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More details to follow, but please SAVE THE DATE!! The McIntyre Powder Project is hosting free public information and reception events in Elliot Lake (Friday, May 25, 2018) and Massey (Saturday, May 26, 2018) for the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) 2018 Justice for Injured Workers bike ride (from Elliot Lake to Massey) in memory of my dad, Jim Hobbs. This is the first time the bike ride is coming to northern Ontario. Details are below in the call-out letter. Thanks!
WORKERS COMP IS A RIGHT 2018 JFIW BIKE RIDE
The Ontario Network of Injured Workers (ONIWG) is once again supporting the “Fourth Annual Justice for Injured Workers bike ride. ONIWG is asking all of our friends who believe in a compensation system that supports the injured worker to help in making this year’s ride a success. The message for this year’s bike ride will be “Occupational Disease: The Other Workplace Fatality”, and we ask that you ride with us in solidarity bringing all the concerns of workers to the doorstep of our provincial government. The upcoming election is of great importance to injured workers as we ask that we be treated with justice and dignity instead of being pushed into poverty and marginalized simply because we were injured at work.
This will be the “Justice For Injured Workers” Riders (JFIW) fourth annual bike ride and this year we plan to start in Elliot Lake with a memorial ride on Saturday May 26, 2018 for Jim Hobbs. The riders will be riding from Elliot Lake into Massey where Jim was born and lived most of his life. Jim and his daughter’s valiant efforts to bring attention to occupational disease and in particular the devastating use of McIntyre Powder is an inspiring story of courage and determination. Men like Jim Hobbs should not be forgotten as so many miners succumb to occupational disease and in many cases never receive compensation for their illness. The Parkinson’s disease that Jim suffered from because of his exposure to McIntyre Powder reduced the quality of life and the enjoyment of it. Jim Hobbs succumbed to this disease in May of 2017. The memorial ride will honour Jim Hobbs and all workers who have died of occupational diseases.
On May 27, 2018 we will be arriving in Sudbury to participate in a ceremony and remembrance of miners who have been killed or died due to occupational illness. (Details to follow)
The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board is an onerous bureaucratic system that forces the injured worker to navigate a complex system – a system set up it seems to deny the workers injured or made sick by their workplace. The G.E workers in Peterborough or the Victims of Chemical Valley (VOCV) in Sarnia should not be forgotten either as they are examples of government’s callous disregard of their plight.
“Worker’s Comp is a Right” should be shouted out from every corner of this province and by riding with the “Justice for Injured Workers” riders on Saturday May 26, 2018 you can be part of that voice that cries out; “Justice for Injured Workers.”
All money raised goes to help support ONIWG’s fight for the rights of injured workers in Ontario. We welcome all types of support, including the following:
* Monetary donations
* Cyclists interested in biking any part of the route please contact us!
* Accommodation or meal vouchers
* Volunteers to organize a public/media meeting or event along route
* Assistance contacting local media and spreading the word
To find out more about our ride, visit us online at www.injuredworkersonline.org (under events).
In solidarity,
Peter Page,
On behalf of the ONIWG Bike Ride Committee
Please enclose a cheque or money order payable to The Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups and mail to: ONIWG Treasurer Janet Paterson 127 Ravenwood Avenue Thunder Bay ON P7B 4H7
If you would like to participate, donate or help make this year’s ride a success, please contact us by Email: peter_page@hotmail.com or Phone: 905 745 1003 or contact Janice Martell @ minersinfo@yahoo.ca or @ www.mcintyrepowderproject.com or phone 1 800 461 7120
June 1st Rally at Queen’s Park 11:00 AM
2018 JFIW Bike Ride Route
Friday May 25, 2018
Arrive Elliot Lake
Reception and gathering to be held
Saturday May 26, 2018
Begin 68 km Memorial ride to Massey arriving at Massey arena
Sunday May 27, 2018
Begin 102 km ride to Sudbury
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