Published 4 days ago

Organizers of Kelowna crane collapse memorial vow to build it despite no provincial funding

Construction on the Rise Memorial in Kelowna is set to begin in February to honor the five men who died after a crane collapse on July 12, 2021.
Kelly Hutchinson, the Rise Memorial Foundation director, stated the province denied $150,000 in grant funding for the project due to insufficient matching funds.
The community has raised around $300,000 for the memorial, which is estimated to cost close to $1 million, with additional funding from the City of Kelowna and Mission Group.
Chris Vilness, foundation president and father of one victim, expressed shock at the funding denial, emphasizing the memorial's importance for safe work environments beyond just a park.