The former manager of the Cooperativa Kyle Kaiser Cooperative Store now faces a charge of criminal negligence that causes bodily damage after a teenage employee suffered a serious poisoning by carbon monoxide in his part -time work in the meat department.
The incident occurred on October 23, 2023 in Canora, Sask., About 235 kilometers northeast of Regina. Then, Wil Krotonko, 14, was asked to clean a closed area of the meat department using a gas pressure washing machine designed for outdoor use.
The Kroteko family contacted Go Public Poviis after the incident, upset by the light one that they say that the cooperative was taking the incident and the lack of serious consequences after the health and safety research.
Just the day before Wil was poisoned, another teenage employee became ill home after using the gas pressure washing machine.
A supervisor was aware of that, according to the text messages between that supervisor and the employee that were provided to make public.
Wil’s mother, Kelly Kroteko, said that the only criminal position against Kaiser is a beginning, but said he believes that the owner of the store and the store itself should also face consequences.
“I am grateful that they keep it to some extent, some responsibility, but I still feel, and I am sure that the community feels, and they have also shared it with me, that it was not just Kyle Kaiser, right? It was the cooperative.”
In a statement sent by email to become public last year, Gateway Co-Op said that what happened was “a terrible incident that had the potential to be worse”, and that the store decided to ensure that it does not happen again.
The cooperative was ordered to comply with the rules that had broken within 11 weeks, but has not faced fines or other repercussions.
Wil was transported to the hospital in Canora and then to Alberta for medical care related to exposure to carbon monoxide at that time. His mother said he spent hours in a hyperbaric chamber, used in cases of more serious poisoning, so high levels of carbon monoxide in his blood could be replaced by oxygen.
Kelly said her son continues to suffer serious health problems after poisoning.
Kaiser has been arrested and released. His next appearance in the Court is scheduled for October 2 in Canora.
