Remembering Howard Willems

PSAC members are mourning the loss of a colleague, friend and brother, with the passing of Brother Howard Willems Thursday afternoon.

PSAC members are mourning the loss of a colleague, friend and brother, with the passing of Brother Howard Willems Thursday afternoon.

Howard worked as an inspector with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for more than 30 years before retiring in early 2012. His involvement with PSAC spanned decades and included co-charing Local and Regional Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Committees, and sitting on CFIA’s National OHS Policy Committee.

After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer of the lungs, two years ago, Howard dedicated the final years of his life to advocating for asbestos awareness and protection.

Together with Bob Sass, he transformed the Saskatchewan Ban Asbestos Committee to the Saskatchewan Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (SADAO) in 2010, and actively worked to establish a public registry. He also strived to provide information to victims of asbestos-related diseases.

Last week, Howard saw a return on his tireless efforts, when Cam Broten, Saskatchewan MLA for Saskatoon Massey Place and Official Opposition Critic for Health, tabled a private member’s bill to create an asbestos registry of all public buildings in Saskatchewan.

Leading up to this milestone, SADAO launched the “Public Enemy!” postcard campaign calling on the government to create a publicly accessible registry of all schools, and public and commercial buildings that contain asbestos, and the condition of asbestos within those buildings.

Howard was more than a union member and a political activist, though he wore those titles well. He was the embodiment of hope and optimism; a true trailblazer who turned despair into determination and never stopped fighting.

Donations can be made to the Saskatchewan Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization in Howard’s memory by visiting the SADAO website.