Rob Ellis, Mysafework.com
Special to Ontario Construction News
On April 28, the Canadian construction industry pauses for the National Day of Mourning, a time to reflect on those who have lost their lives at work and to reaffirm a commitment to safety.
These are more than statistics. They are friends, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers. In my case, an 18-year-old son, David.
The loss of our son devastated our family and community. Recently, a college student asked how I avoided a life consumed by anger. The anger was immediate. I was a father who had lost a son he loved. But I realized staying in that state would prevent me from helping David’s peers. To truly honour his memory, I had to choose forgiveness — to be better, not bitter.
David’s life was defined by service. With his friends, he volunteered his time, providing food and blankets to vulnerable people on the streets of Hamilton and Toronto. He led by example, showing that recovery and community strength are found in helping others. My wife and I followed that path, spending a decade serving meals to newcomers and single-parent families in south Etobicoke.
As we observe the Day of Mourning this year, there is a renewed urgency for change — for stronger protections for workers.
The statistics are stark. More than 10,000 young workers were injured in Ontario last year.
The industry is also facing a mental health crisis. About 1,000 Canadian workers die by suicide each year — a rate four times higher than workplace accidental deaths. While the construction sector is beginning to recognize mental health challenges, psychological safety is only gradually being adopted across companies.
This year, I am calling on Canadian corporations, unions and parents to move beyond memorials. Young people entering the workforce are looking for safe, healthy career paths. They are counting on us to deliver meaningful, systemic change.
We must build a safety culture that treats psychological injuries with the same urgency as physical ones.
We can do better. We must do better.
Let this Day of Mourning be not only a time to remember, but a call to action — a commitment to building safer, healthier workplaces for all Canadians.