FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A ceremony to commemorate fallen workers for the National Day of Mourning will be held at city hall on Thursday, April 28th.

According to the Day of Mourning website, the ceremony will start at 11:45 a.m., with participants then marching to Centennial Park to lay wreaths and observing a moment of silence at noon.

First recognized by the Canadian Labor Congress in 1984, the Day of Mourning was to pay tribute to those killed, injured, or who suffered an illness due to work-related incidents, WorkSafeBC said in a release.

In 1991, the day became a national observance with the passing of the Workers Mourning Day Act, and on April 28, 1991, the federal government officially proclaimed the national Day of Mourning.

According to the release, Canada was the first nation to recognize the Day of Mourning, with the Canadian flag on Parliament Hill typically being flown at half-mast.

Workers and employees observe the day in various ways, including wearing ribbons, lighting candles, and holding moments of silence.

Since 1984, acknowledgement of the day has spread to many countries, and it is now observed throughout the world.

Ceremonies will also be held at Dawson Creek City Hall at 10:30 a.m. and Hudson’s Hope District Office at 11 a.m.

Those unable to attend the local in-person ceremony can view a virtual ceremony held in Vancouver at 10:30 a.m. here.

Spencer Hall is a news reporter for energeticcity.ca and a recent graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Radio Arts & Entertainment program. Growing up in Northwest B.C. made Spencer aware of the importance of local journalism, independent media, and reconciliation. In his spare time, you can find Spencer reading, playing video games, or at the FSJ dog park with his dog, Teddy.