Thursday, April 23, 2026

Day of Mourning: Remembering Brian

Day of Mourning has double significance for grieving spouse

Submitted by Threads of Life

Brian Moffat spent a lifetime as an ironworker and welder, working in shipyards, on mill shut-downs, and construction projects. He was only 59 when he died last November, diagnosed with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma caused by exposures at work.

“Brian gave his strength, skill, and health to his trade,” his wife Nadine says. “He never asked for recognition. These places that Brian shaped also shaped him and quietly took their toll.”

“His absence is felt every day, in the moments and the milestones he should still be here to share,” she adds.

Nadine shares her experience as part of Threads of Life’s Day of Mourning campaign this spring. Day of Mourning is set aside each year to honour those who have been killed or seriously injured at work. Workplaces and individuals across the country take time on April 28 to light a candle, reflect on lives forever changed, and recommit themselves to health and safety at work.

She misses Brian every day, but she has found some comfort through Threads of Life, a national charity which supports people affected by work-related fatalities, serious injuries, and occupational disease.

Day of Mourning is one of those moments that helps families left behind after a workplace death feel less alone. It’s encouraging to realize that so many people are willing to pause on that day, honour those affected by tragedy, and work to prevent future tragedies.

In addition to its video campaign, Threads of Life hosts a brief virtual ceremony on April 28 at 11 a.m. Eastern time, which anyone is welcome to attend. The ceremony will include comments from the chair of the organization’s board of directors, who is also a family member affected by a work-related fatality. Register for the ceremony here.

For Nadine, Day of Mourning has a double significance: her own career is as a health, safety, and environment manager.

“I have dedicated my life to increasing the safety, knowledge, and competency of the workers in my work family,” she says.

"Brian’s death further emphasizes the importance of that work. He is deeply missed not only for what he did, but for who he was: steady, kind, and devoted. His legacy lives on in our hearts and in the love he left behind.”

Day of Mourning: Remembering Brian

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