Bruneau says past year about 100 Albertans died as a result from work related illness, which is often some type of cancer or exposure to asbestos.
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Hamilton’s ceremony is being held at 5:30 this afternoon at City Hall.
The day, which was first observed in Canada in 1984 and became a national observance in 1991 with the Workers Mourning Day Act, is also commemorated in over 100 other countries as Workers’ Memorial Day, or International Commemoration Day (ICD) for Dead and Injured.
This year the Day of Mourning event is calling for a ban on asbestos – which is known to cause cancer.
Both the CN Tower and the TORONTO sign will be lit yellow Thursday evening in tribute to all workers who have been killed on the job, or have been injured.
In 2015, there were a total of 122 work-related deaths in B.C. alone.
The Annual Day of Mourning Leaders walk to the Legislature was held by Safe Workers of Tomorrow with a theme of Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace.
Labour Minister Shirley Bond says workplace improvements have been made and everyone must work together to build a culture of safety that makes such tragedies a thing of the past.
“Asbestos exposure affects everyone, whether it’s workers, their family members or other Canadians who come into contact with workers following exposure”, says Fred Clare, Eastern Canada vice-president of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers.
Day of Mourning attendees wear placards bearing the name of a worker who died on the job.
On Thursday, the Canadian flag was lowered to half-mast at all federal government buildings.
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The AFL says Alberta’s outdated Occupational Health and Safety Laws, and Workers’ Compensation Board rules, exacerbate the problem by making it harder for workers to protect themselves against abusive employers. Family survivors will be joined by workers, employers, local labour councils and WorkSafeBC to mark the day with more than 25 ceremonies throughout the province.
