Each of the five men killed in a crane collapse four years ago has a space in a memorial garden that opened Saturday.
Some 400 people, including many family and union members, turned out for the opening of the Rise Memorial Garden at Knowles Heritage Park in downtown Kelowna.
鈥淭oday, we relive the worst day for parents, spouse or for any of the children involved,鈥 said Chris Vilness, father of Cailen and president of the Rise Memorial Foundation. 鈥淏ut today we get to shine a little light on the day with the opening of the memorial.鈥
Cailen Vilness, Eric Stemmer, Jared Zook, Patrick Stemmer and Brad Zawislak were killed when a crane collapsed July 12, 2021, at the Brooklyn highrise project.
The North Okanagan Labour Council hosted a vigil a few days later, which started the process toward creating a permanent memorial, said NOLC vice-president Kelly Hutchinson, who MC鈥檇 the event and was a key figure in launching the project.
Eventually, the effort was turned over the new foundation. City support helped push it over the finish line.
Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas said the garden is actually five sections 鈥 one representing each person.
鈥淲e are here to share a vision, a vision that was created to allow for each unique garden to represent each individual, be it the colour of their eyes, be it the colour of their favourite flowers. Each individual area is a sanction for representing that individual person,鈥 he said.
鈥淭his park built because of a specific tragedy is meant to be a safe place for all 鈥 You are all welcome on Jared鈥檚 bench,鈥 said Steven Zook, Jared鈥檚 father.
The garden was a group effort by the families.
鈥淲e were able to bring each of us together to form a foundation with one common goal to build a memorial that would pay tribute to Brad, Jared, Eric, Patrick and Cailen 鈥 something beautiful to honour them, something to carry on their legacy and also bring awareness to worksite accidents and the devastation that follows,鈥 said Chris Vilness, trying to hold back his emotions as he spoke.
Each family was represented at the podium.
Tom Sakamoto said Patrick Stemmer was a great son-in-law. 鈥淧atrick wasn鈥檛 just a hard-working man 鈥 he was a devoted husband to my daughter, a loving father to his beautiful girls, and an incredible brother, son and someone whose life revolved around the people he loved.鈥
Eric Stemmer鈥檚 sister-in-law Emily Anderson said he became a brother to a family of girls. 鈥淗e didn鈥檛 just join our family, he became it,鈥 she said. Eric left behind wife Katie and three children 鈥 two girls, and a boy 鈥渉e never got the chance to meet.鈥
Parents Pam and Steven Zook talked about their grief. They鈥檝e had more than their share lately.
鈥淭here is no grief for dummies handbook, no right or wrong, it鈥檚 just one step after the other,鈥 said Pam.
鈥淚n time, we realized we that were not alone,鈥 Steven said. 鈥淎s parents, we鈥檝e had to say goodbye to both of our children. Jared鈥檚 big sister, Tanya, joined him in eternity after a short battle with cancer this past August.鈥
Layne Vilness choked up as he recalled his younger brother, Cailen, coming to Kitimat to meet his nephew. 鈥淥ne of my fondest memories that I hold on to is the day he drove into Kitimat to be called uncle for the first time. The excitement he carried in being an uncle was unfathomable.鈥
Brad Zawislak鈥檚 wife of 21 years, Helen, said her life changed forever when her husband鈥檚 body was found in an office building next door. Helen was joined at the podium by daughter Savanah.
鈥淔rom that moment on, my life 鈥 had been shattered, destroyed and permanently altered.
鈥(There is) still no accountability or significant workplace safety regulation changes to make sure this sort of tragedy never happens again,鈥 she said.
鈥淚 just ask one thing that we as a community examine and prioritize safer workplace laws. Let鈥檚 call it Brad鈥檚 Law. Brad鈥檚 Law is to help protect neighbouring workers and the general public so that anyone working on or near construction zones will arrive home at the end of their working day,鈥 she said.
B.C. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside said moves have been made to improve crane safety with more coming.
鈥淲e know that there is a shared commitment in this province to strengthening standards and protections for crane safety 鈥 We know WorkSafe, for example, has increased inspections. they鈥檝e increased penalties, they鈥檝e issued stop-work orders.
鈥淚 want to be very clear that employers who violate crane-safety regs face serious consequences.鈥
On Friday, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 urged the BC Prosecution Service to proceed with charges.
鈥淪ixteen months ago, the Kelowna RCMP recommended that the BC Prosecution Service pursue a charge of criminal negligence causing death in connection with the accident. To date, there has been no public update on this investigation,鈥 the union said in a news release.
WorkSafeBC investigated the accident, but won鈥檛 release its findings while the police investigation is active.
鈥淚t is incredibly sad that as we approach the four-year anniversary of this terrible industrial tragedy, the families are no closer to seeing justice for their loved ones, and the industry is no closer to understanding what happened that day,鈥 said IUOE business manager Bryan Railton.
鈥淭hese men did not give their lives, their lives were taken,鈥 said Clinton Connell, executive director of BC Crane Safety. 鈥淚鈥檝e never heard of a workplace death that wasn鈥檛 preventable.鈥
Knowles Heritage Park seemed like a surprising location for the monument when it was announced, but the garden blends well in with the park. Hutchinson paid tribute to the park, its history and to pioneer James Knowles.
The park is next to historic Knowles House, built in 1908. James Bacon Knowles was a community leader who established the first jewelry store on Bernard Avenue, according to the city website.
A new website was also launched: .