National Lineworker Appreciation Day (NLAD)

Electricity Canada celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day every year on July 10.

Overview

Every day, lineworkers across Canada work to keep electricity flowing into our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. They are the highly trained men and women who work on installing and maintaining the complex hydro grid across cities, provinces, and territories. Often faced with working in extreme conditions, lineworkers are trained to work efficiently, safely, and collaboratively to keep the lights on.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us all a lesson: it is no longer just downed lines, damaged generators or cyberattacks that shut down communities and economies; health threats are equally, if not more, damaging. Electricity is the power behind the essential services who are supporting people everywhere, especially the most vulnerable.

In appreciation for their commitment to serve fellow Canadians, Electricity Canada continues to recognize and support these men and women by celebrating National Lineworker Appreciation Day on July 10 of every year.

History of National Lineworker Appreciation Day

  • Electricity Canada’s National Lineworker Appreciation Day campaign launched on October 2, 2018, with events celebrating lineworkers taking place all across Canada. Electricity Canada dedicated this day to launch a petition calling on the government to formally recognize July 10 as National Lineworker Appreciation Day. The petition was tabled in the House of Commons by Member of Parliament, Daniel Blaikie on May 31, 2019.
  • National Lineworker Appreciation Day is also observed on July 10 in the U.S. by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and their members.
  • July 10 marks the anniversary of the death of Henry Miller, the founder and first president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, in 1896.

Why Do We Celebrate National Lineworker Appreciation Day?

  • Electricity is the great enabler of modern society, powering our businesses, schools, homes, and the lifestyle to which we have grown accustomed. It is also a vital part of Canada’s transition to a more sustainable, clean growth economy.
  • During extreme weather events such as freezing rain, snowstorms, and heat waves, lineworkers are on the job, often exposed to the elements as they repair essential infrastructure in high-risk conditions.
  • Today, lineworkers are recognized to have one of the top 10 most dangerous careers in the U.S, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

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