A giant in the Windsor-Essex labour community is being remembered with a rally on injured worker day.
Rolly Marentette passed away Wednesday after a battle with cancer and Mike Jee says they'll honour him in the way he would have wanted, with a rally for injured workers.
Jee chairs Unifor 195's disability committee.
He says many at the Windsor District Labour Council Gary L. Parent Activist Awards have Marentette on their minds.
"This is exactly what Rolly's all about, this is what he's been all about as long as I've known him," says Jee. "He's here in spirit, you can see it, he's here."
He told AM800 News Marentette's enthusiasm and genuine concern for workers was undeniable.
"His passion and his compassion just exuded with every word that came out of his mouth," Jee says. "He mentored everybody, everybody that he touched."
Marentette holds a special place in Jee's heart, he says Marentette is the reason he took on the challenge of helping his fellow workers.
"Rolly was my first teacher, for a health and safety course back in the day. He left an impression and a mark on me that made me want to get involved and become active," Jee says. "He's effected just about everybody in this room and everybody in our community."
Jee says the rally will be held in Marentette's honour on Thursday Jun, 1 in front of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Office at 2485 Ouellette Ave. at 4 pm, followed by a ceremony at The Foglar Furland Club on 1800 North Service Rd..