National Day of Mourning
RRC Polytech recognizes today, Monday, April 28, 2025, as the National Day of Mourning, where we honour those who have become ill, were injured or killed in the workplace. Today is a reminder to our entire community about the importance of safety in everything we do at the College.
RRC Polytech will fly our flags at half-mast today in recognition of those affected by workplace tragedy, and our commitment to preventing workplace illnesses, injuries, and fatalities.
According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, there were 1,057 recorded fatalities at work in 2023, and nearly 215,000 claims for lost time due to a work-related injury or illness in Canada. Among these deaths were 29 young workers aged 15-24.
Each of these numbers represents a vast network of loved ones who are deeply affected by these tragedies: family, friends, co-workers and community members whose lives are forever changed.
This is a solemn reminder of the role we all must continue to play in ensuring a safe working and learning environment for everyone who enters our campuses. As a College, we directly impact the practices and behaviours we instill in our students, which they carry forward into their careers and future workplaces.
RRC Polytech is committed to a proactive approach to safety and to setting an exceptional standard as an educational leader of safety and health. Some of the initiatives RRC Polytech have undertaken to provide all staff and students with a safe and healthy environment include:
- Security Services – RRC Polytech continues to enhance security measures with the ongoing mission to protect and provide a safe and secure environment for students, staff, and visitors. We have enacted new security measures at EDC and provide regular safety updates to the community, and our Safe Walk and Safe Ride programming provides an average of 180 Safe Rides per day. Learn more on the safety and security section of our website.
- Campus Alerting and Emergency Response Plan – The Campus Alerting project has been successful in enhancing communications efforts to keeping our College community informed on everything from icy parking lots and sidewalks, to power outages, to an evacuation of an area if necessary. Informacast is a mass notification software that allows RRC Polytech to broadcast alerts in a timely and efficient manner. Alerts will appear through your mobile phones, emails, on-premise devices (office phone or computer), or MS Teams. Staff and students are encouraged to subscribe for updates through the campus alerting system.
- Machine Guarding Program – RRC Polytech continues to review and update protective guards and equipment on campus. Since the project started, the College has audited more than 800 machines, and made safeguarding upgrades to over 348 pieces of equipment in student labs, workshops, and facility management spaces, ensuring every piece of equipment on campus complies with the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations, and replacing those that don’t.
On this National Day of Mourning, take a moment to reflect on the importance of workplace safety, and let us honour those who have been affected by workplace-related incidents. We all must work towards a future where everyone can learn and work safely.
We remember workers who have died, were injured, or became ill from their job. We commit to protecting workers and preventing further workplace tragedies.
If you have questions or ideas on how we can continue to make RRC Polytech a safe place to work and learn, please reach out to safety@rrc.ca.