Migrant workers and local residents gather for vigil
At the side of the road where a 33-year-old Mexican worker and mother was stuck by a pickup truck last week, migrant workers and local residents came together Sunday night to mark the tragedy.
“We are gathered in sadness and grief,” said Sonia Aviles of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, which organized the event on Concession 7 Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“We are gathered to honour life at a place where life was stolen away. We are gathered here to remember a mother, a neighbour, a friend.”
The vigil, which drew about 60 people, was also aimed at shining a light on migrant worker issues and the changes the alliance wants to see from municipal and federal governments.
“Our neighbour’s death points out the lack of supports and infrastructure for migrant community members to even be able to leave the farm and visit friends safely,” Aviles said.
“Our friend was hit on a narrow unlit road, where cars speed regularly and migrant workers are often walking.”
The group called for a major overhaul of local transit and road safety infrastructure, such as introducing lighting, walkways and traffic calming measures.
The 33-year-old woman, whose first name was Zenaida, was walking on the side of Concession 7 Road near Line 6 Road on Aug. 17 at about 10:50 p.m. when she was hit. She died in hospital on Aug. 19.
A Pelham man has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and failing to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Niagara-on-the-Lake Coun. Norm Arsenault told those gathered that he would be bringing up the traffic concerns with the town safety committee to see if it could get safety vests for workers walking at night or lights for their bikes.
“The tragedy that happened here should not have happened,” he said.
The collision that killed Zenai
da came on the same weekend of the Pioneer Flower Farms fire that destroyed the accommodations and belongings of some of the migrant workers.
The alliance said 21 workers lost their possessions and should be compensated for them.
“It’s great that the community has stepped up to donate things but it’s still not their stuff,” said the alliance’s Kit Andres, speaking after the vigil. Andres said a lot of the workers were ending their seasonal work and were packed up to go home to Mexico.
“They would have had everything packed for their kids, their wives, gifts they’re bringing back home from the entire season — all gone.”
Members called on the federal government to respond to that issue, along with others highlighted by the fire, such as migrant workers not having access to employment insurance despite paying into it, and not having open work permits to change employers if need be.
“Migrant workers need protections and compensation, crosscountry housing standards, transportation and road infrastructure that ensures safety and permanent resident status on arrival,” Andres said.
The event Sunday was held in Spanish and English with translators. Aviles read the names of more than 25 migrant workers who have died in Canada in recent years.
After each name, the crowd chanted “presente” to signify that the workers were present with those gathered. Zenaida was the last name spoken.
“What happened to this lady could have happened to us because we are all offshore workers,” said Jermaine Campbell, a Jamaican who’s been in the migrant worker program for eight years.
Campbell said he’d like to see workers be able to access the employment insurance they pay into. He’d also like to see an emergency fund created that workers could pay into and access if they need money to go home for a death in the family.
Blanca Islas, a migrant worker for 17 years, said she wants the government to ensure compensation for young children left behind when a parent like Zenaida, a mother of two, is killed.
Speaking Spanish and translated by Aviles, Islas spoke from experience as her own husband died in a migrant workers program in another province many years ago, leaving her with five young children and no help.
“I’ve been through tough times with my children, not having enough food to support them.”
The vigil included a moment of silence and some Spanish prayer.
“I feel hopeful, being here tonight,” Andres said.
“It’s unfortunate that it’s under these circumstances, but one of the main reasons we wanted to do this is to have a physical space where people can come and grieve and heal together.
“Move forward and build relationships with each other.”