Steven Zook continues to feel the pain of losing his son, Jared, in a tragic workplace accident that occurred three and a half years ago. Jared was one of five men who were killed in a crane collapse at a construction site in Kelowna, B.C. The other victims were Cailen Vilness, Patrick and Eric Stemmer, and Brad Zawislak. The ongoing grief for the families has been compounded by the province’s decision to put on hold a memorial project to honor the lives lost in the accident. The RISE Memorial was set to be built at Knowles Heritage Park, near the site of the tragedy, and over $150,000 had been raised through community donations towards the project.
The RISE Memorial Foundation had also applied for a provincial capital grant of $150,000 to start construction on the memorial, but their application was denied. Kelly Hutchinson, the foundation’s secretary-treasurer, expressed disbelief at the decision, stating that they had all the necessary funds in place and were ready to begin construction. Chris Vilness, president of the foundation and a grieving parent who lost his son Cailen in the accident, emphasized the importance of government support for the project. He expressed that it should not be the families’ responsibility to continuously seek funding and felt humiliated by the situation.
The families of the victims have faced additional hardship waiting for the results of the criminal investigation into the accident. Chris Vilness highlighted that the government and various agencies hold the factual information about what happened on the day of the tragedy and urged them to support the memorial project. Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport Spencer Chandra Herbert expressed openness to discussing the situation, acknowledging that the project did not fit the criteria for the funding stream but emphasizing its importance. The families believe that the memorial would benefit the wider community, providing a safe place for anyone experiencing grief or loss to find solace.
The RISE Memorial is seen as a project that goes beyond honoring the five men who lost their lives in the accident. Steven Zook emphasized that the memorial would serve as a place of comfort for anyone dealing with grief or loss, offering a safe space for solitude and reflection. The families hope that the government will reconsider its decision and provide support for the memorial project. Despite the challenges they have faced in the aftermath of the tragedy, the families remain committed to honoring the memory of their loved ones and creating a meaningful tribute that will benefit the entire community.
