Category: News

On Sept 13th, 2025, the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund held it’s 25th anniversary event in Calgary. From my perspective, the evening was absolutely lovely. I got to stand up at the front of a ballroom filled with 110 people – the vast majority of whom have played some sort of role in my journey over the past 25 years – and say ‘thank you.’

How cool is that?!

In fact, if it weren’t for some of the people in that room, I would not have survived the treacherous emotional and psychological journey that started at 7am on September 29th, 2000 – the moment I arrived at work and first heard the news that John had fallen and hit his head.

As I said in my speech the other night, healing after a traumatic event is not a solitary sport. We are not supposed to grieve alone. I certainly didn’t.

Other people in that ballroom played a very different role in my journey…by helping me tackle the issue that led to John’s death in the first place: an unsafe workplace. If a simple safety railing had been in place, John would not have fallen through the unmarked false ceiling.

But he did…leaving behind an awful lot of hurt people who had to learn how to pick up the pieces of their shattered hearts and put them back together in a way that made some sort of sense to them. I was one of those people.

And a big piece of my broken heart was put back into place through the work of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund over the past quarter century. Raising public awareness about the importance of workplace safety was not – is not – a path for the faint of heart. It has required an insane amount of time, effort, money and patience.

But I cannot deny that tackling the issue that led to John’s death played an integral role in my healing process…at least for the first few years. And then somewhere along the way, we began to realize that our efforts weren’t just a way of keeping John’s memory alive…our efforts were helping other workers stay alive.

And even if our public awareness campaigns only prevented one workplace fatality or serious injury, that alone was worth the effort. Because when you’re on the other side of an easily preventable workplace fatality – a loved one left behind – one is one too many.

In 2000, the year John died, 959 Canadians died as the result of their work – either from injury or occupational illness. That annual statistic has continued – consistently – year after year, over the past 25 years. Approximately 1,000 Canadians die every year as a result of their job. Thousands more are seriously injured.

And so, the JPMF will continue it’s efforts. Our next safety initiative is a documentary TV series entitled, “Complacent.” This project is currently in development with the Calgary production company, Joe Media Group.

Here is the link to view the JPMF 25th anniversary video (5 min) we showed that evening. This powerful video was produced by Mark Anderson…thank you, Mark!

And here are the links to some of the media coverage of the event:

Calgary Herald

CTV

Here are a few photos from the evening:

A huge heartfelt thank you to all our JPMF supporters, volunteers, Board Members and staff…we could not do what we do without you!!

Maryanne & the JPMF Team

About 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.

It’s that time again FORE the CPA Golf Tournament!

This year, the Calgary Police Association’s annual Andrew Harnett Golf Tournament will be held on Thursday August 14th, 2024.

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) is looking for a few volunteers to chip in…selling raffle tickets to golfers. Proceeds from raffle tickets sales are kindly donated to the JPMF.

Here are the tournament details:

When: Thursday August 14th, 2024

Where: Heritage Pointe Golf Course (South of Calgary)                    

Shifts: There is only one round of golf being played this year, so we only need volunteers for one afternoon shift.

Duties: Volunteers will set up off the greens of par 3 holes, where they will watch for hole-in-ones (big prizes are up for grabs for any golfer who makes a hole-in-one). Volunteers will also sell raffle tickets and 50/50 tickets to golfers.

Contact: If you’d like to putt on over & help us out, please e-mail Harleigh at harleigh@jpmf.ca. 

Other details: Dress for this event is casual and volunteers are asked to be prepared for a variety of weather conditions: please bring a hat, sunscreen, water bottle, bug spray and a foldable chair.

Thanks so much!

About Const. John Petropoulos

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.

About Sgt Andrew Harnett

Calgary Police Sgt. Andrew Harnett, 37, was killed in the line of duty on New Years Eve 2020.

JPMF 25th Anniversary Event on Sept 13th are Now On Sale!

*Ticket sales end on Mon Sept 8th*

We hope you can join us for the JPMF 25th anniversary event on Saturday Sept 13th, 2025 – at the Delta Hotel South in Calgary! 

This special evening will have a buffet dinner (beef brisket with salad, veggies & dessert), a silent auction, a few speeches & we’ll show a new video that encapsulates the past 25 years of the JPMF’s workplace safety initiatives & achievements as well as gives a glimpse at what’s ahead. 

Here are the details:

When: Saturday Sept 13th, 2025

Time: 5:30pm doors open for cocktails, dinner is at 6:30pm

Where: Delta Hotel South Calgary (135 Southland Dr SE)

Cost: $55 per ticket (covers cost of buffet beef brisket dinner)

Dress code: casual 🙂 

There will be a silent auction!

You can purchase your tickets here.

Hope you can join us for this special event!

*Ticket sales end on Mon Sept 8th*

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.

On Sept 13th, 2025, the JPMF will be having our 25th anniversary event…and we’ll be having a silent auction! 

So we are starting good & early to round up some fantastic items! 

If you have an item (or service or gift card, etc) that you would like to contribute, please contact Harleigh at: Harleigh@jpmf.ca.

Thank you!!

Maryanne & the JPMF team

About the JPMF

The JPMF was started 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 and how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.

Save the Date: September 13th, 2025 will be the JPMF 25th anniversary event

Wow…I cannot believe it will be twenty-five years this September, since John passed away. But here we are.

In honour of him – and all the incredible workplace safety education the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund has accomplished in the quarter century since his death – we will be having a very special anniversary event (in Calgary) on the evening of Saturday Sept 13th, 2025.

Details to come!

We hope you can share this special day with us, in remembrance of Johnny P.

Maryanne & the JPMF team

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.

It’s that time again!

The JPMF will be having our next casino in Calgary on Saturday Jan 25th & Sunday Jan 26th, 2024.

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

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.