Day of Mourning
International Day of Mourning
More than twenty years ago, the Canadian Labour Congress declared April 28 a National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed, suffer disease or are injured at work. Every year since, union members throughout the world mark the Day of Mourning to remember workers killed and injured on the job, the impact on their friends, colleagues and family members, and to recommit themselves to fighting every day for workplace safety.
In 2009, AUPE unveiled a memorial sculpture dedicated to AUPE members killed or injured on the job. The sculpture portrays AUPE members and family from each of the unions’ four sectors gathered solemnly in remembrance around a miner’s lantern – a key symbol of safety and hope in the International Day of Mourning.
Each year, a poem is read at the Day of Mourning gathering. The poem was written in the memory of Rolyn Sumlak, who died Oct. 9, 1990, by his friend and AUPE Local 012 colleague Dennis Mikalsen. On Apr. 28,1996, AUPE Health and Safety Specialist Dennis Malayko had the honour of reading this poem at the United Nations as part of a two-person labour delegation.
Someone
Dennis Mikalsen
|
Someone died the other day, An accident is what they say The boom went up and hit the line The medics came but not in time How could it happen we stare and say We practice safety every day We grieve with the family and do our best To help each other through this test Suddenly emerged from unseen forts Inspectors chastise and make reports Where were they before the day A safety hazard took a life away In a hurry running late Do it now or it can wait But the works important Priority one, we can do it , if we run |
Need more training, that's "OK" But it can wait for another day What? Staff unhappy all will be well When we hear from personnel Safety's important, it's not a game That was the line before the budget came Reduce your workload that's not what we meant When we cut staff by ten percent The more we do the more needs done Building empires is really fun Do your work and really care The more you do the better I fare The death of our brother was tragic and wrong But he cared and our memories will be cherished and long With his passing, our brother left something to do The torch has been passed to me and to you |
| Leslie Pledger Environment 1977 |
Warren Dunkley Environment 1977 |
William Warren Transportation 1977 |
| Keith Stewart Transportation 1977 |
Paul Ruppert Municipal Affairs 1978 |
Calvin Bohmer Energy/Natural Resources 1978 |
| Paul Slater Energy/Natural Resources 1978 |
Desmond Smith Energy/Natural Resources 1978 |
Barry Young Energy/Natural Resources 1978 |
| Jim Taylor Court Clerk 1978 |
Wilfred Rondeau Transportation 1979 |
John Tally Transportation 1980 |
| Neal Janzen Transportation 1980 |
John Tetz Agriculture 1981 |
James Mason Energy/Natural Resources 1981 |
| Roger Oneski Energy/Natural Resources 1981 |
Edward Bogden Transportation 1982 |
AAJE Westergard Transportation 1982 |
| Rose Cahoon Transportation 1983 |
Seldon Daney Transportation 1984 |
Gordon Gresiuk Energy/Natural Resources 1984 |
| John MacNeil Energy/Natural Resources 1984 |
Jim Graden Municipal Affairs/Environment 1987 |
Brenda Chernoff Social Services 1987 |
| Donat Lalonde Forestry, Lands 1988 |
Terry Flett Transportation 1988 |
Mervin Hamelin Transportation 1988 |
| Bob Rose Transportation 1988 |
Ron Smith Transportation 1988 |
Joanne Pryce Advanced Education 1989 |
| Donald McMahon Solicitor General 1989 |
Larry Madole Solicitor General 1990 |
James Parker Culture & Multiculturalism 1990 |
| Nicole Royer Transportation & Utilities 1990 |
Roland McDonald Energy/Forestry, Lands & Wildlife 1990 |
Rolyn Sumlak Agriculture 1990 |
| Mike Mensforth Environment 1990 |
Myrtle Johnston Family & Social Services 1991 |
Loretta Sorrenson Transportation 1991 |
| Inette John Mental Health 1991 |
Arthur Mikado Agriculture 1991 |
Kevin Sheehan Transportation 1992 |
| Richard Delorme City of Spruce Grove 1992 |
Allen Cooper Transportation & Utilities 1993 |
Ray Boisson Environmental Protection 1993 |
| Edward Gregor Environmental Protection 1994 |
Harro Van Bockel Environmental Protection 1995 |
Doreen Bellerose Advanced Education 1996 |
| Daniel Brink Environmental Protection 1997 |
Gordon Brown Environmental Protection 1997 |
Leonard Nicholl Environmental Protection 1998 |
| Allan Polland Environmental Protection 1998 |
Katheryn Robinson Human Resources & Employment 1999 |
John Graham Sustainable Resources Development 2001 |
| Elsie George Alberta Hospital - Ponoka 2001 |
Edmund LeBlanc County of Strathcona 2002 |
Sylvia Vega Alberta Treasury Branch 2003 |
| Patrick Watters-Michaud Local 005 2007 |
Ralph Helfrich Local 003 2007 |
Joseph McKeown Local 003 2008 |
| Lance Gerhardt Local 002 2008 |
Alan Pennington Local 042 2009 |