Safety Association, and community volunteers will host a Day of Mourning ceremony at the Shaw House, as a way of recognizing those who have lost their lives due to workplace incidents.
In 2017, Alberta lost 166 men and women to workplace injury or illness.
“The numbers are growing year to year, and we’re not getting rid of the incidents,” emphasized Palsat. “We need to really take a look and ensure that we, as a community, are doing as much as we can to keep everyone safe; not just ourselves, but everybody around us.”
Worker’s Memorial Day was started in 1984 in Sudbury, ON, and was officially declared a day of remembrance by the Canadian Labour Congress on April 28, 1985.
At J-Squared Safety Services, they try to ensure that workers are aware of all the hazards in the workplace. Palsat puts emphasis on taking the time to stop and think prior to doing the job.
“Everybody should be trained in what to look for and try to do everything proactively before anything happens,” explained Palsat.
Darryl Dunlop, area supervisor at ATCO Electric said, “We have a safety program that we rolled out. It’s designed to help them increase their personal awareness.”
He added, “We keep them aware everyday to their risks that are going on and help them keep safe.”
