Five years on, the grieving families still don't know exactly what happened that tragic day.
And, on the fifth anniversary -- July 12 -- of the Kelowna construction crane collapse that killed five men, the families of the victims are still demanding answers and justice.
"The families have waited long enough," said Bryan Railton, business manager for Local 115 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
"Justice delayed is justice denied. At this point, this five-year delay seems like a complete failure of the system."
The union represents 14,000 members who work in high-altitude and-or high-risk environments such as crane and heavy equipment operators, mechanics, road and dam builders.
Currently, all details of the RCMP and WorkSafeBC investigations remain sealed because of the ongoing possibility of lawsuits and legal proceedings.
In fact, lawsuits are already flying against the developer of the 25-storey Brooklyn condominium highrise, Mission Group, the crane contractor, Stemmer Construction, and the crane manufacturer, Liebherr.
In February 2024, the RCMP recommended criminal negligence causing death charges.
Who should be charged was never revealed.
In the two and a half years since, the BC Prosecution Service has yet to act on the police recommendations.
"We call upon the BC Prosecution Service to deliver an immediate resolution," said Railton.
"We also ask Attorney General Niki Sharma to use all powers at her disposal to move this case forward."
Local 115 of the International Union of Operating Engineers has also started a public letter-writing campaign at https://iuoe115.ca/
The crane used to build the Brooklyn tower at the corner of Bernard Avenue and St. Paul Street collapsed while being dismantled on July 12, 2021.
The top part broke off and crashed into the podium of the building, the ground and a low-rise office building next door.
Four construction workers -- Cailen Vilness, Jared Zook and brothers Eric and Patrick Stemmer were killed in the collapse.
The brothers were the sons of Wolfram Stemmer, the owner of Salmon Arm-based Stemmer Construction, the crane contractor.
Brad Sawislak was the fifth victim.
He was crushed when the crane cage bashed into the neighbouring office building where he worked at Protech Consulting.
The crane collapse is one of the deadliest workplace incidents in BC history.
Last year on the fourth anniversary, Rise Memorial Gardens opened three blocks away from the tragedy in Knowles Heritage Park at Bernard Avenue and Ethel Street to honour the lives lost.
Photos from KelownaNow files and Rise Memorial
