Person killed in workplace accident at Fairmont construction site

Emergency responders were on scene and Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health is investigating after a worker died following an incident at a Winnipeg construction site Thursday.

Little information about the worker killed was provided, but the fatal incident happened at the Fairmont Winnipeg, located at 2 Lombard Place, with police responding around 5 p.m.

The hotel is currently closed and is an active construction site. The person killed has not been identified by name.

Information from a provincial spokesperson said the deceased was working for Kepsco Construction when they were fatally injured after a “portion of an overhead canopy collapsed during asbestos abatement work.”

Workplace safety officials continue to monitor cleanup activity at the site.

The spokesperson said no further information will be provided as the investigation is underway.

The Free Press reached out to Kepsco for insight into the incident, but an office manager with the contractor said it’s offering no comment at this time.

On Thursday evening, at least three police cars were present at the construction site.

Const. Stephen Spencer, with the Winnipeg Police Service, said Friday morning that officers were called to the 100 block of Portage Avenue to help direct traffic as members of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to what he called a “workplace incident.”

Personnel from Workplace Safety and Health were also on site Thursday, but offered no comment.

The fatal incident at the Fairmont construction site is the second fatal workplace death to happen in Manitoba in 30 days.

A roofer working for Pristine Roofing & Siding died after sustaining critical injuries in a fall from a roof on Sept. 22 while working in the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, a provincial spokesperson said earlier this week.

Last year, there were 15 work-related deaths in the province, down from 22 in 2024, according to data from the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

According to Lombard Hospitality Limited, which owns the Fairmont Winnipeg, the worker was employed by a subcontractor on site, said a statement from James Richardson & Sons Limited director of communications Barb Perreaux.

Deeply saddened and offering condolences to the deceased’s family, friends and coworkers, flags at the hotel are now being flown at half-staff out of respect for the fallen worker.