Day of Mourning: What Would You Miss?
Submitted by Threads of Life
February 20, 2013, is a day that Leea Boxall and her family will never forget. That day, her father went to work at his job as a courier just like every other day—only on this day, he never returned home.
Leea’s memories of her father are of a kind and loving man with a huge heart. She recalls, “He never took life too seriously and he always looked for the positives. It is something that I am so grateful to him for and something I always try to remember in my life.”
As a child, she would do tasks with him on their family farm. When she was older, this turned into Sundays spent together fixing things around her house. While they enjoyed these activities, they both acknowledged that it was really just an excuse to spend time together as father and daughter.
But on that day in February, those Sundays spent together came to an abrupt and heartbreaking end. Tragically, as John drove his courier truck through his route in the city, he was struck and killed by an impaired driver.
Leea thinks often about all the milestones her father has missed since he was killed at work—things like graduations and his daughter’s wedding. But it’s the everyday things that she misses most. “I miss ordinary things like picking up the phone to call him just to say hi and see how his day was,” she says.
And while there are many days throughout the year that bring memories of her father to the forefront, like birthdays and anniversaries, there is one that she shares with thousands of families across the country.
Held on April 28, International Day of Mourning is a day set aside to honour and remember those who have been killed or injured in the workplace. While the grief and sadness are still present, many people like Leea find some comfort in knowing that others are joining them on this day to recognize their loss and renew their commitment to health and safety.
Leea also finds comfort through her involvement with Threads of Life—the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support. This is a registered charity dedicated to supporting families after a workplace fatality, life-altering injury, or occupational disease.
Leea is a volunteer speaker with the charity, sharing her story with individuals and workplaces across the country in the hopes of bringing awareness to the importance of health and safety in the workplace—and to Threads of Life’s vision of a future in which workplace tragedies are a thing of the past.
“If by sharing my dad’s story it makes just one person think twice before making the decision to get behind the wheel impaired, if it saves one family the pain of losing someone they love— then that’s a good thing, and I think my Dad would like that.”
CLAC is a national sponsor for Threads of Life’s annual Steps for Life – Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy events.