The event will be hosted by Leslie Horton of Global News Calgary and it will include a silent auction, raffles, Greek dancing, plate smashing and a celebration of the JPMF’s many achievements.

If you would like to sponsor the event, contribute silent auction items or volunteer at the celebration, contact JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson at ian@jpmf.ca.

Stay tuned for more details on how you can get tickets for the event. Hope to see you there!

Major thanks to the CPA, event sponsors, tournament participants, River Spirit  Golf Club and the volunteers for making the tournament such an excellent event.

This was the 2nd year the JPMF participated in the tournament and funds raised will help promote the Memorial Fund’s Put Yourself in Our Boots campaign.

The grants will give a boost to the Put Yourself in Our Boots safety initiative by funding the creation of print and radio PSAs highlighting the importance of safe driving around emergency vehicles and emergency scenes. As well, the grants will help pay for promotional items for the campaign and TV, radio and print advertisements. 

Meanwhile, the JPMF is currently completing a final report regarding the Community Spirit Program grant the Memorial Fund received earlier this year. Many thanks to the Alberta Government’s Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit for approving the grant and supporting the JPMF.

Representatives from police associations throughout Canada have been invited to participate and proceeds from the event will be donated to the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF), a non-profit organization which strives to eliminate preventable workplace fatalities and injuries to emergency services personnel.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Several sponsorship opportunities exist for this event, ranging from as little as $250 to $10,000 to become a major sponsor. Click here for details on how you or your company can become a sponsor or contact Coreena Kessler at ckessler@backtheblue.ca.

Volunteer Opportunities

Several volunteer opportunities are also available during the tournament. If you’re interested in helping out, contact JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson at ian@jpmf.ca.

“Because incidents on Canadian roadways increase during long weekends, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and tow-truck operators are at a greater risk of harm over long weekends,” said JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson. 

“Please pay attention when you get behind the wheel. Slow down when you’re driving by working emergency responders and if they approach you from behind with their lights flashing and sirens sounding, safely yield the right-of-way and pull over.”

The May long weekend coincides with National EMS Week (May 16-22) and National Road Safety Week (May 18-24), providing yet another reminder about the importance of driving safely around emergency personnel, vehicles and scenes.

The JPMF, which strives to eliminate preventable workplace fatalities and injuries to emergency responders, recently launched its Put Yourself in Our Boots public awareness campaign to highlight the hazards faced by first responders, including police, fire and EMS personnel. Go to www.OurBoots.ca for more information.

Here are some traffic safety tips motorists should follow:

1) Slow down – motorists must slow down to 60 km/hr, or less if the posted speed is lower, when passing emergency vehicles or tow trucks that are stopped with their lights flashing.

2) Yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles – when they approach with sirens sounding, immediately move clear of the intersection or pull over to the right side of the two-way roadway. Once out of the way, stop until the emergency vehicle has passed and check that no other emergency vehicles are approaching.

3) Do not follow within 150 metres of any emergency vehicle that has its siren or lights operating.

4) Check your rear-view mirror regularly.

For more information, contact:

Ian Wilson

Managing Director

John Petropoulos Memorial Fund

www.jpmf.ca

ian@jpmf.ca

403-891-4269

To commemorate National EMS Week (May 16-22) and National Road Safety Week (May 18-24), the JPMF will be making stops in Medicine Hat on Tuesday, May 18^th and in Lethbridge on Wednesday, May 19^th to discuss traffic and workplace safety. Time permitting, the JPMF will also be making stops in other parts of Southern Alberta.

JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson will be meeting with members of the Alberta Motor Transport Association, Regional Traffic Safety Coordinators and emergency responders – including police, fire and EMS personnel – to discuss the Memorial Fund’s Put Yourself in Our Boots workplace safety campaign, which aims to reduce preventable injuries & fatalities and promote workplace safety for first responders.

 “Because emergency responders are out working on roads and highways, the campaign takes into account traffic safety,” says Wilson, adding the EMS version of the Put Yourself in Our Boots PSA tackles the issue of distracted driving.

“We want the public to know that even though they are going to – or leaving from – their workplace each day, they are entering someone else’s workplace as soon as they get behind the wheel. And what might be an inconvenience to you while you’re driving could be a matter of life and death for first responders.”

The Put Yourself in Our Boots campaign includes a series of 30-second TV and radio public service announcements (PSAs), which reflect the dangers faced by police, fire and EMS personnel at unsafe workplaces. The TV PSAs have been airing throughout Canada – including across Southern Alberta – since Feb 1, 2010. The radio PSAs will begin airing later this month.

For more information about the Put Yourself in Our Boots campaign, go to www.OurBoots.ca.

Alternatively, you can contact:

Ian Wilson

Managing Director

John Petropoulos Memorial Fund

www.jpmf.ca

ian@jpmf.ca

403-891-4269

The Calgary event is part of North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, which takes place from May 2-8. The theme of this year’s NAOSH Week is: Safety & Health: A Commitment for Life. How Safe Are You?

The Community Event takes place from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, May 8^th in the northwest parking lot of Deerfoot Mall, located at 901 64 Ave. N.E.

Along with a free BBQ lunch, kids’ activities and fantastic interactive displays will be on hand. Emergency responders – including members of the Calgary Fire Department, Calgary Police Service, Alberta Health Services-Calgary EMS, RCMP and STARS air ambulance – are also expected to be in attendance. Families can meet emergency responders before stopping by the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) booth. The JPMF strives to eliminate preventable workplace fatalities and injuries to emergency services personnel.

In addition to emergency services exhibits, there are many other interactive displays to check out, including the Gibson driving simulator, the Alberta Motor Transport Association’s ‘No Zone’ trailer, the Zeeman Audiology hearing testing centre and a thermal imaging unit.

Also taking place is the Steps For Life 5 km Walk for victims of workplace tragedy. Registration starts at 10 am and the walk takes place from 11 am until Noon. Register for the walk at www.stepsforlife.ca or you can register and pay at the event, as well.

Steps For Life walks will take place across the country, with 28 events planned in eight Canadian provinces. The event will raise awareness about workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths. All proceeds will support families of workplace tragedy.

For more information on the NAOSH Week events, check out the NAOSH Week 2010 – Calgary Facebook group or go to www.twitter.com/CalgaryNAOSH.

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) is demanding answers and actions during North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week 2010, which runs from May 2-8.

The theme of this year’s NAOSH Week is Safety & Health: A Commitment for Life. How Safe Are You? The JPMF has its own list of questions to add to this theme: Is your workplace safe for everyone? Is it safe for emergency responders? Is your workplace a killer? What are you doing to make your workplace safe for everyone?

The JPMF launched the Put Yourself in Our Boots workplace safety campaign earlier this year. The purpose of the public awareness campaign – which includes a series of 30-second televised public service announcements (PSAs), reflecting the dangers faced by police, fire and EMS personnel at unsafe workplaces, as well as a 10-minute safety video (view trailer) and a website at www.OurBoots.ca – is to reduce preventable injuries & fatalities and promote workplace safety for emergency responders, because their workplace is every place.

“Emergency responders face enough dangers on the job, whether it’s dangerous criminals, hostile crowds or raging fires. If a person threatens, assaults or kills someone else, we do everything we can to put a stop to it. We lay charges and put offenders behind bars,” says JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson.

“We should also be doing everything we can to prevent buildings and workplaces from killing people. That’s why the JPMF is imploring people to give unsafe workplaces the boot. Take the time this NAOSH Week to look around your workplace and take steps to make it safe.”

The three Put Yourself in Our Boots PSAs have aired over 100,000 times online and on TVs across Canada and the U.S. The police PSA was inspired by the death of Calgary Police Service Const. John Petropoulos, who died after falling through a false ceiling at a warehouse on Sept. 29, 2000. Another PSA shows firefighters trying to escape a blaze getting trapped by a blocked exit, and the third PSA highlights a common workplace hazard faced by emergency responders: distracted driving.

“We hope this campaign – and NAOSH Week – will make people think about their workplaces from the perspective of emergency responders. Make the change and save a life,” says Maryanne Pope, JPMF Board Chair and John’s widow, adding steps taken to improve workplace safety for emergency responders will also make work environments safe everyone else, including employees, visitors and other service workers who may have to access the work site.

View the PSAs at www.OurBoots.ca. For more information and resources to make your workplace safe, visit www.jpmf.ca. 

The Official Proclamation of North American Occupational Safety & Health (NAOSH) Week 2010 will take place in Calgary on Monday, May 3rd.

The Proclamation starts at Noon at SAIT Polytechnic’s campus soccer field. Ald. Ric McIver will read the Proclamation and he’ll get some help from some special guests, including members of Skydive Big Sky. Click here to read a press release about the event, or follow this link to see the flyer.

NAOSH Week takes place from May 2nd to 8th and this year’s theme is Safety & Health: A Commitment for Life. How Safe Are You?

In addition to the Proclamation, a NAOSH Community Event will take place at Deerfoot Mall on Saturday, May 8th. That event will includ a free BBQ, interactive safety displays, kids’ activities and the Steps for Life 5 km walk in support of families impacted by workplace fatalities, life-altering injuries and occupational diseases.

For more information, check out the NAOSH Week 2010 – Calgary Facebook group or go to www.twitter.com/CalgaryNAOSH.

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) is encouraging all Calgarians to observe the National Day of Mourning, which takes place on April 28th.

The Day of Mourning honours the memory of workers who have lost their lives due to work-related injuries, illness or disease. It is an opportunity to remember fallen workers and re-commit to creating safer workplaces.

In Calgary, a public memorial service will take place at James Short Park at noon.

Click here to read the Calgary press release about the memorial service and follow this link to find out 10 ways to recognize the Day of Mourning. As well, learn more here.