Saturday 28 April 2012 is the National Day of Mourning.\u00a0\u00a0 Each year, \u00a0this day has been set aside to honour those workers across Canada whose lives have been lost, injured, disabled or who suffer from occupational diseases because of hazards or incidents in the workplace.<\/p>\n
The National Day of Mourning, also known as the Workers\u2019 Memorial day, was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984 and was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991.\u00a0 The Day of Mourning is now recognized in about 80 countries around the world.<\/p>\n
The number of deaths in the Canadian workplace each year is astonishing!\u00a0 For the 10 year period of 2000 to 2010 there were 9780 workplace deaths in Canada, including the deaths of 207 Nova Scotia workers during the same period.<\/p>\n
Work-related accidents are very expensive. The total of compensation paid to work accident victims, or their families, and of other economic costs of work-related injuries, each year are estimated at more than $12 billion. This figure does not take into account the pain and suffering of the victims and their families, which are incalculable.<\/p>\n
The purpose of Day of Mourning is twofold – 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. \u00a0Typically the Canadian flag on Parliament Hill is flown at half-mast, and workers and employees observe this day in various ways including lighting candles, donning ribbons and black armbands, and observing moments of silence.<\/p>\n
Should you wish to honour our fallen workers on April 28, join a Day of Mourning ceremony in a community near you: Nova Scotia<\/strong><\/p>\n Halifax, 11 a.m., Province House, 1726 Hollis St., contact: nsfl@ns.aliant.zinc.ca<\/a><\/p>\n Sydney, 11 a.m., Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 128, 850 Victoria Rd., Whitney Pier, contact: 902.562.8604<\/p>\n Kentville, 2 p.m., Kentville Memorial Park, Park St. (Main St.), contact: deantupper@xcountry.tv<\/a><\/p>\n
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