Wolfgang Zimmerman - Port Alberni

Wolfgang Zimmermann, the victim of a logging accident, overcame his misfortune and took up the cause of safety in the workplace and the rehabilitation of injured workers.

He was born in Dortmund, Germany and emigrated to Canada in 1977. The spinal injury he suffered soon afterwards, only five days on the job, left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. He rehabilitated himself to the point where he now walks with a cane.

Wolfgang Zimmermann retrained in business administration and returned to work with MacMillan Bloedel, this time as an accountant. But it was his determination to reduce industrial accidents, through greater awareness of safety in the workplace, that opened up a whole new career path for him. Wolfgang Zimmermann is now the Executive Director of the Disabled Forestry Workers of B.C.

His personal experience and perseverance have resulted in a graphic documentary film entitled "Every Twelve Seconds" which vividly brings to the attention of the general public, the unions, the employers and government, both the personal and financial costs of industrial injuries. He was also instrumental in the development of the CBC Journal/National news documentary called "Insult to Injury."

Wolfgang Zimmermann's work has made a real difference in the life of many British Columbians; he is devoting his life to promoting safety so as that no one out there should go through what he has.