Town of Caledon supports “National Day of Mourning” 2022

April 28, 2022 -- In honour of the National Day of Mourning, Town of Caledon Council, staff and members of the public today gathered at Town Hall to pause and observe a moment of silence at 12:45 p.m. 

“The Day of Mourning is an opportunity not only to remember and honour workers who have lost their lives or been injured in workplace accidents,” said Mayor Allan Thompson. “It is also an opportunity to remind ourselves of our enormous responsibility to make sure our workers get home safely every day. Today we renew our commitment to creating safe workplaces, and we express our gratitude to workers everywhere who continue to do their jobs in the face of extraordinary challenges.”  

The National Day of Mourning 

This annual observance commemorates workers who have been killed, injured or suffered illness due to workplace-related hazards and occupational exposures.  Flags at the Town of Caledon are lowered to half-mast to pay respect to those workers, their families and friends that have been affected by these workplace incidents.  

In 1984 the date of April 28 was chosen as a day to mourn workers killed or injured on the job.  It was on that day in 1914 Ontario proclaimed the first Workers Compensation Act in Canada. In February 1991, the federal parliament passed the Workers Mourning Day Act (Bill C-223). The National Day of Mourning is now recognized in 100 countries around the world.  

Health and Safety at the Town of Caledon 

The Town of Caledon maintains a strong focus on health and safety. Town employees and volunteers take part in comprehensive health and safety training prior to their first day of work or volunteering with the municipality.  

Programs are developed by the Town’s Advisor, Health and Safety to address workplace hazards that are specific to employee and volunteer job functions.  

The Town’s Health and Safety Program is guided, and reviewed regularly, by internal Joint Health and Safety Committees.

In the photo: Staff, members of the public, first responders and Members of Council attend the Day of Mourning ceremony at Town Hall (April 28, 2022)