Day of Mourning 2021 – The Human Cost of COVID-19

Kamloops, BC – April 28, 2021 In Kamloops and area, workers, unions and community will gather online to remember and mourn the working people who have died or who were injured on the job and recommit to fight for the living.

What: Kamloops and District Labour Council (KDLC) Virtual Memorial
Where: https://kdlc.ca/
When: April 28, 2021 at 7 pm

Every year on the Day of Mourning, we mourn the dead and re-commit to fighting for the living.

The KDLC and Canadian unions are marking the National Day of Mourning by calling attention to the human cost of the COVID-19 pandemic. For over a year, the world has faced unprecedented upheaval due to COVID-19. “The virus and its variants have wrought havoc on our society and laid bare a troubling lack of protection for workers” Hassan Yussuff, President of the CLC said.  “Over the last year, we have witnessed how vulnerable we all are. This pandemic has shone a light on egregious gaps in workplace protections and exposed employers who choose to put profits over people.”

Evidence from across the country shows that the virus is spreading at work, not only in health care settings but also in factories, meat works, warehouses, schools, offices, transportation and other sectors. Workers have had to fight for access to appropriate, effective protective equipment, COVID-safe practices at work, paid sick leave and respect for their basic health and safety rights. However, these problems existed before the pandemic and have resulted in millions of deaths each year from work-related injuries and diseases.

We hope the Kamloops and area community will join us virtually this year to remember and honour the approximately 1000 Canadian workers across Canada who have died at work or many others injured on the job. “No one should lose their life at work or be injured on the job. Every worker deserves to return home to their friends, family and those that love them and rely on them”, said Lois Rugg, President of the KDLC. The virtual service will be available on the Kamloops and District website https://kdlc.ca/  at 7pm.  Rugg said the community is also invited to decorate their vehicles with Day of Mourning signs and flags for a short car parade through downtown Kamloops leaving the Kamloops Court House Parking lot at 5pm on April 28.  Strict COVID 19 safety protocols will be in place and the organizers ask that car parade participants remain in their cars at all times.  Organizers will provide parade route maps to participants prior to departure.

Day of Mourning Car Parade Poster
Day of Mourning Car Parade Route