The first three trees were planted at the Fallen Worker Legacy Food Forest at Bower Ponds which is dedicated to workers and families impacted by workplace tragedy.
The forest, located near Bower Pond stage, was unveiled on Thursday as part of the National Day of Mourning ceremony in Red Deer.
“Our intention is to plant at least one tree a year for the Day of Mourning as we grow this as a food forest so it can provide food for the community, as well as a reminder of fallen workers,” said organizer Treena Dixon.
Earlier this week one tree was planted in honour of Dr. Walter Reynolds who died after he was attacked at the Village Mall Walk-In Clinic in 2020, one tree was planted by Olymel, and one was planted for all workers who have lost their lives.
Dr. Jim McIntyre, representing Red Deer Primary Network, said the outpouring of sadness after Reynolds’ death showed that Red Deer is a community that cares, and planting a tree in his honour was a fitting tribute.
“He was an outdoorsman. He loved camping. He loved running. I think this is an excellent idea to remember those who have passed no matter what walk of life,” McIntyre said to the crowd of about 75 people who gathered for the ceremony.
“We did lose a colleague we will never forget.”
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Brad Vonkeman, chair of Parkland Regional Safety Committee with Alberta Construction Safety Association, said Alberta lost 178 people to workplace injury or occupational illness in 2021.
“That’s 178 people who did not come home to their loved ones,” Vonkeman said.
He said each day across Canada an average of three workers are killed, or die from occupational disease. Thousands of families, communities and workplaces are affected.
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Wynny Sillito, of Threads of Life, which supports families affected by workplace tragedy, said she learned that life can change in a split second after a chemical accident in 2011 at a sour gas facility near Grande Prairie.
One worker was splashed with the toxic chemical, she suffered chemical reaction burns from the fumes, and her memories of that day have not faded.
“I can very vividly smell that chemical burning his skin. I can hear the exact tone of the alarm as it echoed through the valley, and I can see the look of fear in that operator’s eyes,” Sillito said.
She said her mother is also haunted by the accident.
“While I made it home and she is forever grateful for that, she will never again trust that I’m going to make it home safe from work just because somebody said that I would.”
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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