April 28th - Day of Mourning
National Monument Located in Vincent Massey Park
Ottawa, Ontario - Canada, Ottawa & District Labour Council

The National Day of Mourning was first declared in 1984 by the Canadian Labour Congress.  The date April 28th was chosen because on that day in 1914, the Workers Compensation Acr received its third reading.

In December of 1990, through an Act of Canada's Parliament this day became a national observance with the passing of the Workers Mourning Day Act.

The Canadian flag on Parliament Hill is flown at half-mast as are flags on all federal government buildings.  In addition most provinces and municipalities fly at half-mast.

Workers hold ceremonies across Canada and observances include; lighting candles, donning ribbons and/or armbands and observing a moment of silence.

It was through the tireless efforts of Dick Martin, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress that the National Monument was unveiled on April 28th, 1987.  Although a National monument in recognition of all workers killed and injured on the job, its location at Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa was chosen because of its proximity to one of the worst construction accidents in Canada's history - the collapse of the Heron Road bridge that saw 9 people die and another 55 injured on August 10th, 1966.