It wasn’t hard to miss them.
The 24 members of the B.C. Wildfire Service, representing Vernon Initial Attack and Vernon Unit crews, dressed in their red shirts and blue pants, were at Vernon City Hall Friday morning, April 26, taking part in National Day of Mourning ceremonies.
In 2023, two BCWS firefighters lost their lives on duty, and four more were killed in a head-on highway accident heading home for days off after battling a wildfire.
They were part of 175 people killed on the job or as a result of job-related disease in 2023, according to statistics from WorkSafeBC.
While none of the BCWS firefighters spoke, colleague John Doorman of Vernon Fire Rescue Services talked to the crowd of nearly 40 gathered at Vernon City Hall chambers, saying society must never forget the sacrifices of those who have gone before.
“Their memory serves as a guiding light, inspiring us to strive for a future where no firefighters, no worker, faces unnecessary risk or harm,” said Doorman. “It’s incumbent upon us as a society to honour their sacrifices, not only in words but in deeds.
“Let’s observe this National Day of Mourning, and vow to honour the legacy of our fallen. Let’s strive toward safer practices than confidently send the men and women of this great workforce home at the end of their shift…”
The Canadian Labour Congress first recognized the Day of Mourning in 1984, and Canada was the first nation to observe the day on April 28, 1991. The day became a national observance in 1990 with the passing of the Workers Mourning Day Act.
Veteran Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP Sgt. Tory Romailler told the crowd he’s coming off a year where he saw colleagues killed in the line of duty, and “countless others injured across the country.”
The impact on the injured worker is obvious, he said, but there are also consequences for the injured persons’ family, friends, co-workers, and loved ones.
“Workplace safety doesn’t just occur; it’s a result of vigilance, of purposeful planned action, and something we’re all responsible for,” said Romailler. “I ask that we take a moment to focus on how we can improve safety in our workplaces, and ensure continuous commitment to safe practices.”
Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming and North Okanagan-Shuswap Member of Parliament Mel Arnold also spoke during the 30-minute ceremony. City of Vernon Occupational Health and Safety Advisor Jennie Small was the host for the ceremony, and she read a statement from Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu, who could not attend Friday.
Anna Billingsley of WorkSafeBC and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 626 representative Elia Nicoloyannis also spoke.
A minute of silence was observed at the end of the ceremony.
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