Family grieves brother, uncle, son who died on the job

The family of a Brantford man who died at a worksite nearly four years ago tearfully recounted the pain and suffering of their loss in a provincial courtroom on Thursday.

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Bryn Stoneman, a much-loved son, husband, uncle and father, died Aug. 17, 2020 after falling 25 feet through the roof of a building at 22 Airport Road. Stoneman, 46, was working with his brother Michael to decommission the building.

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“Growing up, I always imagined my father standing proudly beside me during some of my most significant milestones,” Stoneman’s daughter Emily told the court. “I missed out on calling my dad when I got engaged and hearing him congratulate me.

“I imagined him walking me down the aisle.”

Emily Stoneman said she should have been able to see her father’s eyes light up in happiness and pride as he sat in the front row at his daughter’s wedding.

“Instead, I was faced with the harsh reality that all I had was a picture of him on the seat where he should have been sitting,” Stoneman said.

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The court also heard from Steve Allard, Bryn Stoneman’s life-long friend, niece Karleigh Csordas and sister Tracey Csordas.

Tracey described for the court the anguish of the day her brother died and having to share the tragic news with family members. She also spoke of the impact her brother’s death had on family and friends.

“No mother should ever have to bury a child,” Csordas said. “He was a kind soul, he was covered in tattoos with a long beard and the biggest heart.

“He loved to tinker and restore cars and if we had a problem with a car, we always knew we could go to Bryn.”

Bryn Stoneman was working for 1844727 Ontario Inc., known as Legacy Brick, which has since amalgamated with Zamparo Industries Incorporated of Concord ON.

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The company was charged with numerous violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act in connection with Stoneman’s death.

However, the court accepted an agreed statement of facts and a joint position on sentencing on one charge. The agreement statement of facts was reached by representatives of the Ontario Ministry of Labor and Jozef Hadlaw-Murray, the company’s lawyer.

The company accepted responsibility for failing to ensure fall protection was used and was fined $60,000.

Joe Zamparo of Zamparo Industries Incorporated attended the court virtually.

Hadlaw-Murray, speaking on behalf of Joe Zamparo, offered his “heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Bryn Stoneman on their tragic loss.”

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Zamparo is a family-owned brick manufacturing business that specializes in, among other things, the decommissioning and demolition of industrial buildings, Hadlaw-Murray said.

Such work is inherently dangerous and Hadlaw-Murray said his client takes health and safety obligations seriously. Zamparo cooperated with the Ministry of Labor and took swift remedial action to rectify health and safety deficiencies, he said.

The fine and Thursday’s proceedings did not ease the grievance of family members, who left the courthouse angry.

Outside the courtroom, Tracey Csordas said the family believed the fine should have been much higher. They’re also upset those who were on the job site, including a supervisor, were not held to account.

In the end, the company only had to face one charge instead of several, Csordas said.

Csordas, meanwhile, has become a volunteer with Threads Of Life, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting families after a workplace tragedy. She spoke to families and companies about workplace safety.

“No family should ever have to go through a tragedy like this,” Csordas said. “We need to do everything we can to make sure people return home safely to their loved ones after they finish work.”

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