Winnipeg site where 18 were injured ordered to look into repairs before reopening

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This article was published 01/06/2023 (829 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – The organization that oversees a popular tourist attraction where 17 children and one adult were hospitalized after falling off a wooden structure must assess the entire area for any unsafe conditions or needed repairs before it can open again.

City of Winnipeg inspectors were on scene at Fort Gibraltar on Thursday morning, the day after a group of Grade 5 students and one adult fell 4 1/2 to six metres.

Inspectors told Festival du Voyageur, the organization that oversees the fort, that any necessary work associated with the repairs will require building permits and inspections.

“Until these actions have been undertaken, the property will remain closed,” David Driedger, a spokesman for the city, said in an email.

Fort Gibraltar was built by the North West Company in 1810 as an outpost of voyageurs. The original fort burned to the ground six years later. Festival du Voyageur rebuilt a replica in 1978 in the St. Boniface neighbourhood.

The city owns the park the fort was built on, but leases that part to Festival du Voyageur.

A permit for repairs to the elevated walkway was issued in 2004 and the city inspected the grounds in 2006, Driedger said. A second permit was pulled in 2013 for repairs to parts of the fencing near the walkway.

City bylaws state Festival du Voyageur is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the facility as it maintains an ongoing annual agreement with the city, Driedger said.

“There is no provincial legislation or municipal bylaw that mandates that the city perform periodic inspections of existing structures for structural sufficiency,” he added.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he was open to looking into implementing regular inspections at city facilities.

The group of students from St. John’s-Ravenscourt, a private school, and one adult were treated for broken bones and other injuries after falling off the wooden structure.

Hospital officials said two remained in hospital in stable condition as of Thursday morning.

Paramedics were called to the venue after receiving reports of a fall involving children aged 10 to 11.

Crews initially assessed 28 people before determining 18 needed to be transported to hospital.

“I want to wish everybody that was injured a speedy recovery,” said Gillingham.

“I know that (for) some of the children and the adults, too, that would be a very traumatic experience for them emotionally, even if they weren’t physically injured.”

What led to the structure’s collapse has yet to be determined, Driedger said.

“Nor will we engage in speculation as to the cause,” he added.

Chantal Vielfaure, director of marketing, communications and sales with Festival du Voyageur, said in an email the organization does not have any additional information at this time.

Premier Heather Stefanson said the province will work with the city to ensure better safety mechanisms are put in place.

Workplace Safety and Health is aware of the fall and is investigating, a spokesman with the province said in an email.

The city said it has not received any previous complaints regarding the site.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2023.

— With files from Steve Lambert