The Grey Bruce Labour Council held a ceremony at Heritage Square in Hanover on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, to observe the National Day of Mourning. The event honoured workers who have been injured, made ill, or killed on the job, with the Town of Hanover marking the day by flying flags at the Civic Centre at half-mast.
The National Day of Mourning was established as an annual observance in 1991 following the passage of federal legislation known as the Workers Mourning Day Act. During this year’s local ceremony, the Grey Bruce Labour Council also paid tribute to the legacy of Colin Lambert, a former health and safety director for the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Lambert, who passed away earlier this year, co-created the concept of the Day of Mourning in 1983 alongside labour activist Ray Sentes.
Reflecting on the necessity of the day, Grey Bruce Labour Council President Kevin Smith noted, “If only this day was not required at all.” Council members highlighted that official statistics often do not capture the full scope of workplace harm, stating that many more individuals die each year than are counted in official reports while waiting for injury or illness claims to be reviewed or appealed.
Recent data from Ontario highlights the ongoing risks in the workplace. According to 2023 statistics, the province recorded 92 traumatic workplace fatalities and 162 fatalities related to occupational disease. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reported that occupational disease accounts for approximately three-quarters of all work-related deaths in the province, with 23,774 disease-related claims accepted in that same year.
Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau emphasized the personal impact of these statistics, stating that the National Day of Mourning “reminds us that behind every workplace tragedy is a family, a workplace, and a community forever changed.” The 2026 observance also coincided with other milestones, including commemorations of the Westray mine disaster and local labour history.
