TORONTO — The Ontario government today, the National Day of Mourning, unveiled a design concept for a new memorial to commemorate the contributions and sacrifices of construction workers whose lives have been lost or changed forever due to work-related incidents.
It will be located on the grounds of Queen’s Park near the intersection of College Street and University Avenue and is meant to be a dedicated space for reflection and remembrance.
Expected to be complete in 2027, the design features a collection of plaques that come together to form a self-supporting raised design to honour the names of workers who lost their lives on the job. A new plaque will be added each year on April 28 to mark the National Day of Mourning.
“I’m pleased that this government is recognizing the lives lost by our tradesmen and women while building our great city and province,” said James St. John, business manager/financial secretary for the Central Ontario Building Trades and director of Hammer Heads.
“Our industry and government need to work collaboratively so that we can eliminate all workplace exposures and fatalities.”
According to the government, in 2025, there were close to 580,000 construction workers in Ontario, and over the next decade, the province will need an additional 160,000. Over the last five years the lost‑time injury rate per 100 workers in the construction sector has declined by 13.5 per cent, according to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
Several industry stakeholders
“The unveiling of the Construction Worker’s Memorial design at Queen’s Park is an important and lasting reminder that these lives must never be forgotten,” stated Marc Arsenault, business manager and secretary-treasurer for the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario. “We welcome the Government of Ontario’s leadership in recognizing this reality. This monument stands as both a place to reflect and a call to action – to strengthen our commitment to health and safety, to prevent further tragedies, and to ensure every worker returns home safely at the end of the day.”
Victoria Mancinelli, director of public relations, communications, marketing and strategic partnerships for LIUNA, says the memorial stands as a promise, “because safety is not optional. It is our duty, and we will never stop fighting for it.”
