Day of Mourning Started in Sudbury 42 years ago

Resources for workplace health and safety were presented at the ceremony.

Sudbury's Day of Mourning ceremony took place yesterday, April 28. The event was MCd by Jessica Montgomery, OHCOW employee and  president of the Sudbury and District Labour Council. Speakers included Laura Walton, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour; Andreanne Chenier, national health and safety representative with the Canadian Union of Public Employees; Mickey O’Brien of United Steelworkers Local 6500; and Max Lafontaine, president of CUPE Local 4705, as well as other health and safety representatives and members of the public. 2026 marks the 42nd Day of Mourning, a movement that began in Sudbury and is now recognized internationally.

As Jessica stated, "This year’s theme focuses on psychosocial health and safety. It’s something we don’t talk about enough. We all know how to tag out broken equipment and identify physical hazards, but we don’t give the same attention to psychosocial risks like workplace conflict, fatigue, high job demands, and lack of support. When these risks are ignored, the consequences are real. People don’t just feel stressed they burn out, disengage, leave altogether, or stay and suffer in silence until it’s too late."

More Services are Needed 

One of the guest speakers was third-generation miner and union repersentative Mickey O’Brien, who shared his story of recovering from 10 years of substance abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction. Now six years sober, he explained the need for better mental health services.  “We need more resources for people," he said. "People are waiting over four months – sometimes, over a year to see a psychiatrist.”

This year the ceremony stressed that Day of Mourning is not only about mourning the dead, but fighting for the living, and that includes addressing the intersection of mental health and the workplace. In a media release the Labour Council stated "Workplace injuries, both physical and psychological, must be recognized and addressed with equal seriousness." Across the country, workers are experiencing burnout, chronic stress, harassment and mental health challenges linked to unsafe working conditions. These are not simply part of the job, but preventable hazards that must be identified, reported and eliminated, just like any physical risk."

Andréanne Chénier, a national health and safety representative for Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), spoke at the event, stating “We represent paramedics. We represent nursing professions. We represent educational assistants. All of these professions highly subjected to workplace violence. Highly subjected to trauma. Highly subjected to the kinds of disabilities that it them off for years.”

A Special Tribute

According to Sudbury.com, attendees were moved when a rendition of a song inspired by the 2022 workplace death of City of Greater Sudbury worker Michael Boulanger was played. Titled “The Locker Still Has His Name,” the song was  written by CUPE national staff representative and former Sudbury labour council president Michael Bellerose, who said “I felt it important to ensure that his memory and the incident wasn't forgotten.”