A veteran construction supervisor who oversaw major projects at Bear Mountain Resort, Oak Bay High and several Victoria highrises has died following a workplace accident.

John Scheeren, a superintendent for Campbell Construction, was struck on Nov. 30 by debris that fell several storeys from a 20-storey condominium under construction, the Yates on Yates. The unsecured material was blown from the building at 848 Yates St. during a major windstorm, said Scheeren’s youngest son, Robbie Scheeren.

The 64-year-old was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital with traumatic injuries and died on Dec. 21.

Robbie Scheeren said safety measures failed on the day his father was critically injured. John Scheeren had been alerted that debris was being blown from the building and had gone to the sidewalk where it had landed to investigate when another piece fell several storeys onto him.

“The first time someone saw something come off, they should have made sure that nothing else could come off the building,” Robbie Scheeren said.

WorkSafeBC said it is conducting an investigation.

Robbie said as the family held vigil at his father’s bedside, he knew his father fought to survive so he could say goodbye.

His family said there were few street corners in downtown Victoria where one couldn’t see a building John Scheeren helped build.

“He loved his trade and he loved his career,” said his wife of 42 years, Lesley Scheeren.

John Scheeren, a certified carpenter, got his start in the Victoria construction industry in 1975.

Even after 45 years, there was no talk of retirement, Robbie said. He would joke with much younger colleagues that he’d retire when they did.

Len Barrie Sr. headhunted Scheeren from Campbell Construction, convincing him to work directly for Bear Mountain Master Partnership as the golf resort was being built starting in 2002. Scheeren oversaw construction of the Fairways Hotel on the Mountain, Jack’s Place and the Finlayson Reach condo building.

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