Today is Canada's National Day of Mourning for workers killed while on the job.
I'm taking this opportunity to remember Jonas Hilmer Eriksson, born in 1891 at Hamrånge, Gävleborgs in Sweden.
He was killed by a falling log while working as a longshoreman on Vancouver's waterfront in 1926.
The National Day of Mourning was started by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), and recognized officially by the Canadian government in 1991. Since that time, the Day of Mourning has been recognized by about 80 countries around the world and adopted by the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the International Confederation of Free Trade.
Sadly Canada still has a long way to go in improving workplace safety. When you hear the CLC radio ads today, or see a memorial event, please take the time to listen and reflect, then let your MPs and MLAs and others know how important workplace safety is.
The British Columbia Federation of Labour has a list of today's events in British Columbia here.
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