Remembering a history of industrial hazards

In Peterborough, Ontario, an initiative is underway to pay tribute to the unsung heroes of the community. The Peterborough Occupational Disease Action Committee (PODAC) is leading the charge to raise funds for a memorial monument that will honour the lives of workers who succumbed to occupational diseases.

"We want to ensure the legacy of occupational disease is not soon forgotten in our community and beyond," asserts Sue James, the driving force behind the initiative. "The monument will also provide a lasting physical space for families, friends, and the broader community to visit and reflect on lives lost and the work ahead towards safer, healthier work and just compensation for those impacted by hazardous exposures."

Industrial history of hazards

Peterborough's industrial history tells a story of prosperity and peril. For 126 years, General Electric (GE) was a cornerstone of the local economy, employing thousands of workers. However, this industrial powerhouse was also the source of widespread occupational diseases, stemming from the exposure to more than 40 known or suspected carcinogens and countless toxic chemicals. A documentary titled "Town of Widows" shed light on the plight of former GE workers and their families, sparking a movement for justice.

James, a lifelong Peterborough resident, has a deeply personal connection to the cause. Growing up in a working-class family, she followed in her father's footsteps and worked at GE for 40 years. It was during this time that she noticed the alarming health struggles faced by her colleagues and family members. "I wasn't connecting the dots to what we worked with and people's health," she recalls. It was in the mid-'90s that the pieces started coming together, with the loss of her aunt to leukemia and her grandfather to emphysema, both attributed to occupational exposures at other industrial facilities in the town.

The industrial landscape of Peterborough was riddled with hazardous materials and chemicals, including asbestos, trichloroethylene, PCBs, and benzene. The list of employers and industries was extensive, from Westclox to outboard marine to plastics manufacturing, and GE's large motors and nuclear fuel bundling. The legacy of these workplaces includes not only asbestos-related diseases but also the toxic chemicals and solvents that seeped into the soil and groundwater.

A place to remember

James and PODAC have been tirelessly lobbying the government to reform the workers' compensation system and to recognize clusters of occupational diseases throughout Ontario, particularly in Peterborough. To ensure the history of suffering in their community is never forgotten, they initiated the fundraiser for "A Place to Remember," a monument that will stand as a testament to the resilience of the community and a tribute to those who paid the ultimate price for their labour.

The project has garnered significant support from both the City Council and County Council, reflecting the widespread recognition of the issue. Many residents of Peterborough have been touched by the tragedy of occupational diseases, either through their own experiences or the stories of loved ones and neighbors. The monument is seen as a collective effort to acknowledge this shared history and to raise awareness about the importance of safe workplaces.

To bring "A Place to Remember" to fruition, PODAC set a fundraising goal of $80,000. A local stone cutter and artist have been engaged to craft the unique monument, with initial work already underway after the committee contributed $10,000. James remains optimistic about the community's support, believing that the strong and close-knit Peterborough community will rally behind the cause.

"It takes a village to make things happen," James affirms. "We are not alone in our suffering, and we hope our efforts will inspire other communities to explore their legacies of suffering and advocate for compensation and safer, healthier work."

The monument would be in Peterborough’s Millenium Park, near another monument to the labour movement.