A prominent member of Windsor's labour community has been remembered at a rally for injured workers.
Dozens gathered in front of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board on Ouellette Ave. at Eugenie St. yesterday - Injured Workers Day - in a tribute to Rolly Marentette who died of cancer last week at the age of 69.
Rolly Marentette addresses a crowd during a Windsor and District Labour Council event. December 14, 2015 (Photo via the Windsor and District Labour Council Facebook page)
Marentette was a crusader for injured workers' rights and the Windsor and District Labour Council's Tracie Edward says he would have appreciated the rally. "We wanted to try to raise awareness, even more so this year, for all of the causes that were dear to his heart. He was definitely a passionate advocate for injured workers, and very compassionate with families who lost loved ones."
Edwards says that sudden death injuries garner the most media attention, but there's a number of conditions that can be just as tragic. "We often see the ones in the news that are fatalities or very tragic. A lot of the injuries are not sudden onset injuries, they're gradual onset injuries. Some of those injuries are just as life altering."
After the rally, a ceremony was held in Marentette's honour at the Fogolar Furlan Club.