Once more we mourn with those who have lost their loved ones at sea, yet only the families of the Nova Scotia fishers involved can really know the torment and grief the loss of their loved ones have brought.
We, in Newfoundland and Labrador have a long and tragic history of such losses off our shores and when we tell these people we know and feel their pain we have surely earned the right to do that.
With our own Ocean Ranger anniversary only days behind us we are no strangers to the demands that the sea make on all those who would wrest a living from its abundant resources.
Over the centuries, we have lost thousands at sea, and as long as we go down to the sea in our many craft — fishing vessels, supply vessels, tankers, cargo ships, ferries and so many more, we must continue to pay the price.
We should honour them
While we always pause at times of tragedy to take stock and to mourn, perhaps it is time we did a little more to honour those who die providing for their families and our economy. It could be that the grimmest and stormiest time of the year might be the best time to pay homage to all those who have been lost at sea with a national family day of remembrance in February.
If the national approach is too much to address, perhaps we in Newfoundland and Labrador could get the ball rolling by declaring an “Ocean’s Safety Day” in February, say on the 15th, and it just might be that the other provinces will follow our example.
I think this surely is something that all parties might agree to and we really should try to get it on someone’s agenda.
Wayne Norman
St. John’s
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