Elliot Lake added the names of seven former miners Sunday morning at the Miner's Memorial on the National Day of Mourning. Over 100 people gathered for the annual event. The outdoor ceremony at the Memorial on the shores of Horne Lake included speeches and Indigenous drummers from Serpent River.
The names of Sydney Craig, Horst Hermann Hartmann, John "Sean" McGlade, Norman Orser, William Addison White, Norman Whitehead and Marcel Gauthier were added to the Miner's Memorial Wall as part of this year's ceremony.
One of the speakers, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha, said it was important for people to take time to gather and acknowledge the sacrifice of family members and co-workers of those who were injured and other workers who died in the mines. The MPP added, "That leads me to our second duty today. As we remember the incredible losses experienced by our friends and loved ones, we must commit to improving our safety standards and policies."
According to the Association of Worker's Compensation Boards of Canada, every year there are nearly 1,000 workplace fatalities in Canada and over 250,000 lost time injury and disease claims are accepted by compensation boards.
Leading off the list of speakers as introduced by OPSEU official Rick Hamilton was Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes. The New Democrat said employers must be held accountable for workplace safety standards, injuries and deaths. She said the National Day of Mourning serves as a reminder and call to action adding, "The fact that people are killed, injured, or become sick at work due to poor enforcement of health and safety regulations is a tragedy."
Hughes said that is why nearly 1,000 workers die from work related injuries and illnesses every year, while others are injured or suffer from occupational disease. "We have to make sure that all work environments are safe. That's why we gather each April 28 in honour of workers who are injured or die in the workplace,” she said.
Guest speaker Sandy Ibbitson, occupational health and safety coordinator at Denison Environmental Services, described the ordeal of the family who lost a young son to a fatal injury on his second day at work. She said there is no word in our language to refer to parents who lose a child.
Mayor Dan Marchisella, the son of a former miner at Denison Mines, recited the names of the seven men being honoured this year. "Unfortunately, we still see nearly 1,000 workplace fatalities across Canada annually. Let's put labour tribunals out of business by insuring there are no more hazards in our workplaces,” he said.
People in some 80 countries paused Sunday to remember those who have died in the workplace, including Canada, as part of the commemoration of the National Day of Mourning.