Local 47 members’ quick action and emergency response save colleague’s life

February 3, 2026

Home>News>Members Journal>Winter 2026>Local 47 members’ quick action and emergency response save colleague’s life

What started as a regular day on the job quickly turned into an emergency when one of brother Jarid Morelli’s coworkers experienced a medical episode.

As a shop steward at AMBICO and a proud member of SMART Local 47 (Ottawa, Ontario), Morelli, along with his colleagues and fellow union members, take safety seriously — making it a top priority to ensure their coworkers can go home to their families at the end of each workday.

That priority became reality when a colleague suddenly collapsed on the shop floor. In a moment where every second counted, Morelli and his coworkers remained calm and acted quickly under pressure. Thanks to their fast response, training in first aid and the availability of an auto­mated external defibrillator (AED) on-site, they were able to save their colleague’s life.

Mayor Sutcliffe visited AMBICO to present awards of commendation to members

It is part of Local 47’s policy to have all officers of the local trained in CPR and first aid. As both the health and safety representative and lead hand at AMBICO, brother Morelli received CPR training through the company as part of his role; training that proved vital in a critical moment.

The actions of Local 47 members Morelli, Luis Lopez, Cameron Pryor, Ruben Fuentes and David Court saved brother Andrew James’ life, and because of their quick thinking and training, James is not only alive today but can return to work. In recognition of their heroic actions, AMBICO worked with the city of Ottawa to get Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to present our Local 47 brothers with awards of commenda­tion, a well-deserved honour that reflects their outstanding service.

The incident served as a powerful reminder of the importance of safety preparedness and the need for the right equipment and training. Access to AEDs and regular emergency response training are vital tools that save lives and foster a work culture where safety and readiness are prioritized.

This potential tragedy was turned into a story of resilience, readiness and the power of looking out for one another.