We recently had Andrew Fleming visit five Genesis sites to share his powerful story about how one split-second decision to take a shortcut led to a life-changing injury. Andrew became a paraplegic as a result, and over the past 25 years he has faced—and overcome—significant physical and personal challenges. His willingness to speak candidly about that journey made a strong impact on everyone who attended.

The effort it took for Andrew to travel across all five of our sites was significant in itself. Navigating that schedule and the physical demands of travel with his disability demonstrated tremendous determination and commitment. His presence at each location was a reminder not only of the consequences of unsafe decisions, but also of the resilience required to keep moving forward.

Andrew’s story aligned perfectly with our “Play Your Part” safety program. He brought the core messages to life in a way that was relatable, practical, and deeply memorable. Hearing firsthand how a momentary lapse in judgment can have lifelong consequences helped reinforce the importance of owning our decisions, looking out for one another, and maintaining safe practices every single day.

What resonated most with staff was Andrew’s down-to-earth nature and his honesty. He doesn’t sugar-coat anything—he tells it exactly how it is. His openness about the hardships he has faced, along with the determination he’s shown in rebuilding his life, truly hit home. Many staff commented that his presentation was one of the most impactful safety messages they had ever heard.