At the age of 16, Jamie Lapierre didn’t have money to buy his mother a Christmas present. So, he wrote her a heartfelt letter. Five years after he gave it to her, in February 2000, Jamie Lapierre died at work while working in a confined space, on a barge off Port Hawkesbury. He was 21.
This year marks 25 years since Jamie died on the job. Jamie’s story is a lasting reminder of the love and loss his family and friends hold every day. Brenda, Jamie’s mother, cherishes that letter still to this day. In 2014, Jamie’s family and friends first shared their memories about Jamie through several short videos as part of Nova Scotia’s Day of Mourning awareness campaign. In 2025, to honour Jamie’s memory and to mark 25 years since his passing, we’re re-sharing these original videos as part of this year’s awareness efforts. Special thanks to the Lapierre family for allowing us to honour Jamie’s memory as part of this year’s Day of Mourning. To learn more about Jamie’s story, visit dayofmourning.ns.ca.
Every year, the Day of Mourning is observed on April 28 to honour those who have died or been seriously injured because of their work. Day of Mourning awareness is led by the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour and supported by the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, WCB Nova Scotia, and Threads of Life.
Participate in Day of Mourning
Workplaces are encouraged to participate in the Day of Mourning by:
To learn more, visit dayofmourning.ns.ca
Threads of Life
Following a workplace tragedy, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Threads of Life is a national charity dedicated to supporting families during this very challenging time, providing an ongoing network of support. To learn more, visit threadsoflife.ca.