Madison Erhard
“Eventually the RCMP came to me and they said they decided it was no longer salvation. Now it’s a rescue.”
Daniel Pritchett struggles through tears as she shares the horrific day she lost her son Kaylan Vines to the deadly crane on July 12 last year.
Vinnes was one of four young construction workers who died when a crane collapsed during its demolition. A crane boom struck another building, next to the high-rise building, killing another man working in the building.
In addition to Vines, Jared Zuck and brothers Patrick and Eric Stemer died while working on the site, while a fifth victim, Brad Zavislak, was crushed and killed when a crane hit a building next door.
Dozens gathered in Ben Lee Park on Thursday afternoon to mark National Day of Mourning and hear Pritchett share what is in her heart.
Vinnes lost his life at the age of 24.
“I died the day I lost my son. I died, part of me died that day. And what I want to share with you, which is extremely important for everyone to hear, is that my son was such an advocate for safety. For a safe workplace and a safe working environment. “
Pritchett says that during her son’s time as a construction worker he was forced to do dangerous work.
“He will tell me about the violations he will see, about the pressure he will receive. Even from his own Foreman. I told him, Kailen, you can refuse a dangerous job and no one will fire you.
Pritchett says Vilnes has started advocating for workplace safety and has been intimidated by his community.
“He was abused by his bosses, by the foreman, by the company, he was even demoted because he was pointing out dangerous work,” she said.
Although Pritchett did not confirm whether the reduction was in the job where her son lost his life, she confirmed that it was when he worked in Kelowna.
“I share this today so as not to point the finger at anyone because I have worked in the workplace. I know what security thinking is and this culture needs to change. The security culture in this nation needs to change.”
WorkSafeBC’s investigation into the crane collapse continues.
Kelowna City Councilor Mohini Singh also spoke Thursday, addressing the latest workplace death at Kelowna’s UBCO campus.
“We have Harmandip, who was killed at work. That shouldn’t have happened. She was a young girl who worked at UBCO only because she wanted to go to university there and needed a job. She died at work. the right to go to work in the morning and go home for dinner to see your family, “Singh said.
More than a dozen ceremonies took place across the province on Thursday.
For more information on workplace safety at BC, visit worksafebc.com
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