Community members gathered at Grande Prairie and Area Safe Communities office on Friday to honour and remember workers who lost their lives on the job. April 28 is The National Day of Mourning chosen to remember injured, disabled, and workers lost in workplaces.
Chair of Grande Prairie Steps for Life, who also lost a family member Nicole Lazaruk empathizes on how much it takes for a family who lost their loved one to move on. Lazaruk lost her brother on November 28 2012.
“I’m here to talk about how it has affected my life, my family’s life, friends, and just the effect it has when someone goes to work and does not come home.
lazaruk has been working with Steps for Life Walk, a fundraising five-kilometres walk brought by Threads of Life, a nonprofit organization that helps families who have suffered as a result of workplace tragedies.
“I have met family members from all over Western Canada who just reflect and take comfort with others who are dealing with the same tragedy.”
According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, 1081 workplace fatalities were recorded in Canada in 2021. 1009 were male, 72 were female, and 18 were young workers, ages 15 to 24.
There will be a five kilometre walk through Muskoseepi Park on May 6th to help support families affected by workplace tragedy. Funds raised through the walk go to several resources, including the Thread of Life family forums, a forum for families who suffered similarly to connect and reflect.
More information can be found on The Steps for Life website.
