Red Deer honours victims of workplace tragedy at National Day of Mourning ceremony

Gust was just 16-years-old when her father’s life was taken in a matter of seconds.

She was awoken by her mother that morning to tell her the heartbreaking news. Later in the hospital she remembers seeing a white sheet draped over her father’s body and how her mom was curled up in a ball rocking back and forth in a chair in the corner.

“In that split second my dad was gone and the family that we knew was forever shattered,” she said. “Although it’ll be 34 years this month, it feels like yesterday.”

(rdnewsNOW/ Ian Gustafson)

Her speech was just one of of five speeches heard at the National Day of Mourning ceremony held at Bower Ponds in Red Deer.

Now living in Calgary, Gust works in quality assurance for Energy Safety Canada, striving to help prevent anymore workplace tragedies.

“There is still work to be done,” she said. “There’s a gap somewhere and it’s everybody’s responsibility. We’ve got to figure out what that is because people don’t go to work to die, they go to work as a means to support themselves to live. If they’re going to work and getting injured, we’re missing something, and we’ve got to find it.”

The annual day falls on Monday, April 28 and ceremonies were held across the country to recognize the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job.

It serves as a time for reflection and a renewed commitment to improving workplace health and safety.

The local event was put on by the Parkland Regional Safety Committee, with the support of the Alberta Construction Safety Association. It was sponsored by the Red Deer & District Labour Council, Manufacturers’ Health and Safety Association, and the Red Deer Construction Association.

Along with speeches given at the main stage, multiple wreaths were laid at the Fallen Worker Tribute, which was built in 2018.

Every day in Canada three workers will die to a workplace fatality, occupational illness, or a disease.

According to the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta, in 2024, 203 people died from workplace injuries and illnesses including 112 to occupational disease, 50 from trauma, 29 from motor vehicle collisions, and 12 from other causes. This marked the highest number of workplace fatalities in the province’s history.

(rdnewsNOW/ Ian Gustafson)

City of Red Deer deputy mayor, Dianne Wyntjes was on hand to read the proclamation. She said the National Day of Mourning was commemorated over 40 years ago and is not only a day of remembrance but of resolve.

“This day inspires us to prevent further tragedies,” she said. “It is a reminder of the importance of health and safety in every workplace and every industry. Behind every statistic is a family member, a friend, colleague and a life forever changed. Every day members in our community and our world are injured or provide the ultimate sacrifice of being killed while trying to earn a living. We must remember workplace deaths are preventable. Let us keep workplace health and safety a priority every day.”

Director of member services with the Alberta Construction Safety Association, Matthew Nasby said the ceremony is meant to remember those who’ve fallen but also to work together for a future where such tragedies no longer occur.

“Our commitment to enhancing safety and protecting workers is unwavering by sharing experiences and learning from the past so we can honour those we’ve lost and strive for a safer future,” he said.

Alberta representative for the Canadian Labour Congress, prairie region, Rashpal Sehmby said National Day of Mourning is recognized internationally in over 80 countries.

“Workers deserve to arrive home safely at the end of each work day and to live a life that’s not cut short because of occupational illness, or because of an injury they sustained at work,” he said.

“Workers and their loved ones can’t afford to wait any longer for meaningful change that makes work safe.”

The Steps for Life Charity Walk in honour of the victims of workplace tragedy is less than a week away.

Put on by Threads of Life, the event aims to raise awareness and funds for families and individuals affected.

It involves approximately 30 communities across Canada at the beginning of May. The event in Red Deer is set to take place May 3 at Bower Ponds where participants will take part in a five-kilometre walk at 11 a.m.

by Ian Gustafson

Red Deer honours victims of workplace tragedy at National Day of Mourning ceremony

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