Volunteer Profile: Leica Gahan

A woman with long blond hair poses for a portrait — Leica is a dedicated mother, grandmother and exceptional volunteer. Her warmth, passion and kindness shine through as she tells her story.

by Aubrey Bird, Regional Development Coordinator – Atlantic Canada

Leica’s connection with Threads of Life began in 2014 after the loss of her 21-year-old son Jordan to a workplace fatality in Alberta. It was six days before his body was flown back to their home in New Brunswick, and his family was experiencing unspeakable loss and grief. After Jordan’s funeral Leica filled out an information form on the Threads of Life website, as she was encouraged to do by a trusted family member. Reflecting back she says, “I never realized this was one of the most important steps I would ever take.”

Leica was quickly paired with a Volunteer Family Guide, who had also lost her son in a workplace tragedy. Leica’s VFG called her every Wednesday at 11:00 for three years. Their weekly call was so important to Leica. She shares, “the empathy, compassion, openness, and love was exactly what I needed to get through those first few days, months, and years without my son.”

In May 2015, one year after Jordan passed away, Leica’s family walked for the very first time in a Steps for Life event. She remembers it as “a powerful day of connection and commitment to safety.” It was the start of her journey as a Threads of Life volunteer, and is one of her favourite Threads of Life memories.

In 2019, Leica was invited to attend speaker training to explore sharing her story impactfully. At the training in Ontario she was introduced to many other family members living in the aftermath of a workplace tragedy. She remembers the training being a challenging but terrific experience, filled with helpful tools to prepare her for sharing her story publicly. Leica’s training experience was beneficial in her grief journey.

Leica has been a dedicated volunteer speaker ever since. She has shared her story many times, both virtually and in person. “The story is so personal and difficult to deliver but I know that these real life stories do have an impact. My prayer is that my story will be a reminder to them to work safely every day because they matter; Jordan mattered.”

Leica has three main reasons for volunteering with Threads of Life:

Gratitude for the support provided during the first three years after she lost Jordan.
A deep belief in Threads of Life’s mission and programs. She believes nothing is more powerful than knowing you have someone who understands you and has experienced similar circumstances.
Knowledge that empowering others to share their story of tragedy can be life-changing and for some families, part of the healing process. Leica adds, “the mission is greater than the pain.”

For Leica, the commitment to advocate for prevention and safe workplaces doesn’t end with Threads of Life. For the last eight years, she has been on the Injured Workers Advisory Committee (IWAC) with WorkSafe NB. She also actively volunteers in peer support programs through her church.