Molson Coors preparing internally for mass shooting anniversary

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Friday marks the one year anniversary of the mass shooting at Molson Coors.

The company is making preparations for its employees to help process and grieve.

Molson Coors is not planning any public ceremonies, but internally is getting ready for a very difficult day.

In a quiet corner of the Milwaukee campus, a memorial offers a place to pause on a tragedy here one year ago.

"It was actually created and designed by some of our brewery employees and it's a place for some of our employees to go to reflect," said Molson Coors Community Affairs Director Tami Garrison.

She said the last year has been tough for employees.

"It's an incredibly difficult time for us, and if you think back one year ago, our world was turned upside down," said Garrison.

She said the company is not putting on any public ceremonies Friday. Milwaukee employees will be given the day off if they choose. Moments of silence will be held at the start of all shifts across the company, and also in the afternoon to mark when a gunman killed five of his coworkers before turning the gun on himself.

"Our employees though, have shown incredible resilience and strength, they've taken comfort in another, and I think quite honestly one of the things that's provided the most comfort is the outpouring of support that we've received from the Milwaukee community," said Garrison.

She said the company made security changes following the shooting. It has also spent the last year looking at how it confronts incidents of racism, which was a key part of the police search for a motive.

"Taking a look at our culture and make sure that we're building a culture of equity, inclusion, and empathy," said Garrison.

The National Compassion Fund received $1.8 million in donations following the shooting.

All of the money was provided to victims' families and others suffering trauma from that day a year ago.