VON Statement regarding the Mass Casualty Commission
VON Canada will share its perspectives to inform the work of the Mass Casualty Commission established by the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia to examine the events that occurred in April 2020 in Nova Scotia. Two VON employees, Kristen Beaton and Heather O’Brien, were among the victims whose lives were lost in the incident, and VON plans to lend our voice and experiences to the review process.
“Those were very difficult days for VON, our employees and their families, and the events continue to resonate for all of us,” said Jo-Anne Poirier, President and CEO, VON Canada. “It is essential we learn from this incident and share our experiences to inform the recommendations and help improve the safety of our communities for everyone.”
Many VON employees face unique circumstances as home and community health care workers, as they travel between home, our sites, and the homes of clients in the many communities we serve. Our employees, including nurses and continuing care assistants, along with our volunteers, are deeply connected to our communities, and their health, safety and well-being remain a priority focus for our organization.
VON has emergency and safety protocols in place to guide our organization during critical times, and we look forward to sharing our experiences and perspectives on how we can work together to ensure the health, well-being, and safety of our communities for all.
