Thank you to everyone across the airport community who took time to participate in this year’s National Day of Mourning events.
On April 28, colleagues gathered in Terminal 1 Departures Lounge 15 as well as online through our livestream to pause, reflect and honour the workers across Canada who have lost their lives or experienced illness or injury while on the job. The ceremony was a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to look out for one another and to recommit to our collective goal of zero workplace injuries.
We are grateful to our speakers for sharing their perspectives and helping guide this meaningful moment of remembrance:
- Carla Greco, Director, Airport Security, GTAA
- Heather Chorley-Gordon, Senior Director, Hub Operations, Air Canada
- Erin Pitruzzella, Threads of Life
- Sonya Barbezat, Health and Safety Committee Employee Representative, CUPE Local 4092
- La Koya Brown, Health and Safety Co‑Chair, IAM Union
- Hager Ibrahim, Director, Aviation Safety Regulation & Performance, GTAA
Thank you as well to Yavar Khan Qadri and Matt Ulett for their moving performances, which added depth and reflection to the ceremony.
Thank You for Walking With Us
We also extend our thanks to everyone who joined the Toronto Pearson Safety Team for the Steps for Life 5K Walk on April 26. Walking together ahead of the National Day of Mourning was a meaningful way to show support for families affected by workplace tragedies and to reinforce the importance of injury prevention.
With Appreciation to Our Union Partners
A sincere thank you to our union partners for their continued support, collaboration and leadership in health and safety. Your involvement helps ensure these moments of remembrance and the actions they inspire continue to have a lasting impact.
Together, we honour those we have lost and recommit ourselves to building safer workplaces for everyone.
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)