Memorial site planned for crane collapse victims

A ceremony was held today (July 12) to mark the second anniversary of the fatal crane collapse in downtown Kelowna.

Four construction workers and a man working in a nearby building were killed in the incident on July 12, 2021.

Patrick and Eric Stemmer, Jared Zook, and Cailen Vilness were working on the Bernard block site as part of the crane dismantling process, while Brad Zawislak was hit by the falling crane while in another building.

United Way British Columbia has launched a campaign to raise $300,000 for a permanent memorial to honour the victims in Knowles Heritage Park, just a few blocks from the incident.

“The Rise Memorial will immortalize the memories of the five men lost and evolve over time as a key anchor point in the downtown Kelowna landscape, giving everyone a space to grieve, remember, reminisce, and be truly present in the power of community,” the United Way said.