Author: Maryanne Pope

It’s time to push your chips in for the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund.

Not literally, of course. Hold onto your money and donate your time instead, if you’re able.

The JPMF will be having our next casino in Calgary on Monday, September 14th and Tuesday, September 15th, 2026.  

The casino is, by far, our biggest fundraiser…so if you are able to help out, that would be very much appreciated!

Here are the details:

Location: Elbow River Casino, 218 18 Ave. S.E.

Volunteer shifts (same for both days):

#1) 11:00 am to 7:30 pm

#2) 6:30 pm to 3:30 am

#3) 11:00pm to 3:30 am

No experience or special skills are needed.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Harleigh, at: Harleigh@jpmf.ca

Thank you!!

About the JPMF

The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.

John was 32.

The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.

We often hear from supporters who went to help out, but don’t know how.

Well, now is your chance.

On May 20, 2026 the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) will be hosting a Pub Night Fundraiser at Limericks in Calgary.

As part of this event, we will be holding a silent auction and offering up door prizes to raise funds for our charity … and we’re hoping you might be able to donate an item or product, service, experience, gift card, etc.

The JPMF was started shortly after the on-duty death of Calgary police officer, Const. John Petropoulos, on Sept 29, 2000. John was investigating a break-and-enter complaint at a warehouse when he stepped through an unmarked false ceiling, fell into the lunchroom below and died of head injuries. There was no safety railing to warn him – or anyone else – of the danger. The call turned out to be a false alarm. He was 32.

Twenty-five years later, the JPMF is still going strong – raising public awareness about the importance of workplace safety for all workers, including emergency responders. Our current project in development is a documentary TV series entitled, “Complacent,” which will explore why 1,000 Canadian workers die every year as the result of an injury or illness sustained on the job … and thousands more suffer life-altering injuries or illnesses.

For further information on the JPMF’s safety initiatives please visit jpmf.ca.

If you are able to contribute a silent auction item or door prize for our May 20^th event, your support would be greatly appreciated! We are able to issue your organization a charitable donation tax receipt – for the fair market value of the item/service you have donated.

For further information and/or to donate an item, please contact Harleigh Atkinson at: Harleigh@jpmf.ca

It’s pub night time again!

If you live in the Calgary area, we hope you can join us for a fun and informal evening of socializing, silent auction bidding and door prizes.

Find out all the latest about John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) campaigns and initiatives, or just come by and say hello.

Date: Wednesday, May 20th, 2026

Time: 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Where: Limericks Traditional Public House (7304 Macleod Trail South, Calgary, AB)

Dress Code: Casual

Ticket price: $27 (includes meal & one drink)

Meal choices:

· Cheeseburger & fries & one drink (beer, wine, highball or non-alcoholic)

· Steak sandwich & fries & one drink (beer, wine, highball or non-alcoholic)

· Vegetarian option & one drink (beer, wine, highball or non-alcoholic)

Buy your tickets here!

We hope you can join us…there will be lots of door prizes and a silent auction.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Ticket sales close on May 14th, so book your spot early!

About the JPMF

About Const. John Petropoulos & the JPMF

Calgary Police Const. John Petropoulos died on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm. He was 32.

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund was started shortly after John’s death by members of his recruit class. The JPMF is a Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders.

Please visit jpmf.ca for details.

By Maryanne Pope

Over the past two months, my life has changed…

Mind you, so have I.

I had to. If I didn’t shift my mindset, attitude & daily habits, I would not be able to keep up with all that is unfolding. Almost overnight, my workload has increased exponentially, doors of opportunity are opening at lightning speed, and the creative insights just keep on coming. I feel as if I’m plugged into the Universe…a human conduit with a ponytail!

And yet, oddly enough, I’m not feeling particularly overwhelmed. I just show up each day and do what needs to be done to the best of my ability, then turn off my laptop & phone and have some fun and/or rest.

Why…it’s almost as if everything I’ve experienced & learned over the past twenty-five years has been preparing me for this phase of my life.

Of course it has…that’s probably exactly what’s happened!

To give you an example of what this new stage of my life looks like, I’ll share with you a play-by-play of a recent day, that was rather action-packed and not for the faint of heart.

Or rather, not conducive for a heart that has not yet healed.

I dare say my heart has healed…otherwise, I doubt I could’ve handled the emotional demands of this particular day (and still wake up again the next day to meet that day’s experiences & challenges).

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was back in Calgary in late Feb/early March for the filming of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund’s “Complacent” sizzle reel/promo video (for the “Complacent” documentary TV series, which will explore why 1,000 Canadian workers die every year as a result of their job and thousands more suffer from life-altering injuries or occupational illness & disease).

All ten days in Calgary were incredible. But one day in particular stood out…not just because it was pretty wild, but also because if someone had told me 25 years ago – back when I was a devastated young widow just trying to survive the day – that I would actually be able to do this sort of stuff, I would never have believed them!

Here’s what Monday March 2nd, 2026 looked like for me:

5:00am: wake up, have coffee, feed cats (I was staying at my niece, Mellie’s, house) & think about what I will say in presentation #1.

5:30am: drive to Calgary Police Service District 6 office (the District John was working in when he died) & meet Deputy Chief Cliff O’Brien (JPMF Board Chair) in parking lot to discuss presentation #1.

6:00am: Along with Cliff, say a few words of thanks & encouragement to the parade room full of police officers (before their shift begins), then give the District 6 John Petropoulos Leadership Award to the 2025 District 6 winner.

7:00am: drive to location of first film shoot of the day: Crescent Heights lookout.

8:00am: walk back & forth (in the freezing cold) along the sidewalk on Crescent Heights lookout, having a heart-to-heart conversation (which is being filmed) with Emily Gofton…about grief.

Full circle moment…

8:30am: it is when Emily is talking to Jack (the director) for the first part of her interview that it suddenly occurs to me we are pretty much standing in the exact same location John had been standing – thirty years earlier -when the above photo was taken of him…back when he was in police recruit class in 1996. Little did we know he would be dead within four years…because of a missing safety railing.

9:30am: head to Emily’s apartment to film the rest of her interview.

11:30am: once the crew are ready to roll (to film Emily’s interview in her living room), I head into her bedroom to listen to the audio & watch the interview on a monitor.

11:30am: listen to Emily tell Jack about what happened the day her boyfriend, Liam Johnson, was killed when the trench he was working in collapsed…how when she first heard of the trench collapse, she raced to the jobsite and waited there with police and firefighters – who were unable to get to Liam because the site was too unsafe even for rescue workers.

11:35am: listen to Emily tell Jack how horrific it was to know that Liam may still be alive beneath all that earth…but there was nothing anyone could do.

11:40am: listen to Emily tell Jack how kind the police were to her…and how distressed the firefighters were because they weren’t able to get to Liam in time.

11:50am: listen to Emily explain to Jack about the Westray Law and how it relates to Liam’s case.

11:55am: listen to Emily tell Jack about her workplace safety advocacy efforts with the “Justice for Liam” public awareness campaign.

12:15pm: after Emily finishes talking to Jack, I take off my headset, drag myself off the bed and stagger into the living room to thank Emily for sharing her heart & soul with us. I am in awe of her courage, strength, wisdom & commitment to ensuring that Liam did not die in vain.

Hmm…

If Emily’s journey sounds a little like someone else’s journey (mine and that of many other people who have lost a loved one in a preventable workplace tragedy & find themselves becoming workplace safety advocates because they don’t want these horrific deaths to keep happening…and yet they still do, in alarming numbers), you’d be right.

In fact, that’s one of the questions the “Complacent” documentary series will be asking:

Why is it that when a worker dies as a result of a preventable incident, it is the loved ones left behind who end up devoting a chunk of their lives to raising awareness about the importance of worker safety? 

1:00pm: have another filmed conversation with Emily, as we play a game of chess (oddly enough, two pawns were missing from Liam’s chess set…perhaps a metaphor of sorts for our two workers, who were taken out of the game of life far too soon).

2:15pm: as the film crew packs up, I say goodbye to Emily then go for lunch & a walk on my own – to rest, decompress and process the first half of the day.

3:00pm: send Sarah Hourihan (who does the social media for the JPMF & PGP) film shoot photos to share on social media.

3:30pm: drive to Calgary Police Service District 1 office & meet Cliff in the parking lot to discuss presentation #2.

4:00pm: along with Cliff, I again say a few words of thanks & encouragement to another parade room full of police officers (before their shift begins), then give the District 1 John Petropoulos Leadership Award to the 2025 District 1 winner.

4:45pm: drive to Queen’s Park Cemetery for my first interview. Jack, Sam & I have decided ahead of time that I will kneel at John’s grave when talking to Jack.

5:00pm: my interview with Jack begins. As the sun begins to set, the temperature is dropping fast and I cannot help but think how uncomfortably perfect this feels to be telling Jack about the day John died…while kneeling at his frozen grave 25 years later.

5:15pm: I hear myself telling Jack what it was like when I first saw John in the ER that morning of September 29th, 2000. Although I’ve told this part of the story hundreds of times over the past quarter century (unfortunately, that’s part of the job description of a workplace safety advocate…and if you think that might get a little exhausting after awhile, you’d be right), today is different.

5:17pm: Perhaps it’s because of the location (John’s frozen remains literally buried beneath me), or perhaps because I know this footage is for an important series that will likely be seen by millions of people…or perhaps it’s because despite spending the past twenty-five years of my life raising awareness about workplace safety, 25,000 Canadian workers – such as Liam Johnston – have still died, I allow myself to feel just a fragment of what I felt on the morning of September 29th, 2000.

Believe me, this is not an emotional place I visit often. If I did, I could not do the work I do. But I do the work I do…so that other people don’t have to ever experience what I – or Emily Gofton, Rebecca & Caitlin Orr, Julie Hamilton and thousands more – had to.

5:45pm: my interview finishes up, partly because Jack can tell today has been a tough one for me…and partly because we are all freezing.

6:15pm: as the crew is loading all the equipment back into the truck, I head back to my car…and drive to Peter’s Drive-In for a burger! I usually have a Peter’s burger while visiting John’s grave but today, of course, was different.

6:45pm: drive home to Mellie’s. Over a cup of tea with a cat on my lap, I tell her all about my day. After which, she gives me a stern look and our conversation goes a little like this:

MELLIE: Wow! Are you okay?

ME: Yup. I’m tired…but in a good way.

MELLIE: Are you sure?

ME: Absolutely. We are doing work that matters. And you know me…I learned a long time ago about the importance of looking after myself, so that I don’t burn out.

About Maryanne Pope

Maryanne Pope is the author of “A Widow’s Awakening.” She also writes screenplays, playscripts & blogs. Maryanne is the CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions and Co-Founder of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. To receive her blog, “Weekly Words of Wisdom,” please subscribe here. And be sure to visit our PinkGazelleCards Etsy shop.

About Const. John Petropoulos & the JPMF

Calgary Police Const. John Petropoulos died on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm. He was 32.

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund was started shortly after John’s death by members of his recruit class. The JPMF is a Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders.

Oh, what a week it was!

In late February and early March of 2026, the fabulous film crew put together by Joe Media Inc. filmed the footage for the “sizzle reel” (2-minute promo video) for the “Complacent” documentary series project. It was an amazing experience!

Over a 10-day period (five full days of filming interviews plus several partial days of capturing b-roll footage), the crew visited multiple locations in the Calgary area and interviewed several of the participants who will be featured in the TV series.

From a funky diner in Olds to a beautiful home in Lake Bonavista to a bone-chillingly cold evening at Queen’s Park Cemetery, the experience of filming the different people at all the different locations was incredible. The sheer range of emotions experienced over the 10-day shoot was staggering…sorrow, anger, outrage, anxiety, stress, frustration, exhaustion, relief, gratitude. You name it, somebody (behind the camera or in front of it) probably felt it.

From the human perspective, we asked an awful lot from the people we interviewed…and every single person shared with us their heart, soul, experience & knowledge. The candour & courage shown by those who have experienced horrific personal tragedies and/or who have spent decades of their life tackling, in one way or another, the workplace safety issue was beyond inspiring.

The humanity, kindness, skill and professionalism of the filmmaking team – the director, DOP, crew & producers – was truly beautiful to witness.

From a technical & creative perspective, the film shoot was a resounding success in terms of the team capturing exactly the footage & soundbites needed to put together what will no doubt be an emotionally impactful, visually stunning & highly effective sizzle reel.

What is the “Complacent” series?

The “Complacent” documentary limited series will be 4 (or more) one-hour episodes (aired on TV and/or streaming service). It will be a character-driven series about the human cost of workplace death in Canada. Each year, close to 1,000 Canadians die because of their job. Thousands more suffer from life-altering injuries and occupational illnesses. This series sets out to understand WHY?

What will the “Complacent” sizzle reel used for?

The “Complacent” sizzle reel/promo video is an important development tool that, once it is produced (it will likely be ready in April), will be used to pitch the series to potential broadcasters, streamers & funders.

A huge shout-out to the entire team at Joe Media Inc, including Matt Gillespie (Executive Producer), Sheila Rae (Executive Producer), Sam Coombs (Director of Photography), Jack Chapman (Director) and Kendrey Gillespie (producer).

And a big heartfelt thank you to all the people we interviewed for the sizzle reel: Braeden Baragar, Julie Hamilton, Emily Gofton, Rob Stewart, Deputy Chief Cliff O’Brien, Rebecca Orr & Caitlin Orr.

Many thanks, as well, to Sarah Hourihan for spreading the word about the project on social media.

Here are some more photos taken from the sizzle reel film shoot (with a big thank you to our film shoot photographer, Sam Richey!):

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks for reading & take care,

Maryanne & the JPMF Team

About Const. John Petropoulos & the JPMF

Calgary Police Const. John Petropoulos died on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm. He was 32.

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund was started shortly after John’s death by members of his recruit class. The JPMF is a Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders.

Please visit jpmf.ca for details.

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund’s pub night is back in Calgary in 2026!

The night of fun and fundraising will take place on Wednesday, May 20th at Limericks Traditional Public House, located at 7304 Macleod Trail South.

Join us for a great evening of food, drinks and raffle prizes.

More details about the event – including food options and where you can find tickets – will be announced in the near future.

If you have an item you’d like to donate as a prize for the pub night, please let us know.

Stay tuned for more details!

ALSO IN THE WORKS …

Just a quick note to let you know that the JPMF’s “Complacent” documentary series project is moving forward.

The fantastic production team at Joe Media filmed the footage for the “Complacent” sizzle reel – a two-minute promotional video – in Calgary between Feb. 26th and March 4th.

We will share photos and behind-the-scenes action of those film shoots, and provide updates in an upcoming blog, as well as on our social media platforms. It’s exciting to see progress on this important project!

ABOUT THE JPMF

Following the death of Calgary Police Service Const. John Petropoulos in 2000, several of his recruit classmates (Cliff O’Brien, Glenn Laird & Joel Matthews) started the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund and raised funds through the sale of memorial pins to fellow officers. Subsequent pin sales, grants, casino proceeds, fundraisers, and ongoing donations continue to sustain the Memorial Fund. The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity.

The JPMF’s safety initiatives offer people tangible tips they can implement in their workplaces and on the roads to help ensure everyone, including emergency responders, make it home safely to their families.

The original mission of the JPMF was to raise public awareness about how people could ensure their workplaces, and the roads, were safe for everyone, including emergency responders. However, twenty years after John’s death, the statistics on workplace fatalities were shocking. Since John fell to his death in 2000, more than 20,000 Canadians have died as a result of their work – either from an injury or occupational illness. So we decided to broaden our scope to raising public awareness about workplace safety issues facing all workers. 

Ultimately, we are committed to helping bring about a culture of safety in which all workers get home safely at the end of every shift. Because one fatality is one too many. 

We are very pleased to announce there is now another JPMF scholarship in the world!  

This one is with the Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD). It is called the AbbyPD Youth Mentoring Program John Petropoulos Leadership Award.

The Abbotsford Police Department facilitates the AbbyPD Mentoring Program. At the conclusion of each class/mentoring cycle, the instructor selects the top candidate based on a variety of metrics. The award is presented to the candidate who demonstrates the following characteristics:

• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Humility
• Grit

The recipient receives a $500 award to spend on personal leadership development. This can include tuition, courses, coaching, or other forms of professional development. The Abbotsford Police Union manages the award.

In early 2025, the JPMF provided $5,000 in seed money for this scholarship. This $5,000 will fund the program for the next 3 years (6 classes), at which time the Abbotsford Police Union will commit to funding the award.

In October 2025, the AbbyPD Youth Mentoring Program John Petropoulos Leadership Award was given out to the very first recipient, Hayden Sansalone.

Congratulations Hayden!  

“I want to thank the generous people at the John Petropoulos Memorial Foundation for granting me this award. It was an honour to receive the inaugural John Petropoulos Leadership Award. I hope that I can continue with the attributes that the award represents,” said Hayden.

“The money that I received will go towards my next semester of classes at the University of the Fraser Valley, where I am enrolled in the Criminology program. Once again, thank you for your generosity and confidence in my potential. Your contribution is making a meaningful difference in my education and future career.”

On a personal note…

Back in the 1990’s, John Petropoulos and Maryanne Pope lived in Abbotsford when John was a student in the Criminology Program at the University College of the Fraser Valley. After John graduated with his degree in Criminology from UCFV, he and Maryanne moved back to Calgary when John was hired by the Calgary Police Service.

All these years later, it is very special to see John’s legacy continue in a community that he was once part of … and one that played a significant part in his journey of becoming a police officer. To know that criminology students like Hayden are being recognized (and receiving financial assistance) at the same University that John graduated from is wonderful.

We wish Hayden all the very best…and a big shout of thanks to the AbbyPD for creating this special award in John’s memory!