Honouring those who have died on the job, along with a focus on safety is why flags are lowered at Lloydminster City Hall.
The National Day of Mourning which has been observed in Canada since 1984 brings the construction community together to reflect and honour those who have died on the job while keeping the focus on safety.
“As a nation, we grieve as one,” says Mayor Gerald Aalbers.
In Alberta, 165 workers died on the job in 2023, and in Saskatchewan 29 deaths were reported to the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board.
For comparison, in 2022, in Alberta, 161 lives were lost on the job and 39 people perished from workplace-related incidents in Saskatchewan.
“The National Day of Mourning is a day of reflection – and a day of action. We must come together to ensure that tragedies do not happen again and that every worker has the right to work in a safe and healthy work environment. Every worker has the right to return home safely at the end of the day to their friends and family,” notes Aalbers.
Aalbers called on employers to ensure they are doing their part to provide a safe working environment for staff and protect employees from harm. Also, that workers have a responsibility to look out for their own safety and that of their colleagues.
“This means following proper safety procedures, using protective equipment, and reporting potential hazards and incidents immediately,” says Aalbers.
The mayor signed the proclamation to recognize the Day of Mourning. Flags at City Hall were lowered and those assembled observed a moment of silent reflection.
The Lloydminster commemoration was organized by the city’s safety team, the Lloydminster Construction Association, Lakeland Regional Safety Committee and community partners. First responders, fire crews and teams from ATCO along with city staff paused for reflection on Friday morning.
The National Day of Mourning is observed every year on April 28.