Having a young family was the motivating factor in Tim Hierlihy's life when his lower right leg was mashed in an accident that happened while he was working on the Alaska Highway more than 20 years ago.

'It was kind of crushed like a bowl of Corn Flakes,' he said in an interview Wednesday afternoon.

In 1985, Hierlihy was doing asphalt overlay on the Alaska Highway for Public Works Canada, which was responsible for maintenance on the highway at the time.

Most of the equipment that was hauling the asphalt had stopped for the morning break.

Hierlihy was looking over the work done on the site. He heard people yelling at him, but before he could move away from the 21-tonne asphalt-carrying truck backing up into him, it ran over his lower right leg.

His condition made him unable to be medivaced Outside. He would go on to spend two months in Whitehorse General Hospital before flying to Vancouver for rehabilitation.

After seven surgeries and a year in rehabilitation, he would be back home in Whitehorse with a prosthetic leg.

'It was a long process,' he said.

'There were times I could've just given up.'

It was his wife and then-two-year-old son who kept him going though.

He was fortunate that his wife and son were able to go to Vancouver and stay with him for a couple of months.

He also watched other people going through rehabilitation as well.

'They all have to deal with it,' said Hierlihy, who added praise for anyone who can come out of the process with a positive attitude. 'It really is hard.'

Without his son and wife, it would have been difficult for him to keep a good attitude.

What also helped him through the process was the nurses would take the time to talk to patients individually, and told him what he could expect.

One of the biggest challenges facing northerners who have to go south for prosthetics is that they don't have the same access to the newest prosthetics, and they often end up learning and doing much of the repair work required.

'I had to fight just to get what I have,' he said.

After he was home, Hierlihy knew he needed to keep working and took the opportunity to retrain, studying business administration and later getting a job in property management.

He now works as a director of policy and communications for the Yukon government's Department of Highways and Public Works.

A workplace accident not only affects a person's career though. Before his injury, Hierlihy loved to hike and mountain climb.

'I've replaced that with other activities,' he said.

Now Hierlihy canoes regularly, along with other activities.

The accident of 21 years ago also meant missing out on some regular father/son activities when his son was a young boy.

Hierlihy is among those who marked the Day of Mourning in ceremonies held early this afternoon in Whitehorse.

April 28 is set aside as a day to remember those workers who are killed or injured in their workplace.

This is one of a series of articles published this week leading up to the Day of Mourning ceremonies. See related coverage below.