Now, 11 years later, I still miss him deeply and appreciate the love and support I've received. Losing someone so close helps you realize the value of every relationship. Grief has also given me a purpose—to ensure other families never have to experience what mine has. My very special relationship with my grandson Brexton Jordan Gahan, who is now 5-years-old, reminds me of the joy I experienced with my boys when they were young.
When Brexton was 2, I gifted him a hard hat, safety vest, and safety glasses and he told me that this was his favourite gift. He loved wearing his personal protective equipment (PPE) and, even at such a young age, understood the importance of PPE for the activities he was engaged in.
His safety mindset inspired me, and he started to learn which PPE was essential for different activities. As he grows, I can expand his safety knowledge, and I envision him being a safety leader in his workplace.
Together with his mom and dad, we emphasize safety in all aspects of work and play, believing that a strong safety mindset can be developed early, allowing us to have fun while prioritizing safety.
Brexton may not have met his Uncle Jordan, but he knows something terrible happened—and he already understands that safety is about protecting the people you love.
This is why the National Day of Mourning matters. Every worker deserves to come home safe. Jordan’s story is a reminder of what’s at stake and why we must all do our part to make safety a priority—not just for ourselves, but for the next generation, like Brexton. I hope that by sharing his story, we can help build a future where no family has to suffer the loss of a loved one due to a preventable workplace tragedy.
Leica Gahan is a workplace safety advocate, a member of WorkSafeNB’s Injured Worker Advisory Committee, and a speaker with Threads of Life. Since losing her son Jordan to a preventable workplace accident in 2014, she has dedicated herself to promoting safety, prevention, and support for families affected by workplace tragedies.
