The Howling Wolf
Just as our wolf logo symbolizes the leadership, loyalty, strength of character and sense of family that is displayed by emergency responders, The Howling Wolf serves as the voice of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. A wolf’s howl attracts other members of the pack, invites communication and creates a strong bond between pack members. We hope this blog will have the same impact on emergency responders, workplace safety professionals and traffic safety advocates, bringing us all together in the same pack and providing valuable information about workplace safety issues affecting first responders.
Check in frequently for updates on JPMF events and initiatives, interesting research and to add your own howl to our pack.
Casket Campaign Profile #1: Tim Hamilton
Thursday, November 19th, 2020
“I’ve been thinking of Tim a lot lately. Maybe because Christmas is coming and that’s always hard…when memories come so strongly. I remember holding him as a little guy. Sometimes that’s a tough feeling. Memories are strange. You never know when or where they are going to come from – and boom. You’re flat on the floor.”
– Julie Hamilton, Tim’s mom
A summer job shouldn’t be your last job.
On July 9th, 1999, Tim Hamilton’s life came to an abrupt end, as the result of an easily preventable workplace fatality. He was 19.
Tim was working a summer job to make money for college. His job was unskilled labour with a rental company. He was told to erect a large party tent under a hydro line. The engineer on site told them the power line wouldn’t be a problem. The power arced. Tim was electrocuted.
At only 19, Tim’s life had hardly begun. He had a tight group of friends and plans for his future. Already accepted at Red Deer College, he planned to finish that program and continue on to a business degree. He loved sports, being outside and, according to his mom, Julie, was always hungry.
We can do better for Canadians like Tim and Julie.
We have to.
Since 2000, more than 20,000 Canadians have died as a result of their job – either as the result of injury or occupational illness.
Please watch this 30-second “Casket” video:
Is this the legacy we want to building for workers – and their loved ones – in Canada?
For safety tips & to view our workplace safety videos, please visit jpmf.ca.
To learn more about the “Casket” Workplace Safety Public Awareness Campaign, please visit jpmf.ca.
If you have lost a loved one to a workplace fatality in Canada and would like to be participate in the photo project, please contact Rebecca@jpmf.ca
About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.
John was 32.
The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.
Count the Workplace Safety Tips in this 8-Minute Marathon Podcast
Tuesday, October 13th, 2020
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
– Jane Goodall
Is your workplace safe for everyone, including first responders?
If you are not familiar with the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund – what we do & why – then this 770 CHQR 8-minute marathon radio interview with Maryanne Pope, John’s widow & JPMF Director (and professional speed-talker), will fill you in:
A big shout-out of thanks to Sue Deyell & Andrew Schultz of 770 CHQR Radio in Calgary, AB. We appreciate your support in helping us spread the word about the importance of workplace safety!
If you don’t have eight minutes to spare at the moment, here are three things you can do – today – to help save a life:
- Take a moment to look around your workplace from the perspective of someone who wouldn’t be familiar with any potential hazards. If something needs changing/fixing, please do so.
- Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury & death on the job. Are safety railings in place where you work? Do you always wear fall protection?
- Our cars can be killers. Please slow down when passing first responders working on the road – and give them room to work. Obey speed limits in construction zones; they are there for a reason. People are not pylons.
For more workplace safety tips and/or to watch our short safety videos, please visit jpmf.ca.
As for why we do what we do?
To view the JPMF’s newest 30-second “Casket” PSA, please visit our You Tube Channel.
About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.
John was 32.
The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.
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Call to Families for Photos
Wednesday, October 7th, 2020
If Your Family Has Been Impacted by a Workplace Fatality in Canada…
Cheryl Shock with photo of Sean Bradley
The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund would like to hear from you.
If you have lost a loved one to a workplace fatality in Canada – as the result of injury or occupational illness – you may be interested in a public awareness campaign we are currently working on, to raise awareness about the growing number of workplace fatalities.
The first phase of the “Casket” campaign has just been launched.
To view the first 30-second “Casket” PSA, please click here.
For the second part of the campaign, we are collecting photos from family members who have lost a loved one to a workplace fatality in Canada.
Photo of Virginia Campeau holding photo of Paul
Please click here to view some of the photos we have received so far.
Here is the link for further details on the campaign, including the photo component of the project.
If you would like to participate in the photo project, please contact the JPMF’s “Casket” Project Family Liaison Coordinator, Rebecca Orr, at: rebecca@jpmf.ca.
We have extended the deadline to submit photos to Nov 15th, 2020.
Thank you!
“Safety isn’t expensive, it’s priceless.”
– Unknown
About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.
John was 32.
The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.
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20th Anniversary Video
Tuesday, September 29th, 2020
John Petropoulos Memorial Fund 20th Anniversary Video – Ready to View!
“If you change nothing, nothing will change.”
– Tony Robbins
In honour of the 20th anniversary of John’s death on Sept 29th, 2020, the JPMF is releasing a special 20th anniversary video. A huge heartfelt thank you to the Calgary Police Service Video Unit for producing this beautiful video!
It is a wonderful tribute to John and highlights the achievements of the JPMF over the past two decades.
You can view the anniversary video (7 min) on the JPMF You Tube Channel.
Enjoy!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead
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Fallen Officer Memorial Coverage
Monday, September 28th, 2020
Media Coverage of 22nd Annual Police & Peace Officers’ Memorial in Calgary
Maryanne Pope & Const. Ian Vernon of the Calgary Police Service, Sept 27th 2020, photo by Darren Makowichuk, DMakowichuk@postmedia.com
Const. John Petropoulos’ widow, Maryanne Pope, lays wreath on behalf of families
On Sunday Sept 27th, 2020, JPMF Director Maryanne Pope attended the 22nd Annual Police & Peace Officers’ Memorial in Calgary, Alberta. In honour of the 20th anniversary of John’s death on Sept 29th, Maryanne was the family representative this year and laid a wreath on behalf of families who have lost a police or peace officer in the line of duty.
One of the JPMF co-founders, recruit classmate & close friend of John’s, Inspector Joel Matthews, was also in attendance at the service. Due to COVID19, there were significantly less officers in attendance and it was not a public event this year.
Here is the media coverage of the ceremony:
A sincere thank you to Global & CTV for the beautiful coverage of this important service. Thank you also for mentioning the JPMF’s new “Casket” workplace safety public service announcement. We greatly appreciate the support of the media over the years and simply could not do the public awareness work we do without you. Thank you.
Maryanne laying wreath on behalf of families, photo courtesy of CTV Calgary
About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.
John was 32.
The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.
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Watch the “Casket” PSA
Sunday, September 27th, 2020
Since 2000, there have been 20,000 Workplace Fatalities in Canada – Watch the “Casket” PSA
One workplace fatality is one too many…20,000 deaths since 2000 is unacceptable
In honour of the 20th anniversary of Const. John Petropoulos’ death on Sept 29th, 2020, the JPMF is launching our latest public service announcement (our 9th) entitled “Casket.” This powerful PSA was produced by Mathieu Martel of Moving Mountains.
Since John fell to his death at an unsafe workplace in 2000, more than 20,000 Canadians have died as a result of their work – either due to injury or occupational illness.
To raise awareness about this staggering statistic, the 30-second “Casket” PSA (animated) visually shows just how high a tower of 20,000 caskets would be, if stacked on top of one another: 40,000 feet. Each casket represents a human life lost – a real person, not just a number.
Is this the legacy we want to be building for workers – and their loved ones – in Canada?
Please click here to view the new “Casket” PSA.
To learn more about how to make your workplace & the roads safer for all workers, please view our safety videos and check out our safety tips.
Thank you & stay safe.
About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
The JPMF was started shortly after the death of Calgary Police Constable John Petropoulos on Sept 29th, 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and died of a brain injury. There was no safety railing to warn him of the danger; the complaint turned out to be a false alarm.
John was 32.
The JPMF is a registered Canadian charity that raises public awareness about workplace safety issues and educates people about why & how to ensure their workplaces and the roads are safer for everyone, including emergency responders. For further information, please visit jpmf.ca.
