The Day of Mourning honours Saskatchewan workers who lost their lives due to their work or work-related conditions.
In Estevan, the solemn occasion was marked by a brief ceremony conducted on the corner of the courthouse lawn in an area recognized as Coal Miner’s corner which includes a memorial bench and an old underground coal cart used to bring coal to the surface, in the early days of mining in southeast Saskatchewan.
Last year, 32 people died in Saskatchewan from workplace related injury or illness, including one person from an incident in Estevan a few years ago. More than 32,000 workplace injuries were reported to the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board.
Rick Dowhanuik, president of the United Mine Workers of America, Local 7606 Estevan, said he extended condolences to all families who had to deal with the loss of a loved one. He said with 39 years of employment in local mining operations, he knew firsthand how important it was to “work safely and get home safely. Just take the time and get it done correctly and safely,” he said following a brief ceremony that included the reading by Darcy Wright of the 32 names on the list of fatalities as luminaries were lit, one-by-one by Estevan area unionized employees.
Current and former mine workers Garry Malaryk and his father-in-law Ted Fai placed the memorial wreath on the coal car in memory of the deceased as emcee Sam Dryden reminded the dozen people in attendance to remember those who were lost including Rando Biasini of Edmonton, an iron worker who was employed in Estevan who died from medical complications following a fall at a worksite a few years ago.
“We want to keep the workplace safe,” said Dowhanuik. “The efforts are there, but, unfortunately, the results aren’t there yet.”
Don Morgan, labour relations and workplace safety minister for Saskatchewan said, “on our Day of Mourning, we grieve with the families of people who have lost their lives on the job, and we renew our commitment to Mission Zero.”
The names of those who lost lives as a result of workplace injuries or illness will be inscribed in the national registry at the Canadian Labour Congress in Ottawa.
Mission Zero is a Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety partnership with the Workers’ Compensation Board, prevention strategy that focuses on workplace illnesses and injuries. The target is zero injuries, fatalities and suffering by providing education and support to workers and their employers.
