'One step at a time'

"Being a spokesperson with Threads of Life has been a part of my healing," says David Collins, the national family spokesperson for this year’s Steps for Life campaign. “It’s given me a sense of purpose, and an opportunity to share my story with the hope that it resonates — so someone else doesn’t have to go through what I did.”

For Collins, the message is deeply personal. On June 13, 2003, a summer job at a Prince Edward Island resort ends in tragedy. At just 16, he’s thrown from a golf cart during a joyride and breaks his back. Doctors tell him he may never walk again.

But he proves them wrong. Through years of intensive rehab, Collins regains mobility. Today, he walks unaided, though he continues to live with chronic pain.

“I remember laying on my back, not able to move my legs,” he says. “It took a long time, but I worked hard — one step at a time.”

Now in his role as Manager of Operations and Administration at CU Financial Management, Collins oversees operations for a network of credit union offices. He’s built a successful career while navigating unpredictable bouts of debilitating back pain, sometimes flaring up three to four times a week.

“Workers’ comp told me I don’t need to work,” he says. “But I choose to. I love my job. I want to be part of society.”

Steps for Life: Walking towards prevention

Collins channels his story into action through Steps for Life, a 5-kilometre fundraising walk held every May in communities across Canada. The event, organized by Threads of Life, raises funds and awareness for families affected by workplace tragedies.

“It’s a powerful reminder that safety at work is everyone’s responsibility,” says Collins. “Together, we can make a difference.”

As this year’s national spokesperson, Collins is helping lead the charge. Participants can join local walks or create virtual teams. For Collins, it’s the shared purpose that matters most.

“There are people at these walks who’ve lost loved ones, suffered injuries, or survived illnesses,” he says. “But there are also people who are there simply to promote safety — to help prevent it from happening again.”

A lifeline after loss

Collins first learns about Threads of Life in 2016 after speaking at a workplace safety conference. He’s drawn to its mission of supporting families affected by work-related tragedies — and soon starts volunteering.

He joins the Charlottetown Steps for Life committee and becomes a trained speaker, regularly sharing his experience with students and employers.

“They support people in healing,” Collins says. “It’s not just about recovery — it’s about finding purpose.”

Having been injured as a teenager, he focuses many of his talks on reaching young workers. “I tell them they have the right to refuse unsafe work. Their safety matters.”

Call to action

Despite the chronic pain, Collins stays active and hopeful. He credits Threads of Life for providing the support network that’s helped him stay resilient and engaged.

“It’s incredible to connect with others who’ve been through similar things,” he says. “We work together for a common goal — preventing this from happening to someone else.”

As the campaign rolls out across Canada, Collins encourages Canadians to take part. “Go to stepsforlife.ca,” he says. “Find a local walk or create your own. When you take those steps, you’re part of something bigger — a national movement for workplace safety.”