—Submitted by Tolko Industries
As flags fly at half-mast at all Tolko divisions on April 28, we honour the memory of those whose lives have been lost or hurt in the workplace, and those who have suffered work-related illnesses.
On National Day of Mourning, organizations across Canada will remember workers who have died, and workers among us who are injured or ill. Tolko recognizes the significance of this day, and understands that despite the highest standards in safety protocols and training, people can still become injured, or worse.
In 2016, 144 people died from workplace injury or disease in B.C. That number was the same in Alberta last year, and in Saskatchewan, another 31 workers lost their lives. Many, many more people were left to mourn their loved ones.
At Tolko, our people are our most important resource, and nothing is more important than their personal safety. What that really means, at our mills and sites across western Canada, is that we want everyone to go home safely to their families at the end of every day.
So, while National Day of Mourning asks us all to remember those who have fallen, it’s also a powerful reminder to the rest of us—to be safe, to look out for colleagues, to think of safety as everyone’s job.
The best way for us to honour the memory of those workers who have died is to commit to working together to prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the workplace.
On National Day of Mourning, please take a moment to join us as we remember workers here in BC and across Canada who have become ill or injured and lost their lives in the workplace.
Editor’s Note:
The annual Day of Mourning on April 28 commemorates workers who have been killed as a result of their jobs. The Canadian Labour Congress created and held the first National Day of Mourning ceremony on April 28, 1984, making Canada the first country to formally commemorate workers killed in the workplace.
A public memorial ceremony is being held in Kelowna Date: Friday, April 28, at noon at Ben Lee Park.
