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JPMF Pub Night on May 23rd, 2024!

It’s been awhile…so the JPMF is having a pub night in Calgary!

Here are the deets:

When: Thursday May 23rd, 2024

Time: 5:30pm to 9:30pm

Where: Limericks Pub (7304 Macleod Trail South, Calgary, AB)

Cost: $25 per ticket (includes *meal & beverage)

*meal choice will be steak sandwich, cheeseburger or veggie burger

No silent auction this time 🙂 but we’ll have door prizes & a 50/50 draw!

Hope you can join us!!

Please order your tickets here.

Ticket sales close May 20th.

P.S. If you have an item you’d like to donate for our door prizes, just let us know! Thanks 🙂

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.

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Maryanne receives Community Gold Award

Hallo! We hope this note finds you safe, happy & healthy!

On Sept 26th, 2023, I (Maryanne Pope, John’s widow) was very honoured to receive the Community Leader Award (Gold) from OHS Canada magazine for my workplace safety efforts with the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund over the years.

Although I couldn’t attend the award ceremony in Toronto, here is the short video I whipped up (1-min).

A legacy of love: Maryanne Pope turns tragedy into advocacy through JPMF

Community Leader Award

Gold: Maryanne Pope, John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
Silver: Trina Hayden, Norcat
Silver: Tanya Kowalenko, FortisBC


On Sept. 29, 2000, Const. John Petropoulos of the Calgary Police Service was called to investigate a break-and-enter at a warehouse.

While on the mezzanine level, the four-year-veteran stepped onto what he believed was a study floor — but it was a false ceiling. He fell nine feet into the lunchroom below, landing on a chair and striking his head.

Petropoulos was 32. His wife, Maryanne Pope, was also 32. They had been together for 12 years, and married for four.

“I was beyond devastated, I suppose just shattered,” said Pope. “You know, we were just like a normal couple one day and then I’m holding his hand in the ICU as he dies of a brain injury.”

She didn’t know what to do next, and his colleagues were at a loss. Shortly after, one of his police recruit classmates reached out to Pope with an idea. They were going to create a pen, with his regimental number, and sell them to police officers, family and friends to raise money.

“They raised about $10,000. And they said, ‘When you’re in some sort of semblance of shape emotionally and mentally, and you feel like you can handle this, let’s get together and meet and we’ll decide what to do with the money,’” she said.

That led to the launch of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF). This year, Pope was named winner of the 2023 Community Leader Award as part of OHS Honours for her incredible work and that of the foundation in his name.

Originally, JPMF focused on the question: “How safe is your workplace for emergency responders?” With increasing activities in construction sites and other high-risk areas, the foundation initially aimed to address safety issues faced by paramedics, firefighters, and police officers. However, workplace safety statistics prompted the organization to broaden its scope.

“We wanted to raise public education and teach the public how to think about workplace safety from the perspective of first responders who might be in their premise and not familiar with the surroundings,” said Pope.

She said it’s “incredible” to see the light bulb go off when someone hears what happened to her husband and other first responders…

Read full article in OHS Canada magazine.

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Not Enough Time – The Tragedy of Tim DesGrosseilliers

“Tim was 12 years older than me, but we were very close. We talked
almost every day, and I would absolutely say he was my best friend.
His loss is still devastating to me and I miss his support.”
 
– Michelle Fitch, Tim’s sister
 

On Sept. 8, 2017, Tim DesGrosseilliers, an elevator mechanic, was killed after being crushed by a piece of falling equipment while working in an elevator shaft at the University of Toronto. He was 52.

Michelle Fitch with her daughter and a photo of Tim at a Steps for Life Walk

Let us tell you about Tim

Tim DesGrosseilliers had a lifelong love of cars. At any given time, he owned many classic cars. He especially loved Pontiacs and Dodges.

In the winter, Tim loved snowmobiling and spent as much time as possible riding the trails.

Kind and generous with his time and support, Tim would drive hours, in the middle of the night, to lend a supportive hand if someone needed him.

At the time of his death, he was sharing a house with his aging father, helping him financially and with household and yard tasks, so his dad could maintain his independence.

Tim had a wonderful sense of humour that many around him enjoyed. Although he never had any children of his own, Tim loved kids and spent much time with his nieces and nephews. One of his endearing qualities was he seemed like a kid who had never fully grown up. He embraced life like he did in his youth and even had a drawer in his bedroom filled with nothing but candy.

Tim entertaining his niece and nephew

What Happened?

On the day Tim was killed, he was rushed in the job he was doing. He had a fast-approaching deadline and in haste, he made a decision to use nylon straps to rig and hoist a load, rather than chains, which were not readily available.

A catastrophic oversight on his part was that the load had multiple sharp “pinch points”, which ultimately cut through the nylon straps. The load fell onto Tim, who was standing underneath it in the elevator shaft.

Tim died on the scene and his apprentice was injured. In a cruel irony, he wasn’t even supposed to go to work that day but the company needed him.

What Went Wrong?

#1. Tim had been given a very small window of time to do a dangerous hoist. Being hurried affected his decision-making. 

#2. Opting to use nylon straps rather than chains was a tragic decision, but the chains weren’t readily available.

#3. He was operating blind with the crane, acting as a rigger, and with no signal operator.

All of these factors contributed to a workplace fatality…the end of Tim’s life.

However, leading up to this last day of Tim’s life, he had made multiple complaints regarding safety issues on the job site. His concerns were ignored.

Tim’s death, and the resulting inquest, led to 15 recommendations for changes or improvements in the industry.

Tim and his sister, Michelle, share a laugh

Hope for Safer Workplaces

Tim’s family was deeply affected by his preventable death. His sister, Michelle Fitch has a message for all workers:

“Never do a job if you question its safety. It is your right to a safe work environment.
There are laws to protect workers, and if you ever doubt that those laws will save your job, the alternative is so much worse. The people left behind never stop looking for you, never stop hoping it was just a terrible dream.”

Please watch this powerful short video about Tim’s death.

 

Since 2000, more than 20,000 Canadians have died as a result of their work – either from an occupational illness or injuries sustained on the job.

 

Is this the legacy we want to be building?

Please watch this short video (3 min) about some of the faces behind the stats.

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.

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Call FORE Volunteers in Calgary on Aug 17th!

We shall never forget our fallen.

Calgary Volunteers Needed for Annual Golf Tourney

The Calgary Police Association’s 2023 Andrew Harnett  Memorial Golf Tournament is coming up & 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 deets:

When: Thursday August 17th, 2023

Where: Heritage Pointe Golf Course (DeWinton)                       

Shifts: The morning shift runs from 7 am until 1 pm and the afternoon shift starts at noon and ends around 6 pm.

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 help out, please e-mail Harleigh at harleighatkinson@gmail.com. 

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 Constable 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.

About Sgt Andrew Harnett

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

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Electricity Kills

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

– Jane Goodall

Electricity kills.

But younger workers may not always be aware of the dangers of working around electricity. And their employers may not care enough to train them properly & make their safety a top priority.

Please take 2 minutes and watch this powerful new safety video about the tragic — and easily preventable — deaths of Tim Hamilton, 19, and Jeremy Bowley, 21. They died fourteen years apart while working at their respective summer jobs…due to the EXACT same circumstances.

This is unacceptable. And yet it happened.

If you are on social media, or have a young worker in your life, please share this video. Thank you.

To view more workplace safety videos, please visit/subscribe to the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund YouTube channel.

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New JPMF Website!

Welcome to the brand spankin’ new JPMF website!

Hope you’ll take a look around

A huge thank you to Neil Gilbert of ElbowRoom Design for creating our new site.

About the JPMF

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund was started in 2000, after the on-duty death of Calgary Police Const. John Petropoulos. Learn more.

What we do

We raise public awareness about why & how people can make their workplaces – and the roads – safer for all workers, including first responders. Learn more.

View & share our safety resources

If you are on the lookout for workplace safety educational resources, we have plenty!

We have over 40 safety videos on our YouTube channel.

We have dozens of shareable safety images/graphics for you to choose from.

Thank you

Take care, stay safe & thanks for viewing & sharing our resources. You just never know who might need to see an important safety reminder right about…now.

Because workplace safety matters…very much.

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Casino Volunteers Needed

Casino Volunteers Needed in Calgary May 15 & 16

It’s that time again!

The JPMF will be having our next casino in Calgary on Monday May 15th & Tuesday May 16th, 2023.

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 deets:

Location: Pure Casino Calgary (NE)

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 Maryanne at maryanne@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.

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Stepping Up to the Plate for Workplace Safety – Jeremy Bowley’s Story

 

“That beautiful face will never get to grow older. It is frozen in time.”

– Elisa Kilbourne, Jeremy’s mother

Jeremy Bowley had a promising future ahead.

He was twenty-one going into his final year of criminology at King’s University College. His dream job was a career in law enforcement.

                               

A kind, handsome and charming young man, Jeremy’s smile and warmth lit up every room he entered. He loved his mom, older sister Kaitlyn, girlfriend Pauline, his friends and extended family.

Jeremy loved all things related to the outdoors: camping, hunting, fishing, and sports.

But baseball…that was his passion. Jeremy had a natural talent and a love for pitching. He became one of the top pitchers in his division and continued to excel throughout his years in ball. His determination allowed him to do well in many endeavors.

“He had a competitive streak that was a mile wide,” says his mom Elisa. “But he managed to hide it very well…never saying a bad thing about a teammate, coach or officiant.”

To help fund his university education, Jeremy took a summer job at a local company installing party tents. He was thrilled to have a job that was outdoors requiring physical work. He thrived in this element.

This work environment, however, turned out to be a very unsafe one. 

On August 1, 2013, Jeremy’s mom’s world was shattered.

After watching a concerning news story about a workplace incident in the area where Jeremy was working (near Watford, Ontario), later that evening Elisa opened the front door to a police officer who delivered devastating information. Jeremy had been killed on the job. He had been electrocuted while putting up a large event tent.

What Went Wrong? 

Jeremy and five crew members were installing a big tent for a rural wedding when a pole they were erecting from under the tent canopy came in contact with an overhead hydro line. Jeremy was fatally electrocuted. Four other young people sustained life-altering injuries.

Before this summer job, the crew was not given any hazard awareness training.

No education was provided on the danger of power lines.

There were no supervisors on site.

Sadly, there was no safety training provided to the young summer workers.

After a full investigation, charges were laid against the employer. The company was ordered to pay a fine to the municipality.

Tragically, Jeremy’s death was entirely preventable.

                                                                                                     “You never expect to endure the distress, disbelief & disorientation of planning a funeral for your 21-year-old son.”

– Elisa Kilbourne

 

After this tragic, devastating, and preventable incident, Jeremy’s family wants every young person to know the dangers of working around electricity.

One cannot assume young people are aware of the various hazards associated with power lines. Sadly, numerous people agreed on where this party tent should be placed. No one noticed the danger of the power line.

Jeremy’s mom Elisa encourages everyone to share this message: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Every employer, supervisor and employee needs to know they have a right to:

#1. Know

#2. Participate

#3. Refuse…and stop unsafe work and not feel threatened that they will lose their job.

If you are the parent of a young worker and would like some ideas on how to talk to your child about workplace safety, please visit MissingTim.ca.

There is an excellent downloadable resource guide called, “Your Kids & Job Safety.”

And why does the Missing Tim organization exist in the first place? Because Tim Hamilton died in 1999 at the age of 19…in the same way as Jeremy Bowley.

Yes, you read correctly.

One young worker’s death from electrocution while putting up a party tent is completely unacceptable. Two deaths are unfathomable.

Is this the workplace safety legacy we want to be building in Canada?

 

Since 2000, more than 20,0000 Canadians have died as a result of their work.

Here is the link to view a short video that highlights a few of the faces behind the stats.

About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund

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.

To help raise awareness about workplace safety and provide support for others dealing with workplace tragedies, Jeremy Bowley’s mom, Elisa Kilbourne, works with the Threads of Life Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support as a mentor, public speaker, and Family Guide volunteer.

Thank you for caring…and sharing this on social media ♥

When it comes to raising awareness about workplace safety, we all need to step up to the plate…so that what happened to Jeremy and Tim doesn’t happen to anyone else.

 

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Together Forever Until the Ship Sinks

“In the early morning hours of January 7th, 2015, Paul was found in the back of the hopper, lodged in the auger, frozen solid.”

– Virginia Campeau, Paul Campeau’s widow

Together forever until the ship sinks…

That’s what Virginia Campeau and her husband, Paul, always said to each other. In 2012, they met at work and began dating. From that point on, Virginia knew she would spend the rest of her life with him.

“Paul was a caring, passionate, and humble man,” says Virginia. They married in 2014. Paul had a deep love for his wife, family, friends, and dog, Baloo.

Paul and Virginia

In January 2015, it wasn’t a sinking ship that tore Paul and Virginia apart – it was a jammed auger in the back of the sand truck Paul was working in. Paul was driving a sand truck, maintaining the roads for winter. He was working alone on a bitterly cold day. When it was freezing outside, there were issues with the auger getting jammed.

Paul’s life was tragically cut short at the age of forty-five.

On January 6th, 2015, Paul left for work like every other day…

“We kissed and said, ‘I love you,’ to each other for the last time,” says Paul’s widow, Virginia.

“In the back of the sand truck there was a hopper with an auger inside,” Virginia explains. “Paul was working alone at the time, so no one really knows what happened, nor do I have a time of death.”

What Virginia does know is this:

In the early morning hours of January 7th, 2015 Paul was found in the back of the sand truck, lodged in the auger, frozen solid. There was a shovel nearby.CLICK TO TWEET

“I will never know the exact time Paul took his last breath, or what exactly happened, but I do know the truck he was driving had experienced similar issues in the past.”

– Virginia Campeau

“When it was really cold outside,” Virginia says, “there had been issues with the auger getting jammed, which prevented the sand from filtering through. They had been using a shovel as a temporary solution to get the sand through – and the auger moving again. A replacement part was on order but hadn’t come in yet. If it did, maybe things would have turned out differently.”

After Paul’s frozen body was discovered, the truck had to be dismantled and one of Paul’s legs had to be amputated below the knee, so they could free him.

Paul Campeau

What went wrong?

Because Paul was working alone at the time, we will never know for sure. But we do know this: there was no safety cover on the back of the hopper to protect Paul. Plus, while waiting for the replacement part to arrive, he was dealing with malfunctioning machinery.

“Workplace safety is non-negotiable. There is no coming back from a workplace fatality. You have the right to say no to unsafe working conditions. And you have the right to come home to the ones you love.”

– Virginia Campeau

“What I miss the most about Paul,” says Virginia, “is the wink he would give me signaling that everything would be okay…and having his arms around me at night, feeling safe and falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat.”

Virginia holding a photo of Paul

Paul’s life ended in tragedy. And Virginia was left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and the shattered dreams for the future they had planned together. This is not the way either of them – or their loved ones – wanted their love story to end.

Whether you are an employee, an employer, or a business owner, please make workplace safety your top priority. 

Safety must come first…because fatalities are forever.CLICK TO TWEET

Here is the link to view the 2-min video about Paul Campeau. 

A little bit more about Paul Campeau…

Paul was born in Shawville, Quebec, and was the youngest of three children. When he was young, his family moved to Red Lake Ontario where he grew up. Paul had many loves including his family, his dog, Baloo, and his many friends. He loved Monte Carlo cars, driving his semi-truck, and watching Nascar racing.

To help raise awareness about workplace safety and provide support for others dealing with workplace tragedies, Virginia is a speaker with the Threads of Life Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support.

Here is the link to read Virginia’s Threads of Life article, “The Day Life Shattered.”

Since 2000, more than 20,000 Canadians have died as a result of their work – either from an occupational illness or injuries sustained on the job.

Is this the legacy we want to be building?

About the JPMF

The JPMF was started after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on September 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.

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More Questions Than Answers

“When I tried calling Lance the first time, it kept ringing. The second time it went to voicemail. I remember thinking something was terribly wrong.” 

– Rebecca Orr, Lance Orr’s widow

Lance Orr was a construction worker.

He was a rigger. His job was to ensure the concrete load was safely and securely attached to the sling of a crane.

Lance was an out-going and boisterous Alberta cowboy. He thrived in the outdoors.

Lance loved to fish, hunt, camp, and gather with his family and friends. At 19, he met Rebecca and they became close friends. They fell in love and were married.

The soon-to-be father enjoyed working hard to provide for his family. For many months, he’d been working long, exhausting days.

On May 8th, 2009, their baby was due to arrive soon, so Rebecca was getting their baby registry set up. Lance was looking forward to a quiet night at home after a long week at work.

Lance never came home. Instead, Rebecca received a call from an RCMP officer while she was leaving the store where she was setting up the baby registry. Lance had died on the job.

This was not the future Rebecca and Lance had envisioned.

So what happened? 

In the months leading up to Lance’s death, he had been working fourteen to sixteen hours a day. He had discussed with Rebecca how exhausted he was and how he hoped to finish his current job as soon as possible. The job had extended beyond its deadline and was a very demanding construction project.

“Lance had used two different lengths of chain and hadn’t tied the load down correctly,” explains Rebecca. “So when he gave the crane operator – his best friend – the okay to move the load, it slid off and crushed him instantly.”

“My world came crashing down,” says Rebecca. “Two months shy of our third wedding anniversary, all our plans and dreams were gone. I was left to pick up the pieces.”

At the age of twenty-five, Rebecca became a widow and a single mom. Lance and Rebecca’s daughter, Caitlin, was born three months after his death.

Fatigue can be fatal.

When workers are consistently working long days with insufficient rest in between, exhaustion takes a toll. Fatigue can affect a worker’s physical, emotional, and mental health. Fatigue can impact a worker’s decision-making abilities.CLICK TO TWEETIn the worst-case scenario, fatigue can be fatal.

We will never know exactly what happened the day Lance died, but fatigue likely played a significant role in the choices he made and the actions he took.

“Lance was one of the safest guys I knew. He would never intentionally put himself or anyone else at risk,” says Rebecca. “But that day he made choices that have left me with more questions than answers…and the only person who can answer those questions isn’t here.”

As an experienced rigger, Lance had been properly trained. He knew what he was doing and was very good at it. But when you’re dealing with a load of concrete, the margin for error is small. One minor mistake can make the difference between life and death.

Lance Orr was 27.

Caitlin & Rebecca Orr

Caitlin has grown up to embrace her father’s love of the outdoors and horses. She is a cowgirl at heart.

To help raise awareness about workplace safety and provide support for others dealing with workplace tragedies, Rebecca now works with the Threads of Life Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support as a speaker and family support volunteer.

For further info, please visit Threads of Life.

Since 2000, more than 20,000 Canadians have died as a result of their work – either from an occupational illness or injuries sustained on the job.

Is this the legacy we want to be building?

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