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4w ago

Rise Memorial Gardens Unveiled in Kelowna to Honor Five Fallen Workers

Featuring five bespoke garden plots shaped by families of the victims, the memorial underscores a renewed push for construction safety accountability.

Flower wreaths line a temporary fence around the Rise Memorial Garden.
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Overview

  • The Rise Memorial Gardens in Kelowna’s Knowles Heritage Park were officially opened on July 12, 2025, drawing hundreds of family members, labour representatives and public officials to the unveiling ceremony.
  • Each of the five individual garden plots was personalized by the victims’ families, incorporating plants and design elements that reflect the lives of Cailen Vilness, Jared Zook, Patrick Stemmer, Eric Stemmer and Brad Zawislak.
  • Fundraising efforts led by the Rise Memorial Foundation and backing from local contractors, unions and a partial provincial grant raised around $350,000 to cover construction and in-kind contributions.
  • Attendees observed a moment of silence at 10:55 a.m. and tower cranes across Kelowna sounded horns to honor the exact time of the 2021 collapse.
  • Speakers including Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas and BC Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside used the ceremony to renew calls for stronger workplace safety regulations as the BC Prosecution Service continues its review of potential criminal negligence charges.