Memorial service planned for anniversary of Kelowna crane collapse

July 12 marks the first anniversary of the day five men lost their lives when a tower crane collapsed in downtown Kelowna.

To commemorate the tragic event, the North Okanagan Labour Council is organizing a memorial service at 10 a.m. that day at the corner of Bertram Street and Bernard Avenue where flowers and mementos are still being placed.

The crane collapsed as it was being dismantled from the Brooklyn highrise on St. Paul Street. Two cranes are now on site as construction has started on two more towers for the Bernard Block project.

Four construction workers on the site (Cailen Vilness, Eric and Patrick Stemmer and Jared Zook) died while Brad Zawislak was killed inside a neighbouring building where he was working.

Participants in the memorial are encouraged to arrive at 10 a.m. There will be a welcome given at 10:15 a.m. followed by comments from by a City of Kelowna representative, family, WorkSafeBC and the industry. Five minutes of silence will follow from 10:55 a.m. to 11 a.m.

There will be no open microphone at the event but, if people wish to be added to the speakers list, they can contact labour council vice-president Kelly Hutchinson at khutchi59@gmail.com.

Construction has started on two more towers behind the memorial. | Photographer: Rob Munro

— This story was updated July 12, 2022 at 8:06 a.m. to correct the spelling of Eric Stemmer.

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