With The Yates and Vivid now complete, we’d like to take a moment to remember a man whose contribution to this project and so many others was immeasurable. John Scheeren began his career in the Victoria construction industry in 1975. A certified carpenter, John was detail-oriented and hardworking—an “old school” superintendent who demanded a lot of himself and his crew. In late November 2020, while working at 856 Johnson Street, John responded when he saw debris falling from the building during a significant windstorm. As always, his priority was the safety of the workers on his site and of the general public. Tragically, while investigating the situation, John was struck by debris that fell several storeys. He was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital with traumatic injuries to which he later succumbed.
John’s contribution to the construction industry in the Capital Region was significant. As an early graduate of the Camosun College Trades program—and having experienced first-hand the impact of trades shortages – John was a long-time advocate for and supporter of trades education. As such, in John’s honour, Campbell Construction Ltd., Chard Development Ltd. and partners have made a significant contribution towards the formation of scholarships and bursaries to assist students within Camosun College’s Trades and Apprenticeship program and almost $100,000 has been raised so far. This gift is intended to recognize John’s legacy. Recipients will be selected by Camosun College with guidance from the Scheeren family.
Please consider helping us reach our goal of $150,000 by making a donation to the John Scheeren Memorial Fund.