The Story
Sarbjit Kaur Sidhu, 31, Amarjit Kaur Bal, 52, and Sukhvinder Kaur Punia, 46, were killed on the morning of March 7, 2007 travelling to work in a 15-passenger van; the remaining 14 farmworkers were injured. The 15-passenger van was overloaded, carrying 17 people, had only two seatbelts, and wooden benches had replaced the stock seats. It was being driven dangerously by the van’s owner, a labour contractor, who did not have the proper driver’s license.
The families sought justice and worked with Abbotsford Community Services, the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Progressive Intercultural Community Services to call for a Coroner’s Inquest into the incident. In 2009, a Coroner’s Inquest was held and the jury investigating the crash made 18 recommendations aimed at cleaning up the unsafe working conditions farmworkers face.
This is a historical, first of its kind memorial to remember three mothers who were killed in a vehicle accident. The Golden Tree Monument will give farmworkers who have been neglected and abused for so long some integrity and it’ll be a reminder to the community that safety is essential for all working people and their families.
The Golden Tree Monument will remain in the community as a symbol for all Canadians that all working people are entitled to safe working conditions. The Agriculture industry ranks as having the 3rd most dangerous occupations. This Monument will act as a reminder that safety education and training should come first.
