On Thursday, April 28, the University recognizes the National Day of Mourning, joining businesses and institutions across Canada and approximately 100 countries worldwide in remembering those who have died, been injured, or become ill due to a workplace tragedy.

All flags on our three campuses will be lowered to half-mast on Thursday to honour these individuals and to signal the University’s commitment to protecting our community by ensuring health and safety in our workplaces across the tri-campus.

According to the most recent statistics from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, 925 workplace fatalities were recorded in Canada in 2019. From 1993 to 2019, 24,519 people lost their lives due to workplace incidents. With adequate training and supervision, many of these tragedies could have been avoided. In accordance with Ontario Regulation 279/13, the University of Toronto mandated basic Occupational Health & Safety Awareness Training for all employees in 2014. This training identifies both the rights and the duties of all workers and supervisors. If you require this training or have training-related questions, please visit the Office of Environmental Health and Safety website or contact the Office directly.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety encourages individuals to seek out and attend an event being held in recognition of the National Day of Mourning or hold a moment of silence at 11:00 am on April 28. These acts help us appreciate and remember the individuals lost or injured in a workplace tragedy while acknowledging the sacrifices of frontline and essential workers who have died or became ill during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Providing and maintaining a safe environment in which to work is the University of Toronto’s primary responsibility. Each day, we reaffirm this responsibility as a commitment to our employees, their families, and loved ones.