YELLOWKNIFE - Flags at Yellowknife City Hall hung at half-mast on Saturday to mark the National Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured on the job.

Barb Wyness, public relations and research officer for the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), lights candles on Saturday -- National Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured on the job. Eight candles were lit for workers who died last year in Northwest Territories and Nunavut. - Laura Power/NNSL photo The Fallen Steve Bonnell, a maintenance worker, died of a work induced heart attack at the age of 44. He died on February 10, 2006. Richard Apples, a 70-year-old Behchoko harvester, fell out of his boat and drowned on May 16, 2006. Harvester Albert Jerome of Inuvik drowned on June 1, 2006 at the age of 58. Harvesters Aoudla Pudlat and Alistair Peryouar, both of Baker Lake, drowned at the age of 45 and 28 respectively on June 12, 2006 in a failed attempt to cross 70 feet of open water on a snowmobile. Pilot Gordon McLeod, a 23 - year - old Norman Wells man, died in a plane crash while flying home on August 16, 2006. Kenny Stewart, a 35 - year - old Tulita man, died in the same crash. James Isaiah, a 76 - year - old Fort Simpson heavy equipment operator with Rowe's Construction, drowned after his bobcat went through the ice while constructing the Liard River Ice Road, Nov. 28, 2006.

Eight people died on the job in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in 2006. Five men drowned, two died in a plane crash and another had a work-induced heart attack.

Yellowknife residents gathered at the Great Hall of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly on Saturday for a ceremony marking the day.

"We have yet to have an injury-free year since we've been taking statistics here," said Marie Wilson, vice-president of Yellowknife Operations for the Workers' Compensation Board. "It's fewer than last year, but it is still a huge number."

In 2005, there were 10 work-related deaths in the two territories.

The ceremony began and ended with performances by the Yellowknife Choral Society, and included several speakers. David Krutko, minister responsible for the Workers Compensation Board, spoke, noting that Kenny Stewart, 35, one of the eight who died on the job last year, was a cousin of his. Stewart died 68 days before the birth of his youngest child.

Krutko said more should be done to prevent workplace accidents.

"The cost of workplace fatalities are high," he said. "It's important that we do put mechanisms in place to ensure that workplace safety is a priority."

After the ceremony, Krutko said losing a loved one to an accident is a shock., because it is unexpected.

"With illnesses you know it will eventually take its course," he said.

Stewart was killed in a plane crash. Krutko said that too often in the North, planes will operate in unsuitable and dangerous weather such as snowstorms.

"We take too many chances to get people home and get them out of these isolated communities," he said.

Krutko believes more should be done to ensure "that the people working there realize they have some fundamental rights."

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), spoke about the added dangers of living in the North. He used the example of how a simple thing like running out of gas can be a disaster if the motorist is stuck on a remote road.

"As Northerners we have to be even more respectful of our environment than others," he said.

Barb Wyness, public relations and research officer for UNW, lit a candle for each of the jurisdiction's men who died on the job last year. A final candle was lit for Canadian soldiers at home and abroad. A moment of silence was observed to remember the people who lost their lives.