One hundred twenty eight is too many! That was the message from speaker after speaker at the Cowichan Valley's annual Day of Mourning ceremony Monday, April 28.
Held at the Forest Workers' Memorial Park in Lake Cowichan, the event attracts families of people who have died at work as well as politicians and representatives from unions and Work-Safe BC.
The number, 128, refers to the number of workers who died on the job in B.C. last year.
Starting with Ellen Oxman, president of the Nanaimo, Duncan and District Labour Council, everyone who appeared at the microphone spoke on some aspect of the need for greater attention to worker safety.
Following the event, those attending were given the chance to visit the nearby Kaatza Station Museum, opened especially for the day, to view the facility's outstanding collection of forest industry photographs from famed photographer Wilmer Gold and others.