The cold winter months are a good time to warm our hearts with a reminder of the generosity of people and organizations and all the good a little kindness can do. Read on!

It can all change so quickly. “You never expect your child to go to work one day and not return home,” Marlyn writes. But like so many other parents, she and her husband received that horrible phone call and rushed to a hospital to see their son hooked up to breathing tubes, machines and monitors. Colton had been working as a journeyman electrician on a large construction project, and was electrocuted. He sustained an anoxic brain injury, and “somehow,” Marlyn writes, “we had to make the unthinkable decision to remove him from life support.” Marlyn joined Threads of Life and found the comfort of feeling understood, and standing alongside others also looking for healing. Read her story here.

Threads of Life is looking for post-secondary students who’ve been affected by a workplace tragedy to apply for our annual scholarship. Sponsored by the  Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals, the program offers four scholarships of $2500 each to help with tuition and other costs. Any worker or immediate family member who has experienced a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease is eligible to apply, if they will be attending a post-secondary institution as a full or part-time student for the 2024-2025 school year. Candidates are required to submit an application and essay by March 15, and applications are reviewed by a committee. If you know someone who could benefit from this support, please send them the link to our scholarship information.

With so many new families finding Threads of Life each year, and more who could benefit from Threads of Life’s programs and services, we recently introduced a new series of introductory webinars. These sessions are an opportunity for someone to dip their toes in, getting to know Threads of Life and what we offer in a safe environment. Every person’s needs are different, so this is a way to find the best fit among our programs like Volunteer Family Guides, Family Forums and FamiliesConnect. The webinars are held monthly as part of the FamiliesConnect webinar series. If you know someone who might benefit from connecting with others affected by tragedy, please share this link with them.

Everyone wants to be part of something life-changing – and Steps for Life is all about change. By walking and raising funds, we make positive change for people affected by workplace tragedy. And of course we’re all working together to change health and safety culture. It’s time to get this year’s Steps for Life movement rolling! Registration is now open – you can register as an individual, or start your Steps for Life team.

“Threads of Life has helped our family continue on our life journey without my son Blaine,” Threads of Life family member and board member Wendy-Ellen says. “The fundraising from Steps for Life walks has enabled us to attend Family Forums, which have helped us and others on our grief journeys. We, the 'Threads of Life Family’, grieve for many things: losing a family member or friend through a workplace incident; incurring a life-altering injury while at work or contracting a work-related disease. Without the walks (and the generous support of sponsors and donors) our family and others would have fallen through the cracks. This organization has helped us to find our 'new normal'. It has enabled us to make many friends, who, like us, have found a ‘soft place to land’ on our grief journeys. I would like to thank the many walkers and volunteers for giving of their time and talent to ensure our common goal is reached---the absolute importance of safety at work.”

ICYMI: On the blog

Threads of Life - Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support

(519) 685-4276 | contact@threadsoflife.ca