Charlottetown, April 21, 2026 – On April 28, the National Day of Mourning, the Workers Compensation Board (WCB), encourages Island workplaces to observe a moment of silence at 11:00 am to remember those who have lost their lives, suffered injury or illness on the job, or experienced a work-related tragedy.

“We stand with the families, friends, and colleagues who continue to grieve the loss of loved ones due to work-related tragedies,” said Jim MacPhee, Chair of the WCB. “The WCB is dedicated to continuing its work to build safe and healthy workplaces and prevent further work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses from happening.”

In 2025, there were nine work-related deaths in PEI, including both acute and chronic fatalities. Acute fatalities are the result of work-related catastrophic events like falls, drownings, impact-related deaths such as collisions with motor vehicles, among others. Chronic fatalities are connected to occupational exposure which result in chronic diseases, work-related cancers or other conditions.

“These nine workers have left behind so much more than their work. They have left behind their loved ones, families, friends and coworkers, whose lives are now profoundly affected by their loss,” said Dan Campbell, CEO of the WCB. “We honour these workers by remembering them and by renewing our commitment to workplace safety. Together, with employers, we must continue to put health and safety first in Island workplaces, because even a single work-related fatality is unacceptable.”

The National Day of Mourning was first recognized in Canada in 1984, and since then has been commemorated in over one hundred countries worldwide.

“On this day, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives on the job. We remember them and mourn their loss,” said Carl Pursey, President of the PEI Federation of Labour. “We must continue to work together now more than ever to make all our workplaces safer so there are no injuries or deaths. More inspections need to be done in all workplaces, to ensure workers know the safety procedures. Heavier fines or penalties for employers not following the rules are needed, for allowing workers to work in an unsafe manner.”

Islanders can show their support on the National Day of Mourning by:

• Displaying a National Day of Mourning poster in the workplace
• Wearing a Day of Mourning lapel sticker on April 28
• Lowering workplace flags at half-mast
• Observing a moment of silence
•  Viewing a video on the Day of Mourning from the Canadian Centre on Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
• Attending the ceremony hosted by PEI Federation of Labour:
  Day of Mourning Ceremony
  7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026
  St. Paul’s Hall, 101 Prince St., Charlottetown  

For information on workplace fatality data in Prince Edward Island: https://bit.ly/3vVtDvt 

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