#WhyIGotTheShot – Craig Sparks

The COVID-19 pandemic has swept the world and changed each of our lives in different ways. As we continue to move forward, we must continue to work diligently in our efforts to promote health and safety in the workplace. Getting your vaccine is crucial and a valuable part of keeping you and your loved ones safe. The OGCA presents #WhyIGotTheShot, to share our members' stories and to focus on the “good” during the final stretch of this pandemic.

Craig Sparks, Health and Safety Manager at Maple Reinders, shares his story today and why he got his shot.

“Good health has always been a lifelong goal for me. I think it is important to live a healthy lifestyle, so when the pandemic happened and the vaccine came out, I knew it was important to, once again, consider my health, do my part, and get “the shot.” It is a very personal decision that we all have to make, but ultimately, I wanted to protect myself and my family.

I understand there was a shortened period for testing the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, but we also need to understand that this was a global research effort. Of course, like anything new, there is always doubt or concern, but when I heard that the vaccine was available, I knew it was a key piece to keeping me safe and protecting those around me from this virus. If people have feelings of distrust in our government, then they should trust the medical experts across the world that say being vaccinated is the best way to lower the severity and spread of the virus. This is not just something that is being administered in North America.

As the Health and Safety Manager at Maple Reinders, we analyze risk all the time. It’s a part of the job. We are always looking for ways to mitigate risk, and the vaccine was an important aspect of tackling this pandemic and lowering the risk. At Maple Reinders, we were very cautious when the pandemic started. We knew that communicating clearly and regularly was key for helping us navigate our way through this new and dangerous health risk. In addition to good communication, we quickly established a Pandemic Committee to develop tools such as our Safety Plan and Response Flowcharts, and used technology in the form of QR codes and thermal imaging devices to ensure we prevented the virus from entering our worksites. I feel very fortunate to work at a company where the President and CEO, Harold Reinders, takes a proactive approach to health and safety and has shown strong leadership throughout the pandemic.

At Maple Reinders, we truly believe in freedom of choice, but we also feel that becoming fully vaccinated is the right choice. I encourage people to trust the research and the professionals who have been put in charge of our medical wellbeing, protect yourself and your families, and choose to get vaccinated.

Let’s get back to the life we once knew.”