Ceremony to honour fallen workers to be held in Fort St. John

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

The City of Fort St. John and the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) Peace River are holding the ceremony for workers, families and employers to come together to remember those who have lost their lives while on the job.

In Fort St. John, the event will begin at 11:45 a.m. at City Hall, 10631 100th Street, with a march to the memorial at Centennial Park and a wreath laying at noon.

“We are coming together on this Day of Mourning to pause and remember workers who have been injured or lost their lives in the workplace,” said Naomi Gallant, the BCGEU Area 10 Cross Component Chair. 

“The Canadian Labour Congress first declared the Day in 1984, and it is our role to mark the Day annually with a ceremony, remembering and committing to safety so incidents don’t happen again.”

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 previous 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 WorkSafeBC, 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.

Dawson Creek and Hudson’s Hope are also hosting ceremonies to observe the Day of Mourning.

For more information on ceremonies across the province, visit Day of Mourning B.C.’s website.