Kelowna Crane Collapse. Five Years. Still Waiting.

Five years have passed since the Kelowna crane collapse claimed the lives of five workers. Their families, friends, co-workers and the construction industry are still waiting for answers.

Local 115 called on British Columbians to send one clear message: five years is too long to wait for justice.

5
Years Waiting
5
Lives Lost
1
Clear Message

Campaign Complete

Thank You for Standing With Us

This letter-writing campaign has now concluded.

Thank you to everyone who participated and sent a message to the Attorney General of British Columbia.

Each message helped reinforce that the five workers who lost their lives in the Kelowna crane collapse have not been forgotten, and that their families, friends, co-workers and survivors are still waiting for answers.

Five Years is Too Long

Five workers lost their lives.

Five years later, their families, friends, co-workers and survivors are still waiting for answers.

The conclusion of this campaign does not mark the conclusion of Local 115’s call for answers, accountability and timely justice.

The Message Sent

Participants in the campaign sent the following message to the Honourable Niki Sharma, Deputy Premier and Attorney General of British Columbia.

Message to the Attorney General

To:
Honourable Niki Sharma, Deputy Premier and Attorney General
From:
Members and supporters of IUOE Local 115
Subject:
Kelowna Crane Collapse: Five Years of Waiting

I am writing today to demand justice for those injured and killed in the 2021 Kelowna crane collapse.

On the fifth anniversary of this tragedy, it is unacceptable that the survivors and the families of the five victims are still waiting for answers. WorkSafeBC and the RCMP completed their investigations more than three years ago but cannot release the reports until the BC Prosecution Service moves forward. The holdup is in your ministry.

Every worker deserves to be safe at their job. When they are injured, they deserve support and care. When they are killed, their families deserve answers, justice and the ability to grieve and eventually find closure. They do not deserve to suffer like this, for years on end.

On June 17th of this year, you stood with your colleagues and leaders of the labour movement to honour the memory of those workers killed in the Second Narrows Bridge Collapse. You reiterated your government’s commitment to fighting for workers and safe workplaces.

Now is the time for you to act on that commitment and ensure that the victims and survivors of this tragedy are supported and justice is finally delivered.

That is why I am joining the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115’s call for the BC Prosecution Service to advance the prosecution, allow WorkSafeBC and the RCMP to release their reports and give the victims and their families the justice they deserve.

Yours truly,

Campaign participant

Five lives were lost. Five years have passed.

Our call for answers and justice continues.