Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond has released the following statement today on the national Day of Mourning:

"Today, in British Columbia, we pause on the national Day of Mourning to honour those whose lives were tragically cut short or changed forever by injury in the workplace.

"We remember and recognize them because they are our friends, our mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, daughters and sons – those who we will always hold near and dear to our hearts.

“We also gather to support the families, friends and colleagues whose lives have been permanently changed. No words can adequately capture the impact of this kind of loss on families, co-workers and communities. To the families, we want you to know we honour your loved ones. They are not forgotten.

“We have made improvements to ensure safety in workplaces throughout British Columbia, but even one life lost or one serious injury is one too many.

“Every employer and every British Columbian must remain vigilant to ensure worker safety is always the first thing we think about on a worksite.

“We have a responsibility, not only to educate ourselves, but to those around us. We need to raise safety awareness amongst our youngest workers to help prevent tragic incidents from occurring in the future.

“If we work together, we can make a difference in our workplaces and in our communities. So let us renew our commitment to each other today on this day of remembrance.

“We must all work together to build a culture of safety that makes workplace tragedies a thing of the past and ensure everyone goes home to their families safely at the end of every work day.”