U of T observes National Day of Mourning

All flags on the three campuses will be lowered to half-mast on Friday, April 27 to observe the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job.

The National Day of Mourning, officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, is held annually on April 28 in approximately 80 countries around the world and has been adopted by the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.


According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, some 1,014 employees die from work-related incidents in Canada each year, averaging more than two deaths every day. Another 942,478 per year are injured or become ill.


From 1993 to 2010, 16,143 people lost their lives due to workplace incidents. The Canadian flag on Parliament Hill will fly at half-mast as well as those of businesses and other organizations across the country.

The University of Toronto will participate in this National Day of Mourning by lowering the flags and through this act affirms its commitment to the promotion of health and safety for all members of the university community and to the provision of a safe and healthy work and study environment.