Friends and family members of the five men who died when a crane collapsed in downtown Kelowna on Monday (July 12) were joined by hundreds of people for a vigil that was hosted Friday evening near the site of the collapse.
In addition to kin and loved ones, city council members, colleagues, tradesmen and everyday residents took to the podium at the intersection of St. Paul Street and Bernard Avenue to honour and pay their respects to Cailen Vilness, Jared Zook, Brad Zawislak, and brothers Eric and Patrick Stemmer.
All five died after a crane that was being dismantled collapsed at the construction site of the Brooklyn building on Bernard Avenue Monday morning.
READ MORE: Here害羞草研究所檚 what we know about the five men killed in Kelowna crane collapse
害羞草研究所淭here are no words. There are no sequence of phrases, combinations of syllables, nothing that anybody can say or I can say to make this blow lighter for any of us,害羞草研究所� said Kelly Hutchinson, the vice-president of the North Okanagan Labour Council, the group who organized the vigil.
害羞草研究所淏ut we害羞草研究所檙e here today for them, for ourselves, for each other. Whether you recognize it or not, every day, we have each other to lean on for support.害羞草研究所�
Safety vests, candles and tribute t-shirts were distributed to members of the crowd. Many in attendance wore their own safety vests and t-shirts to the vigil.
Kelowna city councillor Loyal Wooldridge, who was joined by councillor Mohini Singh, said that the vigil demonstrates the strength and resilience of the community.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e seen a difficult 18 months 害羞草研究所� and I害羞草研究所檓 not just talking about our pandemic 害羞草研究所� but our community has seen its fair share of tragedy. We stand together in solidarity and healing, and tonight, remembrance of the men killed in this terrible tragedy,害羞草研究所� said Wooldridge. 害羞草研究所淓veryone deserves the right to a safe workplace. Everyone deserves to know their loved ones will return home safely at the end of the day.害羞草研究所�
During the vigil, a two-minute moment of silence was held for the men. At one point, the crowd sang Amazing Grace together.
Vilness害羞草研究所檚 mother, Danielle, said that she害羞草研究所檚 been blown away by the support.
害羞草研究所淭hank you for coming out and lighting a candle for my son. It害羞草研究所檚 been a really hard couple of days, and I don害羞草研究所檛 know what I would害羞草研究所檝e done without the support of my crew back there,害羞草研究所� she said.
She shared a quote by Vivian Greene, one that she said has been giving her a sense of peace and strength; 害羞草研究所淟ife isn害羞草研究所檛 about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淢y son had a heart of gold. I tried to instil that virtue in him,害羞草研究所� said Danielle.
害羞草研究所淣o matter what the storm in our life, if we could just look or try to look into the goodness into each and every one of the people that are around you, if you could just look at the little things, your life is going to be so, so much better.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: 5th victim from Kelowna crane collapse identified
aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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