Again, not wanting to be an a$$hole…

However…

I remembrer Central Plywood and Yellowhead Inn and Boston Pizza. I remember Lindsay Santos and George Park, Jr. … where can I get my wrist band?

Yes it’s a terrible accident and many lives are affected, but why is PG turning this into their 9/11?

My questions regarding the use of this fund remain:
http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/24328/1/lakeland+fund+grows

Who the hell said anything about this being a terrorist attack? This was an unfortunate incident that just recently happened. When tragedy strikes, people out of the kindness of there hearts deal with the current situation in the best way possible. Not forgetting situations of the past or the people affected or lost.

9/11 was based in religion and different ideals that lead to the loss of 100’s of lives in a single action. I will buy you a wristband, I’ll will buy you 2.

Who the hell said anything about this being a terrorist attack? This was an unfortunate incident that just recently happened. When tragedy strikes, people out of the kindness of there hearts deal with the current situation in the best way possible. Not forgetting situations of the past or the people affected or lost.

9/11 was based in religion and different ideals that lead to the loss of 100’s of lives in a single action. I will buy you a wristband, I’ll will buy you 2.

I’m talking more about the cascading reaction, not the cause of the incident. I’m talking about the oodles of fundraisers and trinkets and me-too initiatives in advance of a rational plan and process to help, or event determine exactly what help is actually needed.

See the link to the previous story.

Cart before horse, in my opinion.

…or even determine…

It’s ok Bohemian, you figure out the horse and cart situation, the rest of us will be doing what we can to help those in need.

Just a tip Bohemian, when you are looking at the backside of a horse, you are where you should be.

No disrespect to the victims of this horrible event but here does seem to be a bit of a ‘bandwagon’ thing going on.

I’m kind of disgusted with some of the above remarks. I have 2 family members that worked at Lakeland. One of them was burned severely. He will not be able to work for a very long time. He may never be able to do the same type of work and probably won’t want to out of fear. I heard the horror stories of escape from two dear victims. There is no “bandwagon”. These people….These families are suffering NOW and will be for some time. PG is a small community and most people here have been affected by this either directly or indirectly. Have a heart. If you don’t want to help then don’t but don’t try to find fault in others who want to help

” the rest of us will be doing what we can to help those in need”

My point is there is an assumption of the need, especially an assumption that money is what can help.

I’m a lakeland guy. I’d like to know where the money is gonna go too.

When Babine burned, we at work were asked to contribute by the company. Most of us asked where the money was going, and nobody in the union or in management could answer.

BTW – I GET UPSET WHEN THE BUSINESS OWNERS TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED.

SINCLAIR AND HAMPTON HAVE TRUCKLOADS OF MONEY. JUSTR SAYIN’

I see an ad on this site for a fundraising event at Westwood Pub.

$10 cover.

Presumably the $10 goes to the fund. And the additional beer and wings profits?

I feel I’m doing my part on behalf of the city by paying the interest on the $17 million dollars, (via my taxes) the money borrowed by the city to pay for the “Community Heating Project” The one Danno dreamed up to save our environment.” The heat was supposed to come from the mill. Not now.

I too am curious about the fund raising. What will it be paying for, exactly? I am supportive of the goodwill that is being forwarded to these people, and I agree that it was a tragedy, and we hope for a full recovery for all that were injured, and those that are now unemployed.
“He will not be able to work for a very long time. He may never be able to do the same type of work and probably won’t want to out of fear.”
That is why every employee in B.C. is covered by special insurance, W.C.B. There will also be a disability payment through the union, and the various banks have said they would be willing to work with the employees affected to help them out. Most financing has a disability clause built in, in my experience.
I hear what you are saying, Bohemian, and I don’t believe that you are wrong to be saying it.

@bohemian

The major difference between Lakeland and the other tragedies you mentioned…..24 injured workers. Some of them still in hospital and facing an lengthy recovery.

The safety net(EI WCB) for the families still in hospital will not fully cover out of town living expenses for the loved ones. In addition the spouse may have to take unpaid leave from their job and also may have to arrange for child care of any kids who stay in PG. I hope that the money raised helps ease these financial burdens so they can focus on getting better.

Good on PG for showing support to these families.

Funny that most of the whiners on this subject are the same whiners that beotch about everything on this site. I suspect that these people donate nothing and are jealous that someone else may receive a thankfull nickel. My family has spent countless hours volunteering and fundraising for “local” charities like hospice and northern health. I don’t personally know anyone from Lakeland but we are giving there too. Our money and time goes a lot further here than dumping money into something like the red cross with their billions in reserve and their tiny percentage return to the actual needy. Again I will say, the people complaining about this charityfund raiser undoubtedly don’t give to anything . If that’s your choice that’s fine. But shut up and don’t slag the people who do want to help. I find it hard to believe any employee of lakeland would complain about fund raising efforts.

@lonesome – you are assuming the money will be used to address the (very valid) issues and concerns you bring up, but there is no guarantee of that. This is my overarching issue – the community should have reasonable expectations of exactly how their money will be used, who it will help and how.

Furthermore, if funds need to be raised, let’s get together and raise them in the most efficient manner possible. I suggest wrist bands and pub beer nights create a lot of activity, but not much action.

The families in need and deserve real results, not fashionable, but none the less empty, symbols of support.

Amazing people who critisise the fund. Amazing ignorance. There were deaths injuries, severe injuries. Insurance does not cover all the incidentals which add up big time. Amazing heartless ignorance.

I hope you folks never have to experiance this.

There were deaths at the Burns Lake sawmill and I was never badgered from Save on for that.
I don’t mind contributing once. When I’m badgered by workers to contribute every time I go in, is really starting to steam me. Don’t ask me to round up my total again, I’ve contributed enough.

There are some things that are best left unsaid at a time of crisis.

I don’t recall any collections taken up for the employees of NCP when it burned down. Anyone injured at work is covered by Work Safe BC so what’s all this fundraising money being used for?

Posted by: Harbinger on May 10 2012 5:38 PM
I feel I’m doing my part on behalf of the city by paying the interest on the $17 million dollars, (via my taxes) the money borrowed by the city to pay for the “Community Heating Project” The one Danno dreamed up to save our environment.” The heat was supposed to come from the mill. Not now.

Energy system will be up running shortly. Even if the sawmill is not rebuilt, they can truck in hog quite easily the same as unbc does.

One of the selling points of the DES is that it would eliminate the need to truck hog from Lakeland thereby improving the air. If the mill is not rebuilt they can truck hog in but will face increasing competition for it as mills close as a result of the beetle kill epidemic.

I’m sure all the Canfor mills will supply their affiliated pulp mills first and Canfor pulp likely have supply agreements with other mills with first right of refusal on all hog.

That being said the CEO sounded cautiously optimistic that the mill will be rebuilt but that is a couple of years down the road.

@bohemian

These are the guidelines the PGCF will use to decide how to distribute the funds. Looks above board to me. I don’t think we need to see a detailed account of how the money was distributed unless you question the creditability of the Foundation itself.

“At the direction of the fundholder an independent committee will be set up to administer these funds. Out of respect for the employees and their families information about application and criteria will be distributed to them first. I’m sure it is understood that the process and needs are a highly confidential and emotional matter.”

“Anyone injured at work is covered by Work Safe BC so what’s all this fundraising money being used for?”

1. Those injured have to file a claim. In this case, the claim will likely be accepted. I do not know how quickly that money is made available. Again, in this case, likely relatively quickly. The claim will not pay for extraordinary expenses such as another family member travelling, taking days or weeks off work, etc.

2. If the injury is a short term one, say a month or less, then once you are ready to go to work, there is no more money to be paid. Unless your injury requires you to change the type of work you can do, there is no other compensation from WCB that I am aware of. If that is not so, then I would like to see tht impression of mine corrected, please.

3. If you are not injured, and simply out of work, that is your problem. As far as I understand, WCB only covers workplace injuries.

So, there ought to be some compensation from the company insurance. But have not got a clue.

I have not seen any information on that. Strange we get information on donations, but not on how well or how poorly people are covered by those responsible to provide adequate insurance coverage for such events. Individuals? Unions? Employer? WCB? … who provides what kind of coverage?

@lonesome – that statement is not guidelines, it’s process. The information I think is relevant is the application criteria and specific goals of the fund which have not been articulated to date.

Yes this info should be distributed to the families first, but I see no reason why the community at large shouldn’t know 1) how much money is needed to be raised and 2) how it will be used to augment whatever WCB, EI, BC Medical are responsible for and what other resources are available to those affected (union, company).

Highly unlikely that Lakeland’s insurance covered any wage loss due to the fire for the union workers and limited for those on salary. The union does not have any programs that would help with income loss.

EI has said they will fast track the claims for those not injured.

I imagine the Sinclair group will assist in finding jobs as even if the decision is made to rebuild as the is a 2 year project. The one thing that could change this if the Pas mill in Bear Lake is taken out of mothballs while a new mill is built.

@bohemian

The way I see it people fall into one of two camps, those who do not contribute and those that trust that the PGCF will come up with a fair and equitable way to distribute the money collected.

Would hate to be a girl guide knocking on your door and have to give a full accounting of how and where every penny from the $5 box of cookies will be spent:)

Bear lake winton global is a dimension mill, where Lakeland was a stud mill. This mean’s that they produce products for 2 different markets.

The Union does have a program in place right now to upgrade skills, I know there are people taking advantage of that right now, such as first aid tickets, help challenging a trade exam, literacy improvement and English classes, computer classes etc.

Does anyone here have an idea about how long salaried staff will recieve pay?

BTW, planer mill will probably fire up at the end of this month to run the existing inventory out.

Does anyone here have an idea about how long salaried staff will recieve pay?

Salary staff usually receive full pay for 2 – 3 weeks times each year of service. Someone with 20 years service will usually stay on the payroll for 40 – 60 weeks. There are considerations such as age, job and rate of pay, etc. The closer to retirement, the more they usually get because they are less likely to find comparable employment.