The 40th annual Workers Memorial Day was commemorated on Thursday, June 20, to honour all workers who have lost their lives or been injured on the job. The day has been a solemn occasion in Sudbury and the labour community, ever since a tragic accident in 1984 when four miners were killed at the Falconbridge Mine. This year, the dedication of a memorial garden and the unveiling of a plaque at Richard Lake on Thursday drew a large crowd of union leaders, community representatives, and more. At 10:12 am – the exact time that a seismic event claimed the lives of the men – a moment of silence was observed. After the moment of silence, two bagpipers from the Greater Sudbury Police pipe band performed.
Attendees included Sudbury MPP Jamie West, Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre, health and safety director for Unifor National Joanne Hey, and OHCOW personnel. Many took to the podium to speak, including West, Lefebvre, and OHCOW Occupational Health Coordinators Janice Martell and Jessica Montgomery (who is also President of the Sudbury Labour Council). They stressed the need for the utmost commitment to workplace safety and called on the community to honour the legacy of the workers who died.
Mine Mill Local 598/Unifor issued a news release stating that "this year's memorial is particularly poignant as it underscores the progress made over the past 40 years, while highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance and advocacy in ensuring safe working environments."
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