It’s been just over six years since a tragic accident killed three farm workers near Abbotsford, and today, a model of a monument will be unveiled by the families of the workers at a candlelight vigil.
The three women were killed when the overloaded van they were travelling in crashed on Highway One in March 2007.
The van was carrying 17 people, and there were only two seatbelts.
BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair says the model is a tribute to the women killed, and to other farm workers who have died in the last ten years because of a lack of safety on the fields, but he says more needs to be done to make farming safe in our province. Since the inquest into the incident, Sinclair says not all of the 18 recommendations have been fully implemented, leaving many farm workers exposed to unnecessary risks.
“We are overjoyed with this beautiful monument, designed in remembrance of our lost wives and mothers,” said Jagjit Sidhu, husband of deceased worker Sarabjit Sidhu. “It represents our continued struggle to make farm worker safer. We are proud to dedicate this monument to all farm workers in B.C.”
Mr. Charan Gill CEO of PICS Society, Surrey said, “it is an historical project for farm workers in Canada. I am confident the community will raise the funds to ensure this monument is completed by 2014 and am grateful for support from the province.”
The province of BC and the Workers’ Compensation Board have committed $100,000 to the monument project. Charitable donations, cheques made payable to Abbotsford Community Services, should be sent to:
Golden Tree Monument Project
c/o Abbotsford Community Services
2420 Montrose Avenue
Abbotsford, BC V2S 3S9
The monument will be erected on the shoreline of Mill Lake in Abbotsford later this year.
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