Family of Hamilton city worker killed on the job raises money for others: 'He would have loved this'
Nabil El-Ahmed’s widow and children are honouring his legacy through a fundraiser
When Lina El Ali opened the door to the police that Friday morning, she had no idea what was coming.
Minutes later, her world changed. Her husband, Nabil El-Ahmed — a 55-year-old City of Hamilton worker and the father of their three children — had been killed while on duty.
Working outside on Golf Links Road, as part of the Public Works team, El-Ahmed was struck by a car and died on April 4.
In the weeks since El-Ahmed's death, El Ali and her children have chosen to honour his memory not only through mourning, but through action. They've launched a fundraiser in his name, supporting charities that are overseeing the construction of a well in rural Pakistan, providing medical aid to Palestinians and humanitarian aid to other war-torn regions.
"He would have loved this," Jeanine, El-Ahmed's 26-year-old daughter, told CBC Hamilton from their home in Ancaster.
Hadi, El-Ahmed's youngest son, is honouring his father in his own way, by building software to improve efficiency and safety in Canada's construction industry, he said.
They're speaking publicly this week as they honour him and with the hopes to help protect workers like him. Their story is one of grief and resilience.
A quiet force in his family and community
"He was the kindest man," his wife said. "He didn't like drama, never held resentment. He was a quiet doer — if something needed to be done, he just did it."
Watch | Lina El Ali shares why the family is raising funds for others:
El-Ahmed, who's of Palestinian origin, immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 1985 when he was 14. He was the eldest of four siblings and spent much of his adult life building a new life in the Hamilton area with El Ali. Together, they raised their children and watched their neighbourhood grow around them.
For years, El-Ahmed and his father ran small businesses. When their last venture — a convenience store — wasn't making money, he pivoted. He enrolled in a heavy equipment operator course, which he paid for himself, and eventually landed a part-time job with the City of Hamilton, El Ali said.
By 2023, he had worked for the city for 18 years and had been promoted to supervisor. He was meticulous, often texting colleagues about potholes or road conditions during off-hours, said El Ali.
A colleague remembered him not only as a dedicated worker, but as someone who brought a sense of warmth and camaraderie to the job site.
"Nabil was a gentleman's gentleman," said Bobby Barnett, city outside vice-president of CUPE Local 5167. "He loved having tea and breaking bread with his co-workers."
Barnett, who spoke at a recent vigil for him, also used the moment to call for stronger safety measures on Hamilton's roads: "The message is simple: we want safer conditions. People need to observe the road, not be distracted, and stay off their phones," he wrote to CBC Hamilton by email.
Charges for the driver
On that day in April, El-Ahmed was supervising road work on Golf Links Road when a white sedan struck him and a co-worker in the curb lane.
While his co-worker suffered injuries the police described as minor, El-Ahmed was killed.
On May 1, Hamilton police charged a 76-year-old man with "careless operation causing death" and "careless operation." Police did not provide further detail on what exactly led to the crash.
For El Ali, the grief remains raw. "We lost everything that day," she said. "He was the rhythm of our home."
The collision prompted an outpouring of grief from others in the city as well.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said in a statement she was "deeply saddened" to learn of the incident involving two employees.
"These individuals dedicated themselves to serving our city, and this loss will be felt throughout our community," she said.
'The coolest dad… my best friend:' daughter
The El-Ahmed family launched the fundraiser in his memory via the website MuslimGiving.org. For them, it's not only an expression of grief, but of legacy and faith.
The donations going to the well in rural Pakistan is supporting work by the Muslims Around the World organization. The well will provide clean drinking water to approximately 300 people — a project the family chose to reflect El-Ahmed's values and their faith.
Another share of the funds will support Medical Aid for Palestinians, an organization delivering emergency care to those affected by ongoing violence and occupation.
"As Palestinians, we are heartbroken by the suffering in our homeland," said Jeanine. "We want to help, and also stand in solidarity with our community."
Donations will also go to Oxfam to provide humanitarian relief in regions experiencing acute crises — including Gaza, Ethiopia, Congo, and South Sudan. This support will help deliver essential supplies like clean water, food, and medical aid. "This is one way we can honour Nabil's compassion and extend it to others," his wife said.
By Monday evening, nearly $7,000 had been raised.
Jeanine said El-Ahmed was "the coolest dad," someone who walked into every room with a grin and made everyone feel welcome. "Everyone says that about their dad, but I really mean it," she said. "He was my best friend."
Laid to rest next to friend
"He's the reason I studied construction," Hadi said. "We did everything together — home projects, Leafs games, just hanging out. My faith has helped me stay grounded, but there's no replacing him."
Hadi and Jeanine both spoke about the incredible support the family has received from neighbours and the wider Hamilton community — including a promise by a neighbour to plant a tree in their father's memory.
"It's those gestures that remind us how much he meant to people," said El Ali. "Even kids wrote us cards saying they loved him."
El-Ahmed was laid to rest in the same cemetery as his best friend, Abdulhay Chehadeh, who had passed away from cancer just a few months earlier. The two shared decades of friendship, and now, in a way, remain side by side.
'Even one small change' might help
While the family isn't calling for specific reforms, they believe improvements are possible — and should be explored.
"They said all procedures were followed. But maybe that's the problem," Jeanine said. "If even one small change could help, that would be meaningful."
El-Ahmed's family hopes that in telling his story, others will remember that behind every work vest is a person who deserves to come home safe.
"We built a life together," El Ali said. "He gave everything for this city. The least we can do now is make sure it doesn't happen again."
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