A small, but solemn crowd gathered at the Worker's Memorial in Pavilion Park on Sunday (April 24) to honour and remember friends, family and loved ones who died while on the job or due to a work-related illness.
A plaque bearing six new names was added below the 26 names already gracing the monument, which was erected in 2001.
"It was really a community effort, with many businesses, private citizens, council, the 樱桃视频and District Labour Committee and WCB coming together to make it happen," said Paul Harrington, chair of the Worker's Memorial Committee.
John Bruntjen, Raymond McCrae and Steve Monk's names were all added to the monument at the request of family members, said Harrington.
"These were people who came to our attention after the first plaque was already cast," he said.
The names of Vincent Cloudlesley Richards, Joseph Kostiuk and George Ciechanowski were also added to the monument.
"These were men who died as a result of cancer from working at the chemical plant that used to be in 樱桃视频at the Nexen lands," said Harrington. "WCB won't recognize the cause of their deaths, but we must acknowledge the families' need for recognition."
The three workers were profiled in The Chief last March. Ciechanowski, who worked at the chemical plant for 23 years, died of cancer in 1995. He was diagnosed three years after the plant closed down in 1991.
Kostiuk, who died of cancer in 2003, also worked at the plant for 23 years.
Richards, who did the same job as Ciechanowski at the chemical plant from 1974 to 2001, was still alive at the time The Chief's article came out.
Richards told The Chief he believed that a substance used at the plant called Antimony Reagent brought on his cancerous cells.
Medical Health Officer Paul Martiquet said at the time there is no data to support the theory of a link between the workers' cancer and the chemicals they handled.
The plant was built by FMC, which operated it until 1987 when Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. (COPL) bought the plant. COPL, which changed its name to Nexen, shut down the plant in 1991 and began a $45-million government-ordered remediation of the site in 2000.
The site was cleaned to the point where local and provincial officials are confident that housing is an acceptable use for portions of the land. The land, owned by BC Rail, was transferred to the District of 樱桃视频for $1 in 2004 as part of the government's handover of BCR to CN. The District has just transferred the land to the 樱桃视频Oceanfront Development Corporation, which will develop the property.
Following a moment of silence, Harrington read an essay he had submitted to Maclean's magazine, which spoke of the recently slain RCMP officers in Alberta and the subsequent media coverage of the deaths.
"I was upset at the incredible disparity between the recognition given to workers who die preserving our society and those who build it," he read. "I recalled the 9/11 disaster and the outpouring of sympathy and support for families of those victims. They died as the building came down, but except for families and friends, no one remembers the workers who died as those buildings went up. The families of all workers who die in the performance of their job need recognition and support."
Wreaths were then placed and words spoken by representatives from CUPE, Capilano College's Faculty, private citizens and the 樱桃视频and District Labour Committee (SDLC).
Incoming SDLC president Sandy Bauer took the opportunity to voice strong criticism of the BC Liberal government for cuts to WCB staff in the province and changes to policies. She called on people and businesses in the community to help in getting improved legislation passed.
"It is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart," she said.
