April 28 marked a solemn day on the workplace calendar — the National Day of Mourning when ceremonies were held across the country to commemorate those killed or injured on the job.
In Ottawa, more than 500 Hydro Ottawa employees attended the unveiling of a memorial inscribed with the names of colleagues who died while at work. Hydro Ottawa, formed in 2000 through the amalgamation of five Ottawa-area utilities, has set up student scholarships in the names of employees killed.
The Gordon McNally Memorial Scholarship was presented to Steve Larocque, the son of a Hydro Ottawa employee.
McNally died in 1989 while working as a power line maintainer for the former Ottawa Hydro. The $1,000 scholarship in McNally’s name was created three years ago, and is funded by the utility and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Children of Hydro Ottawa staff are eligible for the award. Next year Hydro Ottawa will offer another $1,000 scholarship in the name of Romuld Rolland, a worker killed 31 years ago.
Hydro Ottawa’s ceremony also included Terry Evanshen, former Montreal Alouette and CFL hall of famer, who was injured in a car accident in 1988. Evanshen spoke about overcoming personal tragedy. Hydro Ottawa has a special speaker every year to provide inspiration for employees, co-workers and family members who are struggling to overcome injuries and death.
Nationally, the number of workplace fatalities has continued to rise through to 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, according to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada. In 1993, there were 758 workplace deaths; in 1998 there were 798 fatalities. In 2003, the number of workplace fatalities was 963. In contrast, the number of time-loss injuries across the country has continued to fall, from 424,848 in 1993 to 375,360 in 1998, through to 348,854 in 2003.
National statistics for 2004 will be available in the fall.
In Ottawa, more than 500 Hydro Ottawa employees attended the unveiling of a memorial inscribed with the names of colleagues who died while at work. Hydro Ottawa, formed in 2000 through the amalgamation of five Ottawa-area utilities, has set up student scholarships in the names of employees killed.
The Gordon McNally Memorial Scholarship was presented to Steve Larocque, the son of a Hydro Ottawa employee.
McNally died in 1989 while working as a power line maintainer for the former Ottawa Hydro. The $1,000 scholarship in McNally’s name was created three years ago, and is funded by the utility and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Children of Hydro Ottawa staff are eligible for the award. Next year Hydro Ottawa will offer another $1,000 scholarship in the name of Romuld Rolland, a worker killed 31 years ago.
Hydro Ottawa’s ceremony also included Terry Evanshen, former Montreal Alouette and CFL hall of famer, who was injured in a car accident in 1988. Evanshen spoke about overcoming personal tragedy. Hydro Ottawa has a special speaker every year to provide inspiration for employees, co-workers and family members who are struggling to overcome injuries and death.
Nationally, the number of workplace fatalities has continued to rise through to 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, according to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada. In 1993, there were 758 workplace deaths; in 1998 there were 798 fatalities. In 2003, the number of workplace fatalities was 963. In contrast, the number of time-loss injuries across the country has continued to fall, from 424,848 in 1993 to 375,360 in 1998, through to 348,854 in 2003.
National statistics for 2004 will be available in the fall.
