JPMF Board Chair delivering keynote address at safety conference
Sidney, B.C. – Maryanne Pope – widow of Calgary Police Service Const. John Petropoulos and author of A Widow’s Awakening – will be in Campbell River on Tuesday, May 31st to share her experience of transforming tragedy into safer workplaces.
Maryanne will be delivering the keynote address on Day 2 of the Strathcona Regional District’s Upper Island Safety Conference, which takes place May 30-31 at the Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex in Campbell River. Her presentation, entitled Officer Down: Transforming Loss Into Safer Workplaces, will take place from 8:30-10 am and will be followed by an educational session from 12:45-2:15 pm.
During her keynote presentation, Maryanne will discuss her journey of coming to terms with her husband’s death. Calgary Police Service Const. John Petropoulos was investigating a break-and-enter complaint at a warehouse when he stepped through a false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and succumbed to brain injuries. There was no safety railing in place to warn him – or anyone else – of the danger. The break and enter turned out to be a false alarm; there was no one in the building.
The experience forced Maryanne to accept the unacceptable and transform her loss into positive change. This was achieved through her writing and the work of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF), a non-profit organization that raises awareness about traffic and workplace safety issues facing emergency responders.
“Maryanne and John’s story is a strong reminder about the absolute necessity for proper occupational health and safety practices to be in effect, as workplace fatalities can and do happen anywhere,” says JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson.
During the educational session, entitled Put Yourself in Our Boots: Workplace Safety for Emergency Workers, Maryanne will be joined by local first responders to discuss why and how to consider workplace safety for emergency responders. Attendees will take away tangible tips as to how to ensure their workplace is safe for everyone, including those who may have to attend during an emergency.
For more information, or to set up an interview with Maryanne, contact:
Ian Wilson
Managing Director
John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
www.jpmf.ca
