IUOE Local 793 joins Unions, labour organizations and Canadians in general in remembering and honouring the memory of those who have lost their lives on the job, suffered injury or illness, or experienced a workplace tragedy on the National Day of Mourning April 28. In addition to being a day to remember workers who were […]
IUOE Local 793 joins Unions, labour organizations and Canadians in general in remembering and honouring the memory of those who have lost their lives on the job, suffered injury or illness, or experienced a workplace tragedy on the National Day of Mourning April 28.
In addition to being a day to remember workers who were hurt and killed, April 28 is also an opportunity for Canadians to collectively renew their commitment to improving health and safety in the workforce to prevent more tragedies.
“Every one of those deaths represents a tragedy for the worker, their family and community,” IUOE Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher said. “While the nature of the construction industry means danger is ever present, the simple fact is that most of the incidents that lead to a worker being killed or injured could be prevented.
“These incidents are a reminder that everyone – workers, employers, government and health and safety partners – must do more to improve safety in workplaces and on construction sites across Canada.”
IUOE Local 793 President Joe Redshaw added “I call upon all our employers to join with us and support us in making sure that every worker that goes out on a jobsite has the most qualifications that they can possibly have. There is no shortcut that should ever be taken that puts at risk a single worker.”
This year, IUOE Local 793 remembers member Ernesto Campoli. Brother Campoli, a 29-year Union member from Woodbridge, was working at a site in the Town of Caledon on June 1, 2022, when a rock truck struck and killed him. The Road-Ex Contracting owner and operator was aged 62 and left behind his wife, Giselle, children, Celia, Joseph and John, and grieving parents.
“On this day, we all must pledge to redouble our efforts to do all we can to improve safety in workplaces and on construction sites across Canada so that no other family must endure the pain and loss suffered by the Campoli family,” Business Manager Gallagher said.
IUOE Local 793 Director of Health and Safety Andrew Saunders echoes that statement, reminding members that safety must always be their top priority at work.
“Health and safety is everybody’s responsibility,” said Saunders. The goal of all site personnel, including all Union construction workers, must be to prevent occupational accidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Safety should never be sacrificed for production.”
The IUOE Local 793 Memorial Garden and Monument was built to honour members who died as a result of construction site accidents or due to occupational illnesses. Their names – 46 of them – are etched on the columns of this monument. Let us all do everything possible to ensure no more names are added.
• William Henry Munroe – November 4, 1970
• Lambros Kordas – March 21, 1977
• Joe Petrik – March 21, 1977
• John W. Jr. Hunt – September 2, 1980
• Bruce Norman Higgs – February 6, 1981
• Roger Michael Sokoloski – November 2, 1984
• Gerard Drapeau – August 5, 1987
• Robert Jr. Baxter – September 25, 1987
• Lynda Baker – September 14, 1989
• Marc Roy – July 23, 1992
• Elzear Dignard – August 4, 1992
• Wallace Culp – November 16, 1993
• Charles Barton – December 20, 1994
• Robert Gerritsen – September 17, 1995
• Donald Crawley – October 6, 1995
• Earl Anness – January 17, 1996
• Ronald Girard – May 17, 1996
• Patrick Kelly – October 20, 1997
• Edward Cox – June 14, 2001
• Scott Mason – August 8, 2001
• James Clement – October 26, 2001
• Ryan Clement – October 26, 2001
• Kenneth Gardiner – January 11, 2002
• John Aarts – February 8, 2002
• Allen Manchester – November 3, 2003
• Michael Hipson – January 23, 2006
• Kent Walker – May 15, 2006
• Donald Duncan – October 13, 2007
• Major Singh Dhadda – October 29, 2007
• Giovanni De Francesco – January 1, 2009
• Lee Antoniak – April 12, 2009
• Keith Gudmundson – January 19, 2010
• Vince De Paepe – July 3, 2011
• Patrick Gartlan – July 15, 2011
• Kyle Knox – October 11, 2011
• Maurice La Chapelle – March 9, 2012
• Renato Marchione – July 12, 2012
• Jamie Drew Davis – July 12, 2015
• Marc Normand – November 2, 2015
• Claude Joly – December 15, 2016
• Wayne H. McPhail – April 6, 2017
• Eric Wheeler – May 6, 2019
• Sylvio Paquette – July 10, 2019
• Cody Proulx – February 24, 2021
• James DiMarco – June 3, 2021
• Ernesto Campoli – June 1, 2022
