City of Ottawa marks National Day of Mourning for those lost in workplace incidents

A special ceremony in the Capital advocating for workplace safety and remembering those who have died or suffered injury because of their job. CTV’s Camille Wil

The City of Ottawa marked the National Day of Mourning Monday, reflecting on people who have lost their lives or have been injured on the job.

A ceremony was held at Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa. The day is marked annually in Canada on April 28.

About 100 people attended the ceremony, including union representatives, family members who have lost a loved one and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

“There are a thousand workers annually that die as a result of the workplace in Canada,” said president of the Ottawa & District Labour Council, Sean McKenny.

“We have not seen a significant drop to that number over the last number of years.”

McKenny rejects accepting workplace incidents as an inevitable part of life.

“We think that if proper procedures were put in place by the employer where employers treated workers with respect and provided them a healthy and safe workplace, then we think that would help a lot,” McKenny said.

Jennifer Chenier lost her son Nick Chenier two years ago when he was electrocuted by an overhead hydro line that was buried within a hedge in Ottawa.

Chenier says he worked for his company for three years and loved what he did but says he often spoke about dangerous conditions that weren’t taken seriously.

“I made a promise to my son. Every day I’m going to do everything that I can to increase workplace safety awareness, increase awareness of human rights in particular younger people, young adults,” said Chenier.

“I want them to know that they have a voice. They have rights. I want them to be aware of what type of conditions they’re supposed to be working in.”

Chenier says attending the ceremony is to honour and pay tribute to her son. She says being able to speak to people and tell them her story helps in her grieving process.

“I choose to be an advocate for him and I just want to make sure his name is never, ever forgotten,” said Chenier. “Employers have to change. They have to start being responsible for their workers,” says Chenier.

Chenier says all of her son’s equipment was unsafe and he shouldn’t have been there. Last year, The Ministry of Labour laid five charges against the company, its owner, and Chenier’s supervisor.

“There are criminal charges now against the supervisor of the company. This is the first time in Ottawa or eastern Ontario that this charge has been laid in a workplace fatality,” she said.