A Prince George spring hockey team has rallied to support the family of Glenn Roche, who died Tuesday as a result of injuries sustained in the Lakeland Mills sawmill fire.
After learning of the tragedy, 99 Nukes coach Kevan Brienen decided not to cash the cheque the Roche family had sent to pay the spring season ice costs of player Mason Roche, Glenn's son. Brienen, whose 13-year-old son Dawson plays on the Nukes, also donated the refund Dawson was eligible to receive once the team's final budget was determined.
Before long, all the other parents decided to donate their refunds as well. That left enough to pay Mason's minor hockey deposit for the fall season as well.
"Kevan knew he wasn't going to cash the cheque from the Roche's, so the refunds were going to be a bit less and instantaneously he started getting emails back from the other parents who wanted to give the money to [Glenn's wife] Ronda and Mason," said Yvonne Brienen.
The explosion and fire that also took the life of Alan Little, 43, and left 22 other mill workers injured has triggered a groundswell of support from the community, and the rest of the country has joined in to help the affected families.
"It's the strength and character of the individuals who have been impacted by this tragedy that brings people together, " said Greg Stewart, president of Sinclar Group, which owns Lakeland.
"As a community, Prince George has a strength like no other, where we rally around our own and are there to help, and that's definitely been the case in terms of words of encouragement and acts of kindness. Prince George brings that out in people, and it's not just Prince George, it's across the province, across the country. We're getting support internationally, for all the people affected by this."
Roche, 46, died Tuesday evening at University Hospital in Edmonton. A memorial service is being planned for Thursday afternoon. Mill worker Joe Prince, 57, is in critical condition in an induced coma Vancouver General Hospital along with one other Lakeland employee. One other critically-injured mill worker is in Victoria at Royal Jubilee Hospital. Four others remain hospitalized at UHNBC.
"Al Little and Glenn Roche, first and foremost, were two incredible individuals whose lives were cut far too short and we have to honour their lives, and then we have to be there to support those who are still recovering," said Stewart. "I think if we stick together as a group during that time, the process will take care of itself. Their spirit is an inspiration and a source of hope for all of us.
"Businesses are made up of people first, and this has been a devastating week for our organization. It's apparent we have to find out what caused these accidents and we have to work hard to find a solution. We need to ensure the safety of all."
Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer met with mill owners and some of the workers of what is a three-generation family business and he's encouraged by the strength they've showed to try to recover from the second mill explosion in less than three months to hit northern B.C.
"Difficult times are not over but it's neat to see this group come together as a family to try to sort this out together," said Zimmer. "The one thing we are constantly striving for is to have a safe workplace. I was a carpenter before [he became a politician] and worked on pulp mills and to have one worker lost is still one too many, but we still strive to make it better and we look forward to keep working on it."
Some of the workers from the Babine Forest Products sawmill in Burns Lake that was destroyed Jan. 20, killing two and injuring 19, endured lengthy delays before receiving their employment insurance cheques and Zimmer said the federal government is working to ensure Lakeland workers will not go through a similar experience.
"We're trying to do some things on our end about that and I'm going to talk to [Labour Minister Lisa Raitt] to see if we can do something about E.I. and other aspects where we can help folks," Zimmer said. "They can just come in to my office if they have an issue with E.I. or anything like that where you need help and we'll try to expedite it. That's what we're there for."
CIBC announced Friday it is donating $10,000 to the Prince George Community Foundation fund, set up last week to help the mill families.
"The town and its residents have been seriously affected as a result of this tragedy," said Mike Stevenson, CIBC's Western Canadian senior vice-president. "As part of the Prince George community, CIBC is committed to supporting the community at this difficult time."
All CIBC branches in B.C. are accepting donations on behalf of the foundation. The affected CIBC clients could be eligible for additional benefits from the bank, based on individual financial circumstances, including special arrangements on mortgage payments or loans.
