April 28th isn't just an ordinary day - it's a Day of Mourning

TORONTO, April 26, 2013 /CNW/ - The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) asks everyone to join them in marking the National Day of Mourning and remembering the workers and families whose lives have been forever changed by a workplace injury, illness or fatality.

"On April 28th, we remember those people who were killed at work or died from an occupational disease," says WSIB Chair, Elizabeth Witmer. "We also pay tribute and remember workers who are living with the effects of a workplace injury or illness, and who are striving to move their lives forward with hope and dignity. However, it is more than a day of remembrance, it is a day when we reaffirm our commitment to do all we can to prevent workplace tragedies. Let us also not forget the families impacted by fatalities, injuries and disease."

At sunset on April 28, the CN Tower will be lit in yellow, traditionally a colour of hope, as a visible tribute to the Day of Mourning. Numerous events to mark the day are also being held in communities across the province and the country. Ms. Witmer is attending the Waterloo Regional Labour Council's ceremony on April 28, beginning at 10:25 a.m., at the Victoria Park Monument in Kitchener.

Visit www.wsibdayofmourning.ca to light a virtual candle for a loved one who has been killed on the job or has been affected by a workplace tragedy. The website also links to the WSIB's DOM Facebook page, where you can post a photo or share a memorial message. You can also send memorial tweets using #dayofmourning.

April 28 was chosen as the date for the National Day of Mourning in 1984, when the Canadian Labour Congress proclaimed the Day to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the day the first Ontario Workers' Compensation Act was approved by the government. The Day of Mourning was enshrined in national legislation by an Act of Parliament on February 1, 1991.

SOURCE: Workplace Safety & Insurance Board

Christine Arnott
WSIB Media Relations
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