National Day of Mourning is held annually across Canada on April 28. The event is a time to remember those who have lost their lives or experienced illness or injury while on the job. At Toronto Pearson, we honour this day by reflecting and recommitting ourselves to our goals of zero injuries and preventing workplace tragedies.
The History of National Day of Mourning
National Day of Mourning was created by the Canadian Labour Congress to honour workers who were injured, became ill or lost a life as a result of their work. In 1991, the Parliament of Canada passed the Workers Mourning Day Act, making April 28 an official Day of Mourning. Since then, it has spread to more than 100 countries around the world and is recognized as Workers’ Memorial Day and as International Workers' Memorial Day by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).National Day of Mourning at Toronto Pearson
Every year, National Day of Mourning is observed at Pearson with a ceremony and reception. We additionally commemorate those who have lost their lives in the workplace with an airport-wide moment of silence and by lowering our flags to half-mast.
Pearson’s 2025 National Day of Mourning ceremony will be held at 10:45 a.m. in the Terminal 1 Departures Lounge 15. The event will feature speeches from leaders in safety and security from Pearson and our union and organizational partners.
We encourage all airport employees to join in this observance and continue to work towards our goal of zero injuries.
Join the Pearson Safety Team at Steps for Life
As an additional show of commitment to preventing workplace death, illness and injury, we invite you to join the Pearson team walking 5 kilometres with Steps for Life on April 27, 2025. This event raises funds for individuals and families affected by a workplace tragedy and brings awareness to the importance of preventing future workplace injuries and illnesses. Sign up or donate today.