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Supporting families affected by workplace tragedy with #MyWhyMyWay
COVID-19 flipped the script for all of us, including the hundreds of volunteers who were planning 29 Steps for Life walks across Canada this April and May. Our traditional in-person Steps for Life events won’t be happening, so instead we’re encouraging you to design your own activity and share it online using the hashtag #MyWhyMyWay.
On this Day of Mourning, please remember…
Day of Mourning, marked on April 28, began with Canadian labour unions which wanted to emphasize and recognize the many workers who are killed, injured and made ill in workplaces. For Threads of Life families, April 28 is one day when their personal, intimate story becomes a universal story; when they can join with others to acknowledge publicly the toll that workplace tragedy has taken on their lives.
Three Cheers for Volunteers!
All of us at Threads of Life are honoured to take this time to recognize the efforts of our volunteers. We are humbled by you and all that you contribute to Threads of Life. We are grateful to you, and grateful for you.
The Impact of Occupational Fatalities – A Day of Mourning
Recently, I went through a series of job interviews for a senior HSE position in Calgary. As it turns out, I didn’t land the role and was disappointed to hear that the organization felt I was “too passionate” about safety. Too passionate.
A Caregiver’s Journey
“Is he dead or alive?”
“Alive.”
Six simple words. Six words which had the
power to affect the lives of Vance and others.
Recognizing milestones and celebrating life’s successes, in the face of adversity
As my first full week of social distancing in response to the rapidly evolving threat of COVID-19 came to a close I couldn’t help but think that March is traditionally a very happy time of year for me; the noon day sun is high and the days are getting longer, buds are beginning to form on the trees, and spring vegetation is starting to poke up through last year’s brown grass. The cold winter months are almost in the rear-view mirror and spring is right around the corner.
The Difference Two Weeks Can Make…
The amount of information circulating has reached a certain level of overload in my brain. I took last weekend to re-group, re-prioritize, and make a list of the new things I am grateful for, things that I have learned in the last two weeks.
Safety First on our Family Farm
Farm Safety is an integral part of our family farm life. As my husband Bruce is self-employed, we cannot afford to lose his work hours due to illness, injury or the loss of his life due to a farm workplace incident. His death would be devasting for our farm family.
An Uncropped Life
A family friend sent me a photo taken in 1983 of myself, my dad and my mom at her mothers 70th birthday party. I spent quite a long time looking at it. So many details to ponder. Why did I look so grumpy?
Winter’s wonderings
Our Canadian winters are predictably…. unpredictable! We have at least three solid months of cold temperatures, ice or snow to align ourselves with. For some it is exciting, for others maybe not so much. Myself, I am looking forward to milder days. I could literally hibernate and I don’t mind sharing that I’ve always preferred the warmth of summer.
Behind the scenes: Threads of Life speaker training
With a training session for new speaker volunteers this weekend, I’ll let you in on a little secret. We know speaker training is anxiety-inducing for the volunteers, but the staff are almost as nervous. We so much want everything to go well – for the volunteers to feel successful; for them to experience healing and make new friends; for some powerful stories to be shared; for there to be enough food (actually never a problem at a Threads of Life event!)
Grieving through the seasons
Audrey Stringer is a long-time workshop facilitator and friend of Threads of Life. Family members will remember meeting her at various Family Forums, where she leads sessions on grief and healing. This poem reflects her own grief journey and her unique voice.
