Workplace Safety Presentations Now Offered in British Columbia
“As emergency services workers, we are tasked with protecting our community in environments that are never predictable, always volatile, and often beyond our control. John’s death and Maryanne’s life bring to the forefront the issue of workplace safety after hours – when our community is asleep we are protecting their businesses, properties and investments, which are often themselves the very menace we face.”
– Staff Sergeant Darren Leggatt, Calgary Police Service, ILEETA Review
May 2016 – The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) is now delivering workplace safety presentations in British Columbia.
The Safety Presentation Program has been going strong in Alberta since 2012. Presenters have delivered hundreds of presentations, reaching thousands of Albertans with the workplace safety message: make your workplace safe for everyone, including emergency responders who may have to attend a premise during an emergency.
JPMF Board Chair, Maryanne Pope, is now delivering the safety presentations in BC. Once sufficient funding is in place, other speakers will be hired to deliver the presentations.
“Maryanne Pope delivered a provoking and powerful presentation which strongly resonated with the fire crews in attendance. Her story brought home, with gravity, the message of workplace safety. By putting the public in the boots of first responders, Maryanne’s experience puts a face on the men and women who serve on the front-lines daily.”
– Gary Charlton, Assistant Chief Training & Staff Development, Victoria Fire Rescue, BC
About the JPMF
The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund is a registered Canadian charity that was started after the on-duty death of Cst John Petropoulos of the Calgary Police Service in Sept 2000. John was investigating a break and enter complaint at a warehouse when he stepped through an unmarked false ceiling, fell nine feet into the lunchroom below and succumbed to brain injuries.
There was no safety railing in place to warn him – or anyone else – of the danger. The break and enter complaint turned out to be a false alarm; there was no intruder in the building.
John was 32.
The purpose of the JPMF is to raise public awareness about why and how to make their workplace and the roads safer for everyone, including emergency responders. The JPMF’s five 30-second TV ads have been aired well over a million times in Western Canada. The 10-minute Put Yourself in Our Boots safety video has been viewed on-line and during presentations thousands of times.
The JPMF Safety Presentations
The JPMF workplace safety presentations are a FREE service. There is no charge to companies, schools and other organizations to have a JPMF speaker come in and deliver the presentation.
The presentation takes approximately 1 hour and the feedback from audience members has been extremely positive.
The story of John’s easily preventable death is a powerful way to communicate just how quickly a fatality or serious injury can occur at any workplace. The presentation also offers people tangible tips on how they can help make their workplace – and the roads – safer for everyone.
“Hearing Maryanne’s heartfelt and touching account of John’s death really brought to light the hazards emergency responders face while working to protect all of us. We may think of the usual dangers associated with their jobs but are less likely to recognize the hazards in their way when they come to our worksites to help us. Maryanne’s presentation was a valuable addition to our North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week Conference and Trade Show.”
– Michelle Roth, NAOSH Week Committee Member and OHS Officer
To Book a Safety Presentation in BC
To find out more about the presentations in BC, please click here for details. For further information and/or to book a presentation, please contact the BC Safety Presentation Program Coordinator, Sarah Hourihan, at sarah@jpmf.ca.
Please note: due to logistics, at this time the JPMF presentations are being offered mainly on Southern Vancouver Island.
“Maryanne Pope brings a dynamic presentation on the importance of workplace safety as it pertains to protecting first responders. With a compelling, moving personal narrative, she is a great resource for continuing education in any organization. As a result of Maryanne’s session, our staff was able to see safety through the lens of those working in emergency services, thus becoming better informed and prepared to prevent avoidable tragedies in emergency situations.”
– Trevor Hammond, HR Manager, Berwick Retirement Communities, Victoria, BC
About Maryanne Pope
Maryanne was married to John. She is the author of A Widow’s Awakening, the playwright of Saviour and the screenwriter of God’s Country. Maryanne is the CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions and the Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. She lives on Vancouver Island, BC.