News Releases

April 28, 2026

On the International Day of Mourning, the Manitoba government is reflecting on the 14 Manitobans who died from injuries and illnesses they suffered at work this past year, Labour and Immigration Minister Malaya Marcelino said today.

“Manitobans deserve to feel safe on the job and, when they leave for work in the morning, their loved ones should be able to count on their safe return home,” Marcelino said. “I want to send my deepest condolences out to the loved ones of the 14 Manitobans who tragically lost their lives at work this past year. Our government is reaffirming our commitment to make workplaces safer for all Manitobans.”

This International Day of Mourning, the Manitoba government is providing $100,000 to the Preston Heinbigner Memorial Fund to support first responder mental health, to improve access to mental-health services for first responders and to help expand access to include paramedics and police officers.

This funding will nearly double the number of firefighters able to access clinician-led mental health supports, while also supporting work with the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg to bring this important programming to Manitoba and extend it to a broader range of first responders to include paramedics and police officers.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the Manitoba government for this support,” said Shayda Heinbigner, wife of the late Preston Heinbigner. “Preston had a way of making people feel seen and cared for, and through this generous contribution, his legacy will continue to reach firefighters in their hardest moments by providing access to the support they need and deserve.”

Preston Heinbigner was a Winnipeg firefighter who tragically died in April 2024 after a battle with undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. The fund supports Manitoba firefighters by covering costs to attend the Blueprint First Responder Resiliency Program, a four-day program currently offered in British Columbia. The program works with first responders who are experiencing addiction and mental-health challenges related to occupational trauma, injury-related leave and impacts of their service on home and family life.

“On behalf of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, I want to thank the Manitoba government for its unwavering support of our firefighters and the communities we serve,” said Nick Kasper, president, United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg. “This investment will significantly expand access to a life-saving program, helping ensure our members can continue doing their work safely and effectively. It’s an investment that not only supports front-line responders but also delivers real value to Manitobans by keeping skilled professionals on the job, reducing long-term costs and, ultimately, saving lives.”

Since October 2023, the Manitoba government has:

• re-established the Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health to strengthen worker protections in Manitoba;
• restored the one-to-one apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio so workers get high-quality training with the highest possible safety standards, and through card check, made it easier for Manitobans to join a union;
• extended long-term leave for serious injury or illness to 27 weeks;
• banned replacement workers to protect good-paying jobs; and
• committed to changing the law to ban sick notes.

Today, the Manitoba government encourages all Manitobans to take a moment to solemnly reflect and remember the lives lost on the job and the loved ones no longer here, and reaffirms its commitment to improving workplace safety and supports for all Manitoba workers.

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