Over 2,100 work-related deaths in Alberta since 2013

National Day of Mourning occurs every year on 28 April, honouring workers who have died on the job or as a result of their employment or suffered injury or illness on the job.

Established in 1984 by the Canadian Labour Congress, the commemoration date was chosen to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the day the first Workers’ Compensation Act was approved by the provincial government in Ontario.

It was enshrined in national legislation by an act of Parliament in 1991.

Workers’s Compensation Board — Alberta reports statistics on their website for workplace-related deaths for the most recent year.

In 2025, for example, 144 workers lost their lives as a result of their employment.

Occupational disease	82
Trauma	39
Motor vehicle accident	20
Other	3
Total	144

In 2025, the “other” category included 3 cardiac incidents.

I was curious to see how these numbers compared to other years, so I reached out to WCB — Alberta for the data, which they were more than willing to provide. I asked them to go back to 2013.

Here’s a look at workplace fatalities over the last 12 years. Let’s start with annual totals.

Last year’s total of 144 work-related deaths was the lowest that Alberta has seen since 2016.

The average during this period is 163.1, which is down from the average of 164.7 between 2013 and 2024 but up from the average of 161.2 between 2013 and 2023.

Combined, 2,120 workers have died due to workplace fatalities since 2013.

Each year, the leading cause of workplace fatalities is occupational disease, which is a health problem caused by exposure to a workplace health hazards, such as cancer, hearing loss, or asthma.

The largest number of fatalities due to occupational disease was 2024, when it hit 113. Only two other years (2021 and 2022) have passed the 100 mark over the 12 years, which happens to be the years with the highest percentage (61.24% and 62.73%) of occupational disease fatalities.

The lowest percentage of occupational disease fatalities was 46.91% in 2018. Last year’s percentage was 56.94%, the third highest during this period.

Since 2013, there have been 1,141 total workplace fatalities caused by occupational disease.

Typically, trauma is the second leading cause of workplace fatalities.

The year with the highest number of trauma-related workplace fatalities was 2019, which was actually tied with 2014, at 59. Only 2 other years (2013 and 2018) were above 50. Last year had the 4th lowest number of work-related deaths caused by trauma.

The lowest year was 2022, when it dropped down to 33.

Combined, 601 deaths have occurred over the last decade because of work-related trauma.

Finally, we have motor vehicle accidents.

The highest number of fatalities caused by a motor vehicle accident occurred in 2013, the first year of the reporting period.

Last year had the lowest number of motor vehicle accident fatalities, 20, followed by 2021, at 22, and 2015, at 23.

If we add up all motor vehicle accidents leading to death since 2013, we get 364 total fatalities.

I was also able to get information on the ages of the 144 members of the working class who died last year because of their job.

Here’s the median age for each category of workplace-related fatalities:

Other	54
Trauma	55
Motor vehicle collision	56
Occupational disease	78

The median age at the time of death for all workplace-related fatalities was 70, up from 68 in 2024.

I compiled all this data in a Google Sheet document, which you can access here.

Several communities in Alberta are holding commemoration events on the Day of Mourning this month.

Calgary

The Calgary & District Labour Council will hold their event at the City of Calgary Workers Memorial in Edward Place Park. It will begin at noon.

Edmonton

The Edmonton & District Labour Council will commemorate the Day of Mourning at Grant Notley Park on 28 April 2026. It will begin at 11:00.

AUPE is holding a ceremony at their Edmonton headquarters, located at 10025 182 St NW. It will begin at 10:30.

Lethbridge

Local 70 of the Canadian Union of Provincial Employees is co-hosting a commemoration with the City of Lethbridge at the CUPE 70 Monument in the Mountain View Cemetery. It will begin at 10:00.

Red Deer

The Red Deer & District Labour Council will host their event at Bowers Ponds. It will begin at 11:00.