Memorial for fallen workers, April 28, 2019

On Sunday April 28, I attended the wreath-laying ceremony to remember and honour those workers killed or injured on the job and to re-commit ourselves to making workplaces safer.  The event was organized by the Annapolis Valley Labour Council and held at Kentville's Memorial Park. According to the Nova Scotia Advocate, "the observance began in 1984 and it was officially declared an annual day of remembrance the following year by the Canadian Labour Congress. In 1991, the day became a national observance when the Workers Mourning Day Act was passed, making April 28 an official Workers’ Mourning Day. " We still have work to do given that "workplace fatalities in Nova Scotia increased in 2018 to 40" and "14 Nova Scotians died from acute traumatic injuries on the job. " The day of mourning is particularly pertinent for Nova Scotia, given the Westray Mine disaster in which 26 people lost their lives. In 2004, federal legislation was enacted to hold companies criminally accountable for deaths and injury. Among those attending the ceremony (and pictured below) were Wayne Kelley, President of the Annapolis Labour Council, Nova Scotia NDP leader Gary Burrill, Jon Lohr, MLA for Kings North, Kentville Mayor Sandra Snow, and my daughter, Evangeline (who helped me express sympathies to those in attendance who lost loved ones on the job).