Bruce Power held its Day of Mourning on April 27 to honour workers who have been made ill, injured or killed on the job. Standing around Bruce Power’s memorial cairn, which honours the 11 workers who died during the construction of the Bruce site, are John Bernard Keeshig, Councillor, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation; Steve Truant, Health & Safety Staff Officer, Power Workers’ Union; Mike Gade, Vice President, The Society of Energy Professionals; Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power President and CEO; Avery Fitzgerald and Victoria Weber, young workers who spoke on behalf of the Grey Bruce Labour Council; Darren Howe, Director, Western Waste Management Facility Operations, Ontario Power Generation; and Anthony Chegahno, Elder, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

Bruce Power, its unions and contractors honoured fallen and injured workers April 27 to mark the Day of Mourning.

In an April 28 media release, representatives of Bruce Power, Saugeen Ojibway Nation, the Grey Bruce Labour Council, the Power Workers’ Union, The Society of Energy Professionals, the Building Trades and Ontario Power Generation spoke of the importance of honouring those workers who die, are injured or become ill on the job, as well as the need to maintain our focus on safety and training to prevent further victims.

“It is important we recognize the Day of Mourning on our site,” said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power’s President and CEO. “Every day, our goal is to send each employee home to their families as healthy – or healthier – than they arrived. This takes intense focus and commitment to our number one value of safety first.”

Although marked nationally on April 28, the on-site ceremony was held Thursday to match the schedules of union employees. Of the 11 workers who died during construction of the Bruce site, 10 were part of the construction trades.

“A memorial cairn outside the Bruce Power Corporate Services Building honours these fallen workers every day, while also serving as a constant reminder of the importance of living the principles of safety first,” Rencheck added.