Message from Leigh Bartlett, 3rd Vice President, CUPE Local 1091 regarding the National Day of Mourning delivered at the Public Board Meeting on April 21, 2026 and at the flag raising ceremony on April 28.
On April 28, CUPE members across the country gather to honour workers who have been killed or injured on the job.
We mourn the loss of four members of our CUPE family in 2025:
- Miguel Escalante Ledesma, CUPE 1000, Ontario
- Nabil El-Ahmed, CUPE 5167, Ontario
- Kulbir Kalia, CUPE 3338, British Columbia
- Jose Castillo, CUPE 416, Ontario
We also mourn the very recent loss of the following members:
- Richard Anstett, CUPE 79, Ontario
- Neil Harris, CUPE 54, Ontario
We hope you will join CUPE members and workers around the world in renewing our shared commitment to preventing workplace injuries and deaths and ensuring the health and safety of all workers.
CUPE has also declared 2026 the Year of Health and Safety. Throughout the year, we are placing a special focus on strengthening our health and safety committees. Strong committees save lives. They identify hazards, prevent injuries and help ensure every worker returns home safe. We encourage locals to support their committees, empower worker participation and take action to improve health and safety in every workplace.
Today we are raising the CUPE Day of Mourning flag at the school board office at 8:30am. I hope you will join me to take a moment to pause and honour those who have died or suffered injury or illness.
Thank you
Leigh Barlett
3rd Vice President, CUPE 1091
