Flags at all Saskatchewan government buildings were lowered to half-mast Tuesday to honour 27 workers who lost their lives to workplace injuries or illnesses in 2025.
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The province joined the rest of the country in marking the National Day of Mourning, an annual event dedicated to remembering those killed, injured, or made ill on the job.
“Today we remember the workers who lost their lives, were injured, or became ill because of workplace injury or illness,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said in a news release.
According to the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), 27 fatality claims were accepted in the province over the past year. Cheveldayoff emphasized that workplace safety must remain the top priority for all employers to ensure every worker returns home safely.
The Day of Mourning was first established by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984. It has since grown into a national observance intended to strengthen the resolve to prevent future workplace tragedies.
Gord Dobrowolsky, chairperson of the Saskatchewan WCB, said the day serves as a somber reminder of the human cost of workplace accidents.
“Behind every workplace fatality is a family, a friend, a colleague and a community that carries that loss,” Dobrowolsky said. “We must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect workers.”
In an effort to reduce these numbers, WorkSafe Saskatchewan — a partnership between the WCB and the provincial government — continues to implement its 2023-2028 Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy. The plan focuses on targeted safety initiatives in high-risk industries to drive down the rate of serious workplace incidents.
Provincial flags remained at half-mast from sunrise to sunset in observance of the day.
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