23-year-old construction worker killed in Kelowna crane collapse leaves behind family, fiance

Cailen Vilness is being remembered by his family as a hard worker with a readysmile, following his death in atragic crane collapse in downtown Kelowna, B.C., on Monday.

Vilness, 23, was one of fourworkers killedon the construction site of the 25-storey Brooklyn at Bernard Block condominium towerafter the constructioncrane they were preparing to dismantle fell to the ground just before 11 a.m. on Monday.

The fifth man killed by the falling crane was working in anoffice building next door.

Cailen Vilness's father, Chris Vilness, says he received a call from his ex-wife around 12.30 p.m. Monday, who told him there had been an industrial accident where Cailen worked. Vilnesssaid heimmediately flew to the Okanagan from Kitimatinnorthwestern B.C.

Vilness said he felt something serious might have happened when Cailendidn't answer his phone after the incident.

Cailen who had worked on the crane for a year died on his first day back to work after returning from a trip to visit family in Kitimat, where he grew up.

"He has had a bit of experience assembling that crane," Vilnesstold CBC's Dominika Lirette. "Unfortunately, that was his first day back made a half of a shift and then was tragically killed."

"That was probably the worst feeling [that] ever had run through me at that time."

WATCH| Chris Vilness remembers his son Cailen Vilness:

Father of Kelowna crane collapse victim remembers son as a hard worker

3 years ago

Duration 1:40

Chris Vilness says his son Cailen was a 'really good kid.'

Vilness said his son was an outgoing man with strong bonds tohis family and an excellent work ethic.

"Cailen was extremely caring, loving there's not a lot of pictures that you won't see Cailen smiling," he said. "He enjoyed spending time with his family even if he wasn't as qualified as he may sometimes think, he figured that there was no task that he couldn't take on and be successful."

"He was a really good kid," Vilness said, sobbing.

Cailen dropped out of university and followed his father's and brother's career path to work in the construction industry. He bought a house with his fianceand would have takenpossession next month.

"That [construction work] was his passion," Vilness said. "Coming back to dismantle that crane, he was excited about that."

"Theywere 200-plus feet in the air, and he had no fear."

Vilness said amemorial service for his sonwill be held this weekend in Kelowna, and another service will be held laterin Kitimat.

Everton Weekes, senior pastor with the Living Faith Miracle Centre in Kelowna, says his church where Cailen's mother attends services and volunteers is organizing a fundraiser for the Vilnessfamily to cover funeral costs and other expenses.

"I've been a pastor now in Kelownafor 20 years, and I've never seen this type of pain all my time of pastoring," Weekes said Thursday to Chris Walker, the host of CBC's Daybreak South. "This has been very difficult for the entire community."

Vilness said he will miss his conversations with Cailen. They last talked on Sunday.

"I talked to him almost every single day between 4:30 and six on his way home from work or the way home from the gym that was just kind of our thing.

"I'm going to have to find someone else to talk to," he said.

Tap the link below to hear Dominika Lirette's conversation with Chris Vilness on Radio West:

Tap the link below to hear Pastor Everton Weekes's interview on Dayrbeak South: