On the National Day of Mourning, the province remembers the many British Columbian workers who did not make it home.
“We are here together to ensure that the workers who are no longer with us are remembered and honoured, and also to make sure that their lives and the tragedies their families have faced are not in vain, that we ensure every worker is able to return home safely at the end of the day,” said Premier David Eby at a ceremony in front of the B.C. Legislature.
Gatherings were held across the country on Tuesday, with the main ceremony in B.C. taking place in Victoria.
Many participants used the events to push for greater accountability and proper penalties for employers who put their workers in danger.
“Last year, 2025, we had a total of 138 fatalities, 79 were a result of occupational disease, 37 of those related to asbestos, 41 of these in total were a result of a traumatic injury,” said Sandeep Mangat, spokesperson at WorkSafeBC.
Speakers included Avneet and Avnoor Kaur Sidhu, daughters of Sarabjit Kaur Sidhu.
She was one of three farm workers who died in a crash on Highway 1 on March 7, 2007.
“The transportation that our mom received that day was a 15-passenger van that carried a total of 17 women; it had just two seatbelts, mismatched tires and a wooden bench,” said Avneet Sidhu in Victoria.
“The vehicle clashed with two semi trucks, causing it to flip.”
“Over time, we have found strength in remembering her, speaking her name and ensuring her life is not forgotten,” added Avnoor Sidhu.Hermender Singh Kailley is the secretary-treasurer at the BC Federation of Labour and attended a rally in honour of the National Day of Mourning in New Westminster.
He says that the strength is the numbers.
“It’s all of our responsibility to create a safety culture here in B.C. When we stand shoulder to shoulder, and we share that grief and sorrow from those who have died in the past on the job, there is a real power to that,” he told CityNews.
Some workers refused to show up to rallies across B.C. on Tuesday, instead holding a separate demonstration this past weekend at Thornton Park.
They argued that they would not want to stand with employers they believe put them at risk.
“They seem more interested in standing by the side with the same bosses and governments whose policies are resulting in our injuries and deaths,” said Skadi Green from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
Singh Kailley says that there is still work to do.
“One of the fundamental rights workers have is to come home as safe and healthy as when they left for their shift,” he added.
“We are not moving the needle enough. One death at work is one too many.”