Hello
It’s going to be a tough summer for students and young workers. Jobs will be hard to find. Many students, new grads and others will be looking for any employment they can get their hands on. There will be new tasks, and familiar tasks that need to be done in new ways. We all know, when a worker is new to the job, that’s where the risk of injury increases.
A true story for your orientation
There are often more questions than answers for a family when a loved one is killed on the job, and that’s the case for the Keunen family. Adam Keunen was in his first week of a high school co-op placement when he was struck and killed by a payloader at an auto recycling plant. Adam, 17, had thrown a tire rim into the payloader bucket, was hit by the ladder and fell under the rear wheel. As Adam’s mom Elaine explains, the family will never know why. “Were they trying to get the job done quickly before Adam left to go back to school? Were they cutting corners on safety? We will never have all the answers.” Elaine shares her story now as a Threads of Life volunteer to prevent other tragedies. If you are hiring young or new workers this summer, build Adam’s story into your orientation and safety training.
You made Steps for Life 2020 a success! Yes, you did!
We honestly didn’t know what to expect, but we should have known you’d come through. We consider Steps for Life #MyWhyMyWay to be a huge success – hundreds of people across Canada dressed in yellow and did their own thing to support families affected by workplace tragedy! You warmed our hearts with your commitment and enthusiasm.

Steps for Life is all about helping others understand the importance of workplace health and safety, and demonstrating concern and support for those affected by work-related fatalities, life-altering injuries and occupational disease. In 2020, even though we couldn’t gather in person, you achieved that goal and more. Thank you so much.

When everything changed this spring, we decided to emphasize participation over fundraising. But still, an amazing amount of money was raised -- funds that are so needed and appreciated at this time. We know many are not in a position to donate, but if you would like to make a Steps for Life donation, you can do so until the end of June.

Thank you again for being part of Steps for Life #MyWhyMyWay. Check our Facebook page to see some of the fun and inspiring ways others participated this year. We look forward to seeing you in 2021!

Threads of Life partners: Friends in need
“A friend in need is a friend indeed” the old saying goes, and our Steps for Life partners and sponsors have shown themselves true friends -- friends to Threads of Life and in turn to all the families and individuals we serve. When we were forced to change gears with Steps for Life this spring, making it a #MyWhyMyWay event rather than in-person community walks, you stuck with us. You helped us get the word out, you organized your own employees to participate, you shared your motivations online, you even found ways to raise additional funds. We couldn’t be more thankful for your friendship. To see all our wonderful partners and sponsors, national and local, visit the individual location pages for Steps for Life.
On our blog:
International Nurses' Day: Putting the "Personal" in PPE

One of my sons works as a registered nurse in the emergency room of a hospital in Ottawa. In the past, when I thought about the risks of his job, infectious disease didn't really enter my picture, but it sure has now.

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threadsoflife.ca
Memory Lane: Each sign tells a story

In a normal Steps for Life year, Memory Lane is one of the most meaningful parts of the event. It looks a little different in every community, but this is one of the ways Steps for Life-Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy can introduce the...

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threadsoflife.ca
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