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Posted on April 29, 2023 • 3 minute read
Darren Henry, an Aamjiwnaang First Nation band council member, joins other drummers attending the National Day of Mourning ceremony at Clifford Hansen Fire Station in Sarnia on Friday night. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer Contents of the article
Darren Henry carried his father’s pen and tobacco pouch at Friday night’s mourning ceremony at Sarnia’s Clifford Hansen fire station.
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Henry, a Band Councilor with Aamjiwnaang First Nation and a longtime process operator, spoke at the annual event held to commemorate those who have died or been injured as a result of their work.
Also speaking were Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley and representatives from the Sarnia and District Labor Council, the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers and the Victims of Chemical Valley group.
“My father is a victim of Chemical Valley,” Henry said.
Henry said his father died in 1994 from mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer that was widespread in the Sarnia region’s chemical plants, refineries and other industrial sites.
“Some of the values we hold as Anishinaabe are love, truth, respect, bravery, humility, honesty and wisdom,” Henry said.
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“Quite often what we encounter due to exposure to chemicals in the workplace, workplace situations, safety and workplace practices is the opposite of those values.”
Henry joined the drummers as dancers from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation took part in the ceremony.
Henry said his father was also a bandrat and died just 18 months before planning to retire from his job at Imperial Oil.
“My mom took up the fight when my dad died, and while he was ill she joined the victims of Chemical Valley,” Henry said.
“They are such a powerful and wonderful, beautiful group of people who cared about us, who cared about their spouses, who cared about what was happening in the workplaces.”
Founded years ago primarily by widows of workers in Sarnia’s industries, the group has campaigned over the years for better health services for workers and an end to the use of asbestos. In 2019, they joined other groups pushing for changes in Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
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“This is an important day for workers,” said Sandra Kinart of Chemical Valley victims. “It’s an important day for families because almost everyone here has lost someone very close to them – a neighbor, a friend, a partner.”
Kinart’s late husband, Blayne Kinart, was a millwright in Sarnia. He died of mesothelioma in 2004.
She spoke about how members of the group age.
“We have few left,” Kinart said. “If anyone is interested in helping the victims of Chemical Valley, we would appreciate your help.”
April 28 has been declared a national day of mourning in Canada.
“There are those of us who carry that day within us every day,” said Nick Dochstader, President of the Sarnia and District Labor Council.
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“We are here to listen and to support you and your loved ones.”
The ceremony ended with members of the audience saying the names of those they remembered and placing flowers in a basket held by Kinart.
They were managed by Melissa Boucher and her daughter Triniti Boucher. Melissa’s husband and Triniti’s father, Dan Boucher, died last summer after being injured in a forklift accident at ReVital Polymers in Sarnia.
“Unfortunately, it’s still happening,” Dochstader said.
“We are asking for a call to action to honor those who have lost their lives at work – who have been injured or suffer from illness as a result of hazardous work,” he said.
“We know that workplace deaths are preventable.”
See more photos Flowers to commemorate those killed or injured on the job are placed in a basket during the National Day of Mourning ceremony Friday night at the Clifford Hansen fire station in Sarnia. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer From left are Sarnia Fire Chief Bryan VanGaver, Nick Dochstader, President of the Sarnia and District Labor Council, Sandra Kinart, of Victims of Chemical Valley, and the Mayor of Sarnia on Friday , Mike Bradley In the evening the National Day of Mourning was held at Clifford Hansen Fire Station in Sarnia. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer Dancers from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation attend the National Day of Mourning ceremony at Clifford Hansen Fire Station in Sarnia on Friday night. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer Sandra Kinart speaks to the victims of Chemical Valley during the National Day of Mourning ceremony Friday night at Clifford Hansen Fire Station in Sarnia. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer Melissa Boucher, left, and her daughter Triniti Boucher are shown at the National Day of Mourning ceremony Friday night at Clifford Hansen Fire Station in Sarnia. They laid flowers during the ceremony in honor of Dan Boucher, Melissa’s husband and Triniti’s father, who died after an incident at work in Sarnia last summer. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer Darren Henry, an Aamjiwnaang First Nation band councilor, speaks during the National Day of Mourning ceremony Friday night at Clifford Hansen Fire Station in Sarnia. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer Chad Hogan with the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers speaks during the National Day of Mourning ceremony Friday night at the Clifford Hansen fire station in Sarnia. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley speaks during the National Day of Mourning ceremony Friday night at Clifford Hansen Fire Station in Sarnia. Paul Morden/The Observer Photo by Paul Morden/The Observer Share this article on your social networks, comments
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