181.

Thatsa国际传媒檚 how many people died in work-related incidents across British Columbia in 2022, with six of them happening in the Okanagan. On Friday, the annual Day of Mourning was held at Ben Lee Park in Kelowna to honour those who have lost their lives in work-related incidents and to bring awareness to workplace safety.

Of course, this day hits close to home in Kelowna as it has been 655 days since the Kelowna crane collapse took place downtown that took the lives of five people, four of which were working on the site.

The final speaker on Friday, was Danielle Pritchett, who lost her son, Cailen Vilness, in the collapse. Earlier in the event, it was mentioned that she was in attendance, and often goes around to talk about workplace safety. She stepped up to the microphone and talked about the importance of how to deal with bullying in the workplace.

sa国际传媒淚 feel like itsa国际传媒檚 something I cansa国际传媒檛 stop speaking about enough,sa国际传媒� said Pritchett. sa国际传媒淲hen it comes down to it on the job, the workers are being bullied to take shortcuts in safety to save time. Thatsa国际传媒檚 a problem for me and that was a problem for my son. He would talk to me about the bullying that happened on various jobs that he worked on.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚f wesa国际传媒檙e going to address safety, we need to address the bullying that goes on as well,sa国际传媒� said Pritchett. sa国际传媒淭hat was something that affected my son for years.sa国际传媒�

She mentioned her other son and her sonsa国际传媒檚 father are also in the construction industry. To end her speech, she thanked the North Okanagan Labour Council and everyone else that has helped the crane investigation, including the Kelowna RCMP, first responders, and the City of Kelowna.

Before Pritchett spoke, North Okanagan Labour Council President Ian Gordon, Kelowna City Councilor Mohini Singh, and Worksafe BC Prevention Officer Len Tarling all spoke at the event in a group of more than 60 people. The majority of them were from WorkSafe BC, the North Okanagan Labour Council, and the City of Kelowna, including firefighters. Karen Abramsen, the Sergeant at Arms for the North Okanagan Labour Council was the MC of the event.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 focused on supporting healthy and safe workplaces so that tragedies donsa国际传媒檛 happen,sa国际传媒� said Tarling. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e seen that many of the incidents couldsa国际传媒檝e been avoided. The constantly changing, high-paced world that we live in today, coupled with a new and younger workforce, has created many unknown risks to the workers of B.C. The lack of understanding and education of these workers has had consequences on their safety.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淪afety is everybodysa国际传媒檚 responsible,sa国际传媒� Singh said. sa国际传媒淪peak up, because you might be saving a life.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淐reating a workplace culture where employers and workers prioritize health and safety is essential to help ensure tragedies donsa国际传媒檛 happen,sa国际传媒� said Tarling. sa国际传媒淓mployers need to ensure their workersa国际传媒檚 voices are heard by engaging them in their organizationsa国际传媒檚 health and safety approach and asking for their input on unsafe conditions, inviting them to help find solutions.sa国际传媒�

Their speeches were followed by Kaity Laverman, a member of the Okanagan Indian Band, who worked as a bomb disposal job as well as firefighting and first responding in her spare time. In May 2019, while her and her team were scanning for bombs on a mountain side, rocks fell and crushed Lavermansa国际传媒檚 foot, breaking all the bones and severing all her tendons.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e had to relearn how to walk and it has impacted and changed every single aspect of my live,sa国际传媒� said Laverman, who has had two surgeries and is scheduled for a third.

After the ceremony, Capital News talked to Laverman about how her injury has impacted her life.

sa国际传媒淲orkplace injuries can take everything from a person and you have to remember how to build yourself again from the ground up,sa国际传媒� Laverman told Capital News. sa国际传媒淚 went from being a person who felt like I had no limits and could do anything, and I became extremely humbled and everything can change for you in a moment but you have to have the fortitude and support in order to pick yourself up and keep going everyday.sa国际传媒�

Gordon also stated that this yearsa国际传媒檚 Day of Mourning is most likely the last time it will take place at Ben Lee Park. A memorial for the five people who died in the crane collapse is in the process of being built at Knowles Heritage Park on Bernard Avenue. When itsa国际传媒檚 built, future Day of Mourning events will be held at the memorial.

READ MORE: Crew heard sa国际传媒榣oud bangsa国际传媒� before emergency landing in Kelowna: TSB

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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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