The "Jimmy's Law" petition circulated in memory of murdered Yorkton resident Jimmy Ray Wiebe found widespread support among the delegates of a provincial Occupational Health & Safety Conference last week.
Shortly before its annual conference in Regina, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour announced its official support for the petition, which calls for extra protections for the province's retail workers such as physical barriers between workers and the public or a ban on working alone.
In a press release, the federation said that a majority of the 200 delegates present at the conference signed the petition, which is now approaching 6,000 signatures.
"I think that's huge," says petition founder Aaron Nagy of Yorkton. "That means instead of one voice I now have 98,000 voices behind me, because they have so many different unions and representatives throughout the province. It makes it hold that much more weight."
Nagy has now also begun the process of establishing a scholarship fund in memory of his friend. Two Jimmy Wiebe Memorial Scholarships will be presented next year: one to a student of Sacred Heart High School and one to a Yorkton Regional High School student.
"It'll be going not just to the smartest student, but to an average student, because Jim was an average student in school," says Nagy.
Nagy is currently soliciting donations to the scholarship fund and meeting with Wiebe's family to choose a list of criteria for the award.
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