It was a scene no paramedic, police officer or firefighter wants to attend.
A red Ford Escort had collided head-on with a white, late-model Oldsmobile sedan. Beer cans and pieces of twisted metal lay on the ground beside the broken-up vehicles. One person lay dead on the hood of the Oldsmobile, ejected through the windshield from the force of the collision. Other people came out staggering from the Escort, dazed and confused. The driver was impaired. It was a shocking scene. On Monday, students at Chatelech Secondary School watched in horror as their fellow students played their parts in a mock crash. The exercise, put on by ICBC and local emergency personnel, was designed to send the message home about the tragic consequences of dangerous driving and/or drinking and driving. The students from the Chatelech and the Alternative School drama classes played their parts to a T. They were emotionally attached to the scene and brought much realism to the exercise.
Later in the day, the students were treated to an impacting presentation from Kevin Brooks, who was left paralyzed from the chest down in 2000 after driving home drunk from a party with a friend. The staff and students from Chat should be commended for participating in this exercise with open minds.
Let's hope and pray that the messages they saw and heard hit home and accident scenes like this one on Monday are never repeated.
Day of MourningKudos to the Sunshine Coast Labour Council and the Town of Gibsons for coming together and creating a permanent, lasting memorial to honour workers injured or killed on the job. The memorial was unveiled during the annual Day of Mourning ceremony on Monday in Dougall Park. Over the years vast improvements have been made in workplace safety, but they are still not enough. Every year people are killed or injured on the job and until we have a year when no accidents or deaths occur, the fight still needs to be fought. We commend the Labour Council and the other unions on the Coast for their passionate efforts towards this cause and helping to send home the message of worker safety.
Do yourself a favour - go to Dougall Park and take a few moments to reflect and remember at the memorial. We know the labour groups would appreciate your support.
