In 1984, the Canadian Labour Congress [1] established April 28th as the National Day of Mourning in Canada to remember and honour those who have died, been injured or suffered illness in the workplace.

A joint proclamation recognizing the day has been issued by University of Guelph and the University’s unions and employee group leaders.

The day is traditionally marked in many ways including holding public ceremonies, wearing black and yellow ribbons, lighting candles, observing a moment of silence at 11:00 am and sharing stories about how workplace tragedies have touched peoples' lives.

Following the Day of Mourning, the University of Guelph will host its annual Be Well, Be Safe Week [2] from May 6-12, 2024. The week begins with a kick-off event on May 6th, Fostering Safety: Physically and Mentally with Keynote Speaker Rob Ellis [3] who became an outspoken advocate for health, safety and wellness in the workplace after the death of his son David in 1999.

Supports are available through the Employee and Family Assistance Program [4] for those who have experienced grief or difficult emotions around this day.