Remember the Dead. Fight for the Living: Day of Mourning 2026

IFPTE participates in Winnipeg’s annual Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders Walk in honour of the National Day of Mourning, April 28, 2026

Earlier this week, IFPTE members joined workers across Canada to mark the National Day of Mourning on April 28. In Winnipeg and communities nationwide, ceremonies honoured those killed, injured, or made ill because of their work - while renewing a commitment to prevention.

This year’s observances highlighted a growing reality: workplace harm is not always visible. Alongside physical injuries, workers are increasingly facing psychological hazards — including trauma, violence, harassment, and burnout - across sectors.

In its April 28 statement, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) underscored that psychological health and safety is workplace safety. Mental health injuries are now the leading cause of disability in Canada, yet too often dismissed as “part of the job.” Labour continues to push for stronger protections, enforcement, and safer working conditions.

IFPTE members attended Winnipeg’s annual Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders Walk. During the event, Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) President and friend of the IFPTE, Kevin Rebeck emphasized the need for better Workers Compensation coverage for psychological injuries, along with stronger enforcement and penalties for employers who violate safety laws.

Messages from the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) echoed calls for stronger enforcement. The OFL also highlighted a recent win this week for Ontario workers: mandatory training for Toronto police on investigating workplace deaths through the lens of the Westray Law - which allows employers to be criminally charged when negligence leads to worker bodily harm or death. This step helps ensure fatalities are treated as potential criminal matters and exemplifies how sustained pressure from labour can drive accountability and action.

As members reflect on this year’s Day of Mourning, the message is clear: remembering those we’ve lost must go hand-in-hand with fighting for safer workplaces. Through advocacy, collective bargaining, and solidarity, we continue working to ensure every worker returns home safe, healthy, and whole. Read more from the CLChere, the MFLhere, the OFLhere, and the SFL here.