Carbonear apologizes for not lowering flags on Day of Mourning

By Olivia Bradbury, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Members of Carbonear council have apologized for the Town’s flags not being flown half-mast in recognition of the National Day of Mourning.

The National Day of Mourning is held annually in Canada on April 28 in remembrance of those who have been harmed or killed in the workplace. Council, which had a meeting on that date, observed a moment of silence for the occasion. However, later in the meeting, councillor Steven Penney expressed disappointment the Town had neglected to lower its flags.

“I have a family member who got killed on the job, so I’m very disappointed in that,” Penney said. “And I know several people who have family members that got killed or got seriously hurt on the job. So I apologize to all of those folks and I assure you we won’t let that happen again.”

Penney, who works outside of Carbonear, did not learn until that evening that the flags had not been lowered.

Mayor Sam Slade, a commercial fisherman who had been out on the water earlier that day, echoed Penney’s regret that the flags had not been flown half-mast.

“It was an important day for a lot of families and it certainly won’t happen again,” said Slade.