This Sunday, October 6 the IUOE Local 15 will be taking the time to remember two men who lost their lives while building the Black Bridge.

Jeff Lodge is the president of the Kamloops Heritage Society. He says on October 6, 1924 52 year old Patrick Fardy and 56 year old John Walstrom drowned while constructing the Black Bridge. “A scaffolding gave away, so they fell into the river and drowned. I’m kind of assuming that they would have heavy clothes on, or maybe two belts and stuff. So that’s the start of their day and the Last Day.”

In terms of why Lodge felt these two men were worth honouring, “I’m a welder, just retired. This is kind of sort of the kind of work I used to do. And I’ve had to put up with accents. I’ve had to help remove bodies and stuff and and so these are my people, and I like the ordinary fella, who nobody will remember at the end of the day and but I think they should be remembered. So they did a lot.”

“That was a very important bridge for the development of countless back in the state. It replaced an old wooden bridge that was in disrepair, that was once again downstream from the black bridge. And they’re worth they’re worth celebrating. They’re worth remembering. They’re alive and happy at one time.”

All that remains of this workplace tragedy, nearly 100 years later, are two concrete pillars from where the new bridge was being constructed.  These pillars can still be seen downstream from the current Overlander’s Bridge.

In an effort to honour their memory and raise awareness for improvements in workplace safety in BC and across Canada, everyone is invited in this vigil.

The vigil will get underway at 1:00 Sunday afternoon at the Pleasant Street Cemetery, where Fardy and Walstrom are both buried.

In addition to raising awareness the IUOE are also looking at raising some funds to clean up the fallen workers’ shared tombstone as it has fallen into disrepair. They would also like to replace the flag and pole that was once at the cemetery.   There will be an opportunity to donate at a later date to help with the project.  More details will follow.

The ceremony will be held less than three weeks after the Red Bridge was destroyed by fire.