Winter 2011 - Threads of Life

®
Vol. 9, No. 4 WINTER 2011
From the Chair
I
Bill Stunt
t’s been a busy fall, but
with any luck we’ ll all get
a chance to take advantage
of the peace and quiet that the
winterholidays promise...(but,
let’s face it...doesn’t always
deliver). Though not always
the easiest of seasons for our
family members, it’s our
profound hope that you and
your families can find some
comfort and companionship during
this holiday season.
Sometimes events and circumstances put us in a position
where we spend so much time worrying about our loved ones
that we don’t take care of ourselves. Sometimes you need to
step back and take a hard look at how you are doing. Shirley
Hickman has some thoughts and advice in this edition on
how to turn some of that attention back on yourself. I hope
you find it helpful.
One of the highlights of the Family Forums for me over the
past couple of years has been workshops focused on how men
deal with grief. We were the first to offer a Men’s Only session
where what is said in the room, stays in the room. There is
something remarkably comforting about being in the presence
of other men and sharing our journeys through loss and grief.
Jim Sandford kindly moderated the group this year. He had
the great idea of extending the concept by creating some space
in the newsletter for men to communicate between forums.
That will debut in the spring issue.
I’ d also like to take the time to introduce you to a few new
staff members. We have two new regional development
coordinators, Sherry House and Colleen Youngblut.
John McCabe, our Manager of Partnerships and Fundraising
has been busy recently generating a new Steps for Life national
gold sponsorship with CannAmm. He’s also encouraged PCL
to renew their commitment to be a national sponsor with a
commitment for the next five years, both major
accomplishments for the organization.
And as usual we feature two family stories. We’ ll hear about
one Winnipeg’s family’s struggle to live with the consequence of
a horrific workplace fatality involving their teenage son.
Asbestos has been in the news a lot lately. Many of our family
members need no reminder about how dangerous and deadly a
substance asbestos can be. In this edition we bring you a guest
article from Heidi Von Palleske on the generational ripple
effect of asbestos in one family.
Take good care.
Inside this Issue
Remembering Winnipeg young worker Andrew James The Legacy of Asbestos Tips for handling the holiday season Book review: Scaling the Mountain of Grief Volunteer Profile: Jackie Manuel, CEO,
Newfoundland and Labrador Construction
Safety Association
Steps for Life – Gold Sponsors Employers’ Corner: Violence in the Workplace News and Events Charity of Choice events p. 2
p. 4
p. 6
p. 8
p. 8
p. 9
p. 10
p. 10
p. 11
15-year-old Andrew James loved his dream job
Roberta James, Mom
A
ndrew James was my son.
He was by no means your
everyday “normal”
child. He lived life to the fullest
each and every day. By two years old,
he was riding his bike up and down
the sidewalk with me running in a
panic behind him. Our home was
always hectic trying to keep up to
him, and to keep him from
absolutely terrorizing his older sisters.
By the age of four a diagnoses of
Attention Deficit Hyperactive
Disorder (ADHD) was just the
beginning of many doctors’
diagnoses and treatments. School
was a challenge and we eventually
opted to home school Andrew with
the approval of the school.
needed help cleaning up the tools or
anything at all that he could do. The
owner finally said sure, grab the
rakes and shovels and put them into
the back of the truck.
This started his involvement with
Interlake Paving. Every day he went
to the job site to try to get them to
give him some work. He bugged and
bugged until they would let him
carry some tools or get them some
water to drink. He watched them
every day for a week, and then the
weekend arrived. The owner of the
company was leaving the equipment
Andrew enjoyed all seasons
in a parking lot in town and asked
Andrew if he would watch it for
him over the weekend. Andrew came home so excited asking
for sandwiches and a sleeping bag so he could stay there to
His love for mechanics and building began to emerge; he
take care of this precious cargo. It took me hours to convince
built his first motor at eight. His uncle, a mechanic by trade,
him that he was not expected, nor would I allow him, to sleep
later taught Andrew how to change tires, oil, check other
with the equipment all night long. He was satisfied with
fluids, etc. There was a motor that wasn’t running properly
staying until dark and returning first thing in the morning to
and the owner of the vehicle wanted a new motor. Andrew
carefully watched his uncle take the motor apart. It needed to
We fully trusted Andrew in his position with the
be cleaned, new parts put in and then finally put back
company and trusted the owner would care for him
together again. Andrew worked hard and long on that motor
as one of his own. Andrew had dreams of starting his
and he got it back together again. We were all so proud of
own business, first with seal coating and then doing
him and he was mighty proud of himself too. This started his
the job he was being primed for, to own his own paving
passion for all things mechanical and his work ethic.
company. Sadly this dream would never happen.
Andrew was usually the first person a new member of our
community met. He was the kid grabbing a box to carry into
make sure nothing was tampered with during the night. He
the new homeowner’s house as they moved in, and telling
was waiting bright and early on Monday morning for the
them all about our town, such as when garbage day was,
paving crew to show up and see that indeed all the machines
where the school, store or post office were. Everyone knew
were
safe and sound with his guarding them over the
Andrew, whether you wanted to or not! He also loved to
weekend. The owner allowed Andrew to help him with the
make a buck. In the summer he cut the grass, in the fall he
raked leaves, in winter he cleared snow and in the spring he
greasing and maintenance needed to keep the machines
cleaned the yard. It was natural to see Andrew doing work for
running that morning, and had him run some errands for
one neighbour or another on any given day.
them during the day. He later came and asked if we were
alright with Andrew helping them out around the job sites.
Around the age of twelve, a friend of the family began work
I
thought it was fine as long as he wasn’t a bother to them.
in town doing asphalting. Andrew rode his bike around and
Slowly,
he was given more and more responsibilities on the
around the area they were working, constantly asking if they
jobs.
He
loved the work.
needed him to help. Of course all the workers told the young
kid to buzz off; this was hard work, not work for a youngster.
At the end of the day, there was Andrew, asking if they
2
Over the years, Andrew learned more about the paving
industry. He could now run every piece of equipment, do
every job, and do them all well. He was confident in the work
he did, and we were confident in him. He had a strong work
ethic that you just didn’t see in kids his age. He was mature
beyond his years and had grown to be someone we were
proud of each and every day. Both his father and I had
worked alongside Andrew at the paving company. The owner
had become very close to Andrew over the years and had
become to think of him as a son. He treated him as if he were
family as well as the rest of the owner’s family. Andrew spoke
fondly of them and we were grateful that they thought so
highly of him and had given him the opportunity that so
many others before them had not. We fully trusted Andrew
While trying to get a few shovels full of asphalt out
of the box of a semi-trailer, somehow the gate
of the trailer opened. This caused the entire truck
to shake and Andrew fell into the load of asphalt in
the trailer and was released along with the
asphalt to the ground below.
in his position with the company and trusted the owner
would care for him as one of his own. Andrew had dreams of
starting his own business, first with seal coating and then
doing the job he was being primed for, to own his own
paving company. Sadly this dream would never happen.
On the fateful day of July 25, 2008, three days after his
15th birthday, Andrew was in a horrific job site tragedy.
While trying to get a few shovels full of asphalt out of the
box of a semi-trailer, somehow the gate of the trailer
opened. This caused the entire truck to shake and Andrew
fell into the load of asphalt in the trailer and was released
along with the asphalt to the ground below. The heat from
such a load was more than any man could bare – very
quickly Andrew’s heart couldn’t stand such a shock and he
died. The owner of the paving company tried to dig
Andrew out of the pile, only to have extreme burns to his
arms, hands, legs and feet himself. He was able to grab
Andrew’s hand immediately, but knew he was already gone.
He had a neighbour call 911 and emergency personnel were
dispatched immediately, but there was nothing anyone
could do. It all happened in a matter of minutes.
I was at work and his dad had just returned from a week of
work out of town. The RCMP came to my work along with
the mother of his best friend and coworker. The officer only
said there had been an “accident” and I knew immediately
that he was gone. I’m not sure why, but I think a mother just
knows. I was able to keep my wits about me and inform my
boss of what was happening. We now needed to go get
Andrew’s dad and tell him of our son’s death. I think this was
the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. This was our
first born son, a son his dad had always wanted and now he
was gone. We had other family we needed to inform
immediately. His sisters were both at work, only a mile or so
from where it had happened. His little brother was with my
parents only a block from where he lay. The rest of the day
just seems a blur; family and friends coming to the house to
try and help us in our time of grief. The paving crew just
down the road, talking to police and investigators. So much
going on all at once, yet for me time was standing still.
Slowly, things started to return back to a normal way of life;
as normal as it could be after losing a child. Life goes on,
whether we are ready for it or not. We had to catch up to the
rest of the world; they were not going to wait for us. We lay
no blame on any one person for this tragedy. We have
forgiven the owner of the company and stood behind him
after our son’s death. He was grieving as we were.
We try not to think of what could have been. I think this
could drive us insane if we thought of all the what-ifs or
what-could-have-been. We are more aware of what we have;
our three other children, family and each other; because it
could be gone in an instant. We live today for today.
Before we faced the first anniversary of Andrew’s passing, my
sister-in-law heard about Threads of Life. In 2009 we
participated in the first Steps for Life – Walking for Families
of Workplace Tragedy in Winnipeg in Andrew’s honour and
helped spread the word to other families who were facing
workplace tragedies. We had family, friends, and their
workplaces come together in support of my husband Rick and
me along with our children. We had 43 people walk with us;
it was so encouraging to know that no matter what the future
held, we won’t have to walk alone. It’s good to know that an
organization such as Threads of Life exists for people like us,
who have faced a very real and very life-changing tragedy.
Thank you for your support in our journey.
Editor’s note: Andrew James’ profile is one of 20 Memory Lane
signs featured at each Steps for Life walk.
Andrew’s family participates in the first Winnipeg Steps for Life walk
3
The legacy of asbestos
My father carried the fibres home from his factory job, now my mother is dying just as he did
Heidi Von Palleske
My daughter is not
good with change.
She doesn’t find any
comfort in the
thought of death
releasing her
grandmother from
pain. Death frightens
her. She has not
developed the faith in
the afterlife that,
thankfully, my
mother has.
When I was a child, I
went to a Christmas
party at the factory
where my dad worked.
There was a Santa and
presents. My siblings
and I went along with
the other children on a
tour of the factory.
I didn’t care about the
machinery or how it
worked. I only
marvelled at the fairy
dust in the air and
how it seemed to
sparkle when the light
hit it. To me, it was
magical, not
something that would
be a carrier of death.
Death has its own
sound. It is the rattle
of my mother’s lungs
as she struggles for air.
The purring sound she
makes when the breath
finally finds its way in.
The rasp of her voice as
she speaks.
Illustration by Tara Hardy
My 79-year-old mother is
dying. She’s dying just as my father did four years ago. There
is no way to slow the process. No hope for a cure. There is no
relief. Once mesothelioma is discovered, it is already too late.
We have only just recovered from my father’s death at 79.
My daughter still cries over him. On her birthday, she
releases a balloon into the air, telling her Opa how old she
is and how she misses him. She used to make me bake him
a cake on his birthdays and she always left him a piece by
the window. The first year she cried and cried when she
discovered it was uneaten.
4
I cannot lie to my girl.
I tell her that her
grandmother is sick.
That she will not be
here much longer. My
daughter asks, “Why?”
And so I tell her
about my father’s
work in an asbestos
factory and how he
carried fibres home
on his clothes and his
skin and how
Grandma breathed
them in when she
washed his overalls in
the tub.
What I don’t tell her is that asbestos is an airborne substance
and that, as my mother shook the clothes before she washed
them, the asbestos was carried in the air throughout my
childhood home. I don’t tell her that I used to run into my
dad’s arms when he came home and that his embrace carried
with it an element of disease.
But 11-year-olds are clever these days. Although many of my
friends didn’t make the logical leap, it is only a matter of
minutes before she asks, “Mom, does that mean you could
get it too?”
Death has its own sound. It is the rattle of my
mother’s lungs as she struggles for air. The purring
sound she makes when the breath finally finds its way
in. The rasp of her voice as she speaks.
And that is the question that keeps me awake at night. I
reason that my mother shared my father’s bed, did his
laundry and was exposed to more fibres over a longer period.
I had been an aerobics instructor and a runner and so surely
I must have exhaled most of the fibres.
But then I scour the Internet for statistics on my chance of
getting mesothelioma after 17 years of secondhand, or what
they call para-occupational, exposure.
My sleep is sporadic. I try to clear my head with computer
games. When I mindlessly match gems on the screen I don’t
think about death. I don’t see my father’s dying face. I don’t
hear my mother’s gasping breath. But then my mind starts
making deals. If I beat my last score, my lungs will be clear.
I will live long enough to see my daughter graduate from
university. I bargain for five years, 10 years, 20 years. Trying
to beat the odds.
After two weeks of this I get an appointment for a CT scan
of my lungs. Better to know the truth than to rely on the
wisdom of a computer game.
When I first heard that my mother had mesothelioma, a
cancer of which the only known cause is asbestos exposure,
I should have been concerned about only one thing: her
welfare. I should have gone through the stages of grieving
that any child losing their mother experiences.
Instead, coupled with concern for her, I feared for myself.
I started worrying about how my husband would dress my
daughter for school. Who would help her with her math
homework? How would they fare without me? I tried to
make everyone more self-sufficient. My husband, my
daughter, my goddaughter who lives with us. Even the cats.
I found myself getting impatient if my family needed me for
anything. “I might not be here forever!” I snapped.
What seems unfair is that I was first exposed as a baby. I had
no idea I was at risk until my mother was diagnosed. There
was no support for the families of asbestos workers. No
information was given to us. As we watched our fathers or
husbands die, we believed the suffering ended there.
I couldn’t wait any longer. I phoned for my results and told
the receptionist to just read them over the phone to spare me
the two days of waiting for an appointment. She told me
there was no sign of mesothelioma, no sign of asbestosis and
no sign of asbestos exposure. My daughter ran in from the
next room. We were hugging and crying all at once.
I visited my mother. I told her my news and she was happy.
She could not bear for her children to die the way she is
going. “I always thought that health was the most important
thing,” she said. “If you don’t have your health what do you
have? I no longer have my health but I do have one thing still
– love. In the end that is all there is.”
What I don’t tell [my daughter] is that asbestos
is an airborne substance and that, as my mother shook
the clothes before she washed them, the asbestos was
carried in the air throughout my childhood home. I
don’t tell her that I used to run into my dad’s arms
when he came home and that his embrace carried
with it an element of disease.
And, like most mothers, she was right again. In the end,
there is only love. And so my heart goes out to the thousands
of chrysotile asbestos workers in India and to their families
who are also victims of the fairy dust.
Editor’s note: “The legacy of asbestos” was first published in the
Globe and Mail, Facts & Arguments, July 28, 2011. Reprinted
with permission from the author.
5
Come as you are
Handling the festive season
Shirley Hickman
The holiday season
brings its own
challenges. Remembering
the way things were,
how they are today and
our thoughts for the
future. In the winter
edition of Threads, we
always take a pause, to
offer you some healthy
coping tips.
This candy cane is a visual reminder that we can lean
on others. Lend a helping hand to others – reach out
to someone less fortunate or volunteer in the
community on a special event.
Don’t let special days ‘just happen’ without any
warning or preparation. Plan an agenda, and include
the needs and feelings of everyone who will be sharing
that day with you (both bereaved and bystanders).
Decide what’s really important and what can wait or
be deleted. If your concentration is impaired, make
lists. Writing things down magically frees the mind
from worrying about remembering. (Just try to
remember where you put the list!)
Change traditions. Living with a life-altering injury,
occupational disease or the death of a loved one, gives
us the right to alter observances.
Give yourself the gift of rest, good nutrition and
exercise. Walking is always a good exercise, alone, with
a friend or a group.
Try to attach positive symbolism to the holiday reminders.
Christmas trees are round, symbolizing the eternity of
no beginning or ending. They form a symbolic “arrow”
to heaven. They are ever-green, reminding us that life
and hope continue and that love is forever.
Lights remind us that there is hope. Darkness
cannot overcome light, but light can always prevail
in the darkness.
6
Gift wrapping
reminds us that
there are still
wonderful things in our
futures that we haven’t
seen yet.
Special foods
and fragrances
remind us of the
nourishment needed to go on living and the love and
investment that it takes.
Candles and fireplaces remind us of both warmth
and light.
Music reaches the soul in ways that words alone
cannot. If it makes you cry, remember that tears can
often lessen pain.
Some people find comfort in visiting the cemetery or
memorial place with special decorations or sentimental
tributes. If this appeals to you, go alone, or take a group of
your supporters – whatever feels ‘right’ for you. Make that
time as simple or elaborate as you wish, as public or as
private. It’s your therapy and no one else should be able to
dictate how you do it.
I reflected after Tim’s death that as much as we might have
thought that we celebrated the same holiday traditions, each
year something different had taken place. That was how I
managed and continue to manage.
I am grateful for our new traditions and reflect on the past
ones, whether they make me temporarily sad or happy. Our
tree is filled with memories of Tim and family members no
longer physically with us.
If your family is living with life-altering injury or
occupational disease, you too have opportunities to reflect
on the past, present and future. Spend time with those you
love and who love you.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Fall Regional Family Forums
The family forums
offer families
workshops and
sessions about
healthy coping
skills as well as
opportunities
to connect with
other families affected by workplace tragedy. New families
arrive for the first time visibly fragile and afraid to be there
but by the end of the weekend, you can see how comfortable
they become. The forum and the other families provide a safe
haven for their grief and loss. They leave in a much better
place than when they arrived.
The Western Canada Family Forum saw many families
attending their first forum. The tremendous support of
partners and sponsors was evidenced with guests on Friday
evening from CannAmm, the Canadian Society of Safety
Engineering (CSSE) and Lydale Group. Andrew Cooper of
the CSSE spoke passionately about why he supports the vision
of Threads of Life.
At the Central
Canada Family
in September
family members
facilitated five of
the sessions. The
“Mindfulness”
session with
Fran DeFilippis and Connie Tountas resonated with many
as they were ‘reminded to be mindful of the moment’. For
anyone who joins a family after a tragedy it’s a different sort of
journey. Sandra Hickman facilitated the Through the Looking
Glass – Joining a Family Post-Tragedy.
Plans are already underway for the 2012 forums. The Eastern
Canada Family Forum has already been confirmed for
June 1–3 and will again be held at the Atlantica Hotel and
Marina Oak Island. Suggestions for new sessions are always
welcome! Please stay tuned to the website for updates.
A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who give back in so
many ways to Threads of Life – we couldn’t do it without you!
BOOK REVIEW
Scaling the Mountain of Grief
Author: Audrey Stringer
Reviewed by: Bev Boss
Audrey Stringer has brought us another book, Scaling the
Mountain of Grief, to guide us and provide us with resources
to help us through our journey of grief. She has walked in
our shoes and she makes it easy to understand that we are
not alone. I found the difference between mourning and
grieving very interesting. Grief is your emotions and
mourning is telling your story over and over again until it
becomes real to you. She suggests you find someone you can
trust who won’t judge you, to get your story out. Audrey
says, “Grief work will be the hardest work we will ever have
to do.” Journaling is such an important part of anyone’s
journey and Audrey has added a special part at the back of
the book to help on this very important part of grief work.
She gives us an example of how she would journal and then
allows space for the reader to write their thoughts.
Just like her first book, Get Over It, the informal easy-to-read
writing style allows the reader to finish the book in one read.
My favorite part was being able to reminisce back in time
when I was experiencing the parts she would describe, truly
seeing how far I have come. I would definitely recommend
anyone who has lost someone or know of someone who has
to read this and know you will also scale the mountain of
grief. Hope and inspiration are offered throughout this
book. Allow Audrey to guide you. To order please visit
www.astringofhope.ca.
7
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
Jackie Manuel, CEO,
Newfoundland and Labrador
Construction Safety Association
Jackie Manuel is currently
the CEO of Newfoundland
and Labrador Construction
Safety Association (NLCSA).
Prior to joining NLCSA in
2004, Jackie worked in the
construction industry and
provincial public service.
During her time with the
Occupational Health &
Safety Division, she has been
involved in and reviewed
literally hundreds of
workplace investigations.
Each one emphasized how
important it was to have
health and safety in the
workplace. Each report detailed failures of equipment and
systems, programs, policies, procedures, employers and
workers – that ultimately led to injuries or fatalities.
first Steps for Life walk in St. John’s. “The network of people
who work in health and safety in Newfoundland is a tightknit one, and it wasn’t hard to recruit members for the first
committee,” notes Jackie “as the mission of Threads of life
really resonates with me personally as well as other health
and safety professionals.”
Jackie joined the Threads of Life Board in 2010. “I am
thrilled to be invited to join such an organization”. She
recalls feeling truly humbled at the first board meeting to
share a table with such remarkable people, especially those
board members who have suffered terrible losses and have
given so much of themselves to Threads of Life.
Jackie continues to chair the St. John’s Steps for Life
Committee and is looking forward to an even more
successful event in 2012!
During this time, she also had the responsibility to meet
with the families of these workers to try and provide some
closure in terms of the circumstances that led to the tragedy
that had such a profound impact on their life. Says Jackie,
“From an enforcement perspective, I was often limited in
terms of what information I could share with the family,
particularly where there was the potential for prosecution.
I wished I had known at the time that Threads of Life
existed to help these families”.
Jackie first heard about Threads of Life during the 2009
Safety Services conference. Soon after Jackie organized the
Jackie (third from the left in the back row) celebrates the success of the
Steps for Life walk in St. John’s.
Need a pair of work boots? Consider Mark’s Work Wearhouse.
A portion of your boot purchase will be donated to Threads of Life.
If you’re looking for a pair of antislip footwear, you might
want to consider checking out Mark’s Work Wearhouse.
This large Canadian retailer will donate a portion of
proceeds from the sales of the antislip Tarantula line of
work boots. Our logo on the boot tag and information on the Tarantula anti-slip packaging has been
rolled out to all stores.
8
COMMUNITY ACTION
CannAmm & PCL
first 2012 Gold
Sponsors
CannAmm Occupational Testing Services was the first
confirmed national gold sponsor for the 2012 Steps for Life
walk. Our relationship with CannAmm is a new one for
Threads of Life but the staff at CannAmm has already
proven to be a dynamic team and one that is very dedicated
to supporting Threads of Life. They are very excited to
sponsor the 2012 Steps for Life walk. Thank you
CannAmm. Visit www.cannamm.com for a profile on the
company and its initiatives.
PCL has not only committed to being a
national gold level sponsor for the 2012 Steps
for Life walk but they are committing to a
gold sponsorship for the next five years!
Thank you PCL for your support and may this be the first of
many prosperous partnerships to come. For more information
on PCL, please visit www.pcl.com.
Want to sponsor your local walk?
We have a number of local sponsorships available to
companies who want to support their local walks.
Sponsorship packages range from $250 to $2,000.
Please visit our website www.stepsforlife.ca
for more information on sponsorship levels,
email [email protected] or call for more information.
Your community organizers welcome your support and it’s a
great way to be visible in your community as a leader.
In 2011, thousands of walkers participated in 37 Steps for Life
community events held across Canada. The walk raised more
than $338,000 for family support programs and services while
raising awareness about the importance of workplace health
and safety. We look forward to your participation again on
May 6, 2012. Please visit www.stepsforlife.ca for more
information.
Tanya Muller (far right) and team proudly present a cheque for the funds
raised by Orillia Steps for Life
Orillia Steps for Life Walk
Orillia had its very first Steps for Life walk in 2011 and it
proved to be an amazing event! The committee was led by
Tanya Muller, Ergonomist, at Workplace Safety & Prevention
Services. If you have had the pleasure of meeting Tanya, you
will know that she gives 110% on all tasks that come her way.
Steps for Life was no exception. Tanya created a fun and
hospitable environment for all of her committee members and
volunteers.
Tanya’s passion and dedication to Threads of Life helped raise
over $18,000 at the Orillia Steps for Life walk, which was held
on May 1, 2011. Tanya worked extremely hard with her team
to gain support and participation of the local Orillia
community. Significant monetary and in-kind support was
provided by both Monteith Building Group and Pattison Sign
Group. Pattison Sign employees raised $2,500 which was
matched by their employer, allowing Pattison Sign Group to
present a cheque for $5,000 on the morning of their walk.
Moneteith Building Group sponsored Orillia and several other
locations in the amount of $ 4,000.
Tanya will be chairing the 2012 walk and has already had
their kick-off meeting. They are well on their way to having
another successful event. Steps for Life would not be as
successful as it has been across Canada without dedicated
volunteers such as Tanya Muller. Volunteers such as herself
work tirelessly to help raise awareness and funds for our
families that have been impacted by workplace tragedies.
9
Employers’ Corner
Workplace violence has many faces
Sarah Wheelan
News & Events
Welcome to New Staff
The most obvious acts of violence include physical assault
and murder, but the scope has widened in recent years. The
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
(CCOHS) defines workplace violence as “any act in which a
person is abused, threatened, intimidated or assaulted in his
or her employment.” A broader definition of workplace
violence includes threatening behaviours such as bullying,
intimidation, harassment, and sexual and domestic violence.
Understandably, as an occupational health and safety risk,
this risk area can be challenging to manage and control. In
the recent past, protection for workers in this area has fallen
primarily under the general employer duty of ‘due diligence’
(that all employers must take every reasonable precaution to
protect employees’ health and safety) in most Canadian
jurisdictions – but this is changing. Most provinces have
now adopted specific legal requirements to protect workers
from workplace violence. Federally regulated workplaces (i.e.
banks, telecommunications and broadcasting, interprovincial and international transportation, and federal
crown corporations). Several jurisdictions also have legal
requirements for ‘working alone’ – a known risk-factor for
workplace violence.
Before specific legal requirements were in place to protect
workers, employers had little in the way of guidance in how
to identify and assess the risk of violence in their workplace,
or how to protect staff from these threats. Most jurisdictions
with specific legal requirements for protecting workers from
workplace violence also have free information available
through their website to assist employers with recognizing,
assessing, and controlling the risk of workplace violence in
their workplace.
United Way workplace campaign
contributions – thank you
Thank you to those who directed their workplace United Way
campaign donations to Threads of Life. You can direct your
donations by selecting “Other” on your payroll deduction
campaign form and indicating Association for Workplace
Tragedy Family Support (known as Threads of Life).
10
From left to right: Sherry House, John McCabe, and Colleen Youngblut
John McCabe joins Threads of Life as the new Program
Manager, Fundraising & Partnerships. With more than
20 years experience in fundraising across Ontario, Quebec
and Atlantic Canada he has worked with a variety of
not-for-profit organizations in all sectors including
healthcare, education, religion, social community and
arts and culture. He lives in Dartmouth, NS.
Colleen Youngblut is our Development Coordinator for
Western Canada. She comes to us with over seven years of
experience coordinating fundraising events, mostly walks,
for such organizations as Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and Ducks
Unlimited. Her favourite part of her job is working with the
volunteers and helping committees run successful and
fulfilling events. Colleen is the single mother of two
teenagers and lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Sherry House joins Threads of Life as the new
Development Coordinator for Quebec and Atlantic
Canada. She is originally from Bellburns, a small
community on Newfoundland’s Northern Peninsula and
now lives in St. John’s. After graduating from Memorial
University with a Bachelor of Commerce, she worked with
Safe Communities Foundation as Regional Coordinator for
Newfoundland and PEI for three years, after which she spent
several years working in the arts and cultural sector with the
Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Council and
Shakespeare by the Sea. Sherry looks forward to combining
her event planning experience and desire to raise awareness
about injury prevention through Steps for Life 2012.
Charity of Choice
OHCOW Golf Tournament
Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario
Workers (OHCOW) Windsor Clinic,
held its 4th annual golf tournament at the
Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ontario
on September 22.
Thank you to OHCOW
and all those who
participated and gave on
the 2011 Occupational
Health Clinics for Ontario
Workers Inc. The event
was organized by Nicholas
Niforos, Ergonomist,
OHCOW. Mark Parent,
Executive Director of the
The OHCOW golf tournament featured
Windsor Clinic presented a Steps for Life memory lane signs to put
a face to workplace tragedies.
cheque for over $2,000 from
the golf tournament to
Threads of Life. OHCOW has chosen Threads of Life to be
their Charity of Choice for their 2012 golf tournament on
Sept 12. Details of registration will follow in the spring
newsletter and on our website.
Bruce Levitt, President & CEO along with David Wootten,
Ontario Sales Manager. The event was sold out with all 144
spots being reserved months in advance. Levitt-Safety has
designated Threads of Life as their Charity of Choice for 2012.
Levitt-Safety generously donated part of their booth space at
the Toronto Safety Show hosted by the Toronto RegionalLabour Management Health & Safety Committee and
Infrastructure Health & Safety Association on October
21-22. This meant Threads of Life could showcase its
programs and services to a wider audience.
We thank all of our partners for donating booth space and
distributing our materials so that we can continue to reach
wider audiences. This includes organizations such as the
Canadian Society of Safety Engineers, the Workplace Safety
& Prevention Services and others.
Levitt-Safety Gold Tournament
Lionhead Golf and Country Club
featured the Levitt-Safety invitational
Golf Classic on August 22, 2011. Alan
Noble, Marketing Manager, led the event with support from
Levitt Safety’s Golf Classic
In Memorium: Jim Dahmer
August 19, 1941 – October 22, 2011
Our family members of Threads
of Life who met Jim will
remember him as a friendly,
optimistic person. Our readers
will know Jim through the
articles his wife Heather wrote in
the Fall 2007 and Winter 2010
editions. Jim suffered from an
occupational disease when he was
exposed to asbestos when he was
a young worker. Sadly Jim died on October 22, 2011 in
Lindsay, Ontario. He was 70 years old. Heather requested
donations be made to Threads of Life in lieu of flowers. Jim
will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Afterglow
I’ d like the memory of me
to be a happy one.
I’ d like to leave an afterglow
of smiles when life is done.
I’ d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
of happy times and laughing times
and bright and sunny days.
I’ d like the tears of those who grieve,
to dry before the sun,
of happy memories that I leave
when life is done.
11
2011 UPCOMING EVENTS
The Dash
Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend,
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from beginning to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth
and spoke the following with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth. . .
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own;
the cars . . . the house . . . the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard. . .
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile. . .
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a while.
So, when your eulogy’s being read
with your life’s actions to rehash. . .
Would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?
©1996 Linda Ellis
®
Speakers Bureau Training:
February 9-11, 2012
Mississauga, Ontario.
VFG training:
January/February 2012
Please inquire if you are interested in
taking training in these areas.
New Men’s column:
Gone Fishing
A new men’s column will begin in the
spring edition of the newsletter. This
forum is spearheaded by Jim Sandford,
Board member of Threads of Life and one
of the facilitators of the Men’s Only
workshops at the Family Forums. “I
would like to invite men to express their
personal thoughts, poems, observations,
photos, ideas, a wide open forum if you
will. My personal observations are that
men tend to hide their grief by using their
family as a shield or an excuse to avoid
confronting their pain yet when given the
opportunity they feel free to express how
they really feel.” Your submissions can be
anonymous. Please send your
contributions to [email protected].
Contributions
Please send us your story, poems, photos or
drawings to [email protected].
Si vous préfériez recevoir cette information en
français, s’il vous plaît, contactez-nous.
Editor – Suzan Butyn,
[email protected]
Threads of Life is a registered charity
dedicated to supporting families along
their journey of healing who have suffered
from a workplace fatality, life-altering
illness or occupational disease. Threads
of Life is the Charity of Choice for many
workplace health and safety events.
Charitable organization business
#87524 8908 RR0001.
MISSION
Our mission is to help families heal
through a community of support and to
promote the elimination of life-altering
workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths.
VISION
Threads of Life will lead and inspire
a culture shift, as a result of which
work-related injuries, illnesses and
deaths are morally, socially and
economically unacceptable
VALUES
We believe that:
Caring: Caring helps and heals.
Listening: Listening can ease pain
and suffering.
Sharing: Sharing our personal losses
will lead to healing and preventing
future devastating work-related losses.
Respect: Personal experiences of
loss and grief need to be honoured
and respected.
Health: Health and safety begins
in our heads, hearts and hands,
in everyday actions.
Passion: Passionate individuals can
change the world.
Guest Contributors
Roberta James
Heidi Von Palleske
Special Thanks To
DraftFCB, Design and Layout
HOW TO REACH US
Toll-free: 1-888-567-9490
Fax: 1-519-685-1104
Association for Workplace Tragedy
Family Support – Threads of Life
P.O. Box 9066
1795 Ernest Ave.
London, ON N6E 2V0
[email protected]
www.threadsoflife.ca
www.stepsforlife.ca
Quelques-uns de nos bulletins sont
maintenant offerts en français. Veuillez
visiter notre site Web, vous rendre à la page
du bulletin Threads of Life ou nous appeler
pour obtenir une copie.