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June 1, 2025, marked the first year that Injured Workers Day was officially recognized in Ontario. The date was always well noted since its inception in 1983, yet was not formally acknowledged. Sudbury MPP and NDP Labour critic, Jamie West, had long pushed to have June 1 made official as Ontario’s Injured Workers Day. He introduced his private member’s bill, Bill 118, the Injured Workers Day Act, in the Ontario legislature last year.
In 1983, over 3,000 injured workers showed up on the steps of Queens Park. At the time, Ontario’s workers’ compensation system was being rewritten. In an unprecedented move, the committee left their conference room and met the crowd of workers outside in front of the building. The new legislation that was passed a year later protected pensions for injured workers. Since this date, workers across Ontario have recognized June 1 as Injured Workers’ Day, but it was never officially recognized by the province. On June 1, a gathering was be held at Queen’s Park in Toronto to celebrate the gains made through united action.
In a Dec. 12, 2024, news release, West announced the successful passing of the bill, which was 41 years in the making. Jessica Montgomery, OHCOW occupational health coordinator and president of the Sudbury and District Labour Council, noted in the news release that it is important to remember workers still need more protections and coverage.
Last year, West visited the new Sudbury office during OHCOW’s 35th anniversary. He complimented OHCOW for its wealth of health and safety resources for workers, and presented a congratulatory scroll to Brittney Ramakko, the executive director of the Northern Region. OHCOW, other supporters and worker advocates were always behind him in the initiative, and stood with West on May 24 when he announced plans to submit a private members bill to have the date declared officially in Ontario.