Workplace accident claims Verona’s Daniel Vanheyst

Jeff Green | Mar 23, 2022

Daniel Vanheyst was working at a site in Oshawa for Eco-Tree Care, a Kingston/Frontenac based company on Wednesday morning (March 16), when he was killed in a workplace incident. He was 22. The Ministry of Labour is investigating.

A family friend, Mimi Haws, published a statement on Facebook on the day of the accident.

“My friend and Congolese compatriot Jeanine along with the Vanheyst Family in Verona, are saddened to announce the sudden death of their first son Daniel Vanheyst today,” Haws said. “Daniel was only 22, lived with his parents in Verona and until his death this morning he was healthy, alive and well.

“My heart aches for his family, Andrew Vanheyst and Jeanine. Please remember this family in your prayers. Trauma and shock to lose its grip over the family at this time of deep grieving,” she wrote.

Dan Vanheyst attended Sydenham High School, where he was a middle distance runner on the track team, among other activities. He as also in the fabricating and manufacturing program and worked on a bike stand project for South Frontenac Rides back in 2017. He is being remembered as a "super positive and well liked young man" in the words of a staff member at Sydenham High School. 

He studied Forestry & Arboriculture at Sir Sandford Fleming College after graduating High School..

"He was a true family man, the oldest of 3 siblings. He was larger than life and known and loved by his family, his girlfriend, friends, coworkers, teachers. The list goes on," said  Kim Perry of Local Family Farms in Verona, which is located just down the road from the Vanheyst family home.

Eco-Tree Care is a full-service tree care and removal company owned by John Madden, based in rural Kingston. Madden’s father was the owner of JR Tree Service, based in the Burridge area of Godfrey.

The company was under contract with the City of Oshawa to remove Ash Trees as part of the city's Emerald Ash Tree Borer mitigation strategy.

The day after the accident, Eco-Tree Care posted the following on the company Facebook page.

“It’s with a heavy heart and extreme grief to share that yesterday, March 16, 2022, one of our brothers didn’t make it home. Dan Vanheyst was the most personable and caring human be-ing that you could ever wish to meet.

Dan always had a smile on his face and was willing to go that extra mile for anyone, regard-less if he knew you or not. This weighs extremely heavily on us, we’re more than a company that does tree work, it’s actually a family that gets to live their passion day in and day out.

“Our heart goes out to his entire family including his coworkers ... We truly appreciate the support that everyone has sent our way. This was a very unfortunate accident and we ask that everyone please give us and the family time to grieve.

The gofundme campaign was founded for the Vanheyst family last week, but it has been re-placed with a direct bank account to save on fees. Donations can be made by e transfer to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.