The Windsor labour community is mourning the loss of a long-time health and safety labour activist.
Rolly Marentette passed away Wednesday after a battle with cancer.
Unifor Local 444 posted on Facebook they are “saddened by the loss of one of our long time Health & Safety labour activists, and local 444 member, Brother Rolly Marentette.”
Marentette was an advocate for workplace safety and brought the National Day of Mourning to Windsor, to honour those injured or killed on the job.
Essex MP Tracey Ramsey also posted about him on Twitter: “Windsor/Essex has lost a Labour Giant. Rolly Marentette fought tirelessly for injured workers. Rest in peace my friend.”
Those close to Marentette say they will remember his smile, compassion and kindness to others.
"He inspired everybody he spoke to and helped everybody" says Mike Jee, a facilitator for an injured workers support group. "There's a whole generation of us that are advocates and instructors and teachers that were impacted and inspired to be like Rolly."
Rolly Marentette was 69 years old.
