The first National Day of Mourning was held in Canada in 1981 and was
initiated by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).
The congress declared a National Day of Mourning for workers who were
killed, suffered disease or injury, as a result of occupational accidents and
hazards. Every year since, unions, labour councils, families and community
partners gather to mourn.
The date April 28 was chosen because on the same day in 1914, the first
workers compensation act was passed.
The federal government officially recognized the National Day of Mourning
in 1991.
Canada became the first country to recognize the day formally and the
International Day of Mourning was declared in 1996. Today, the
International Day of Mourning is observed throughout the world in about
100 countries.
History Behind the National Day of Mourning