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CUPE Local 500 Day of Mourning Tribute Video


Day of Mourning

The Day of Mourning was founded based on a resolution written by CUPE’s National Health and Safety Committee in 1984. What began through the efforts of Canada's labour movement is now observed in more than 100 countries. CUPE also proposed and adopted the canary in a cage as the internationally recognized symbol for the Day of Mourning, based on the canaries taken into coal mines in the 19th Century. Because canaries are more sensitive to airborne hazards and the absence of oxygen in the air then humans, if the canary died, miners knew they had to evacuate the mine quickly.

In 2009, ceremonies were held at City Hall and other various work sites throughout the day. CUPE members, other civic unions, elected and city officials joined members of the public on April 28 to mark the Day of Mourning.

CUPE fatalities

Since 1978, the following 12 CUPE Local 500 members didn't come home from work. The lives of their families and friends were forever changed by a workplace incident. We do not want the workers who we have lost at work to be forgotten. We want their memory to carry us forward to prevent someone else from losing their life at work. And the best way we can pay tribute to those who have lost their lives is to continue to make our workplaces safer and healthier.

Ron Smith
June 16, 1978 - He was hit by a car while painting street lines on Portage Avenue.

Les Tillett
May 16, 1979 - He died on the job in the former Operations Department.

Bill Lauder
August 23, 1983 - He was hit by a car while doing construction work on St. Mary’s Road.

Kelley DeKeruzec
January 17, 1984 - He was accidentally run over by a vehicle in a city works yard.

Arthur Diplock
September 5, 1985 - He had a fatal heart attack while practicing for the endurance test required for his job as an instructor guard.

Gordon Arndt
November 17, 1986 - He was hit by a runaway refuse truck.

Hubert Brick
January 11, 1988 - He was bitten and crushed by a camel at Assiniboine Park Zoo.

Bill Besters
June 24, 1988 - A trailer at the landfill site fell on him during a windstorm.

Manuel Silva
July 17, 1989 - A road packer he was operating rolled onto its side.

James Halstrom
May 31, 1995 - A regulating gate at Slave Falls hydro generating Station toppled onto him.

Len Blanco
January 7, 2000 - A branch struck him while engaged in tree pruning operations.

Doug Prysiazniuk
September 1, 2007 – He died while performing bridge inspection and maintenance work.