Dozens gather for National Day of Mourning ceremony at Winnipeg city hall
Winnipeg mayor says there's always work to be done to make sure civic employees have safe place to work
Officials from the provincial and municipal government along with union leaders gathered at Winnipeg city hall Monday for a sombre ceremony, joining Canadians in observing Canada's National Day of Mourning.
The day is an opportunity to commemorate workers who have been injured or killed in the workplace, as well as workers who have become ill as a result of their work, and is held every year on April 28.
"We have to continue to work with all of our employees and their representatives to make sure that people can go home at the end of the day as a City of Winnipeg employee — maybe a little bit tired from their job because they put in a full day's work, but go home healthy."
Union leaders underscored the challenges Monday morning many still face in their workplaces like violent incidents on city buses and the dangerous calls first responders face every day.
United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg president Nick Kasper fought back emotions during his speech at the event talking about firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
"We often describe ourselves as a second family and the loss of one of our brothers and sisters in the service is akin to losing a family member," he said.
"There's a number of individuals here who are suffering a close personal loss and we're here to pay our respect, honour their sacrifice and show support to their family."
Three Winnipeg firefighters — Preston Heinbigner, Ronald Murray and Gordon Pottinger — were honoured during Monday's ceremony. Their names were also added to the Commemorative Roll, which is a memorial list of civic employees who died of work related causes since 1978.
A pamphlet handed out at the event lists the names of 98 others.
In a statement Monday, Manitoba's Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino said people in the province deserve to feel safe on the job and when they leave for work in the morning, their loved ones should be able count on their safe return home.
"We encourage all Manitobans to take a moment of solemn reflection to remember the lives lost and the loved ones no longer with us," the statement said.
"We reaffirm our commitment to keep working together to improve safety and supports for all workers in Manitoba."
The Manitoba Federation of Labour also held a walk Monday, which left from Union Centre on Broadway before making its way to the workers memorial at Memorial Park for a ceremony.
"We reflect and mourn those who've lost their lives through workplace tragedies," said Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour.
"Every year over 1,000 workers in Canada alone die through workplace incidents," he said. "Here in Manitoba we're remembering 18 workers who died from workplace hazards and illnesses just last year, along with another 11 workers who died in previous years, but their deaths weren't recognized as work-related until now."
National Day of Mourning was proclaimed by Canada's Parliament in 1991, and is now recognized in more than 100 countries across the globe.