This yearB次元官网网址檚 Day of Mourning holds a special meaning to the Fernie community, less than a year after a fatal ammonia leak rocked the small B.C. town.

On Friday, city council and staff stood in silence outside City Hall B次元官网网址� a similar kind of ceremony that will be held across 40 communities in the province Saturday, to remember workers who have been killed, injured or disabled while on the job.

This year, the ceremony was particularly profound, after city workers Wayne Hornquist, Lloyd Smith and contractor Jason Podloski lost their lives in the tragic incident at Fernie Memorial Arena last October.

B次元官网网址淓veryone standing here remembers last October 17,B次元官网网址� said Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano. B次元官网网址淲e rallied together, we stayed strong, and we canB次元官网网址檛 ever forget.B次元官网网址�

She said that as hard as last year was, Fernie wasnB次元官网网址檛 alone. Last year, 155 workers died from a workplace injury or disease in B.C. alone.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what the National Day of Mourning is for. To honour those we lost,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut also, to redouble our efforts to creating safe, healthy workplaces. We all deserve to feel safe at work. And our families deserve to know weB次元官网网址檙e coming home to them.B次元官网网址�

Canadian Union of Public Employees local 2093 representative Mike Poirier echoed Mayor GiulianoB次元官网网址檚 comments, adding that itB次元官网网址檚 important to come together and honour those who have lost their lives on the job. He said that most present have likely been affected by a workplace injury.

He said that a sad fact is that injuries still happen and added that last year, alongside the 155 deaths reported, there were 149,554 injuries.

B次元官网网址淲hether weB次元官网网址檙e doing a better job at reporting, or theyB次元官网网址檙e just happening, thatB次元官网网址檚 a pretty high number,B次元官网网址� said Poirier.

B次元官网网址淛ust like the people who were close to us, these people were important to their communities too. They were parents, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters, friends, coworkers, team members, coaches and neighbours.B次元官网网址�

Poirier said this is why it is important to come together and remember the fallen workers.

B次元官网网址淭hey are a part of us, and their loss affected all of us.B次元官网网址�

He said that this important ceremony is also an opportunity for them to support each other through this loss, and remember their commitment to creating safer workplaces for everyone. Through positive collaboration, he hopes everyone can work together to make their job sites safer.

B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 honour our fallen workers by making a new legacy for them,B次元官网网址� said Poirier. B次元官网网址淥ne thatB次元官网网址檚 about more than just what weB次元官网网址檝e lost, but one thatB次元官网网址檚 about how theyB次元官网网址檝e inspired us to make things better, so that everyone comes home safe.B次元官网网址�

Poirier then raised his fist in the air, which everyone followed, as a salute to those fallen.