Elliot Lake first responders, then-premier Dalton McGuinty and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha are all singled out for praise in the just-released report on the June 23, 2012 Elliot Lake mall collapse and the emergency response that followed it.
“Local authorities acted promptly and appropriately in the immediate aftermath of the collapse,” Commissioner Paul Belanger says in his 1,500-page report.
“They assisted in the evacuation of the mall, helped the injured, and secured the site by shutting off utilities and establishing site control. Provincial authorities were rapidly informed, and assistance was summoned after the declaration of a municipal emergency, Belanger concludes.
On that sun-drenched Saturday afternoon in 2012 when the roof came down on the Algo Centre Mall, the death of Doloris Perizzolo was mercifully quick.
But according to the inquiry report, Lucie Aylwin (pictured) was likely not so fortunate.
“Doloris Perizzolo’s death was nearly instantaneous after the collapse. It is probable (though by no means certain) that Lucie Aylwin survived under the rubble for a period of up to 39 hours. It is unlikely that she survived beyond 5 a.m. on June 25. There exists a possibility she might have been rescued, but we will never know for sure,” the report says.
Commenting on the death of Aylwin, a 37-year-old employee at the Algo Centre Mall’s lottery kiosk, the report states: “The extent to which miscues, miscommunications, and mistakes prevented the rescue of Lucie Aylwin is a difficult question. Some medical evidence supports the proposition that death came quickly. However, living for a period of time was not inconsistent with any of the medical indicia discussed by one medical witness.
“Tantalizing signs may lead one to conclude that it is probable (though by no means certain) that she lived for some time after the initial collapse and might have been found alive had the rescue effort been executed more rapidly and effectively. By 5 a.m. on June 25, however, it is probable (but again, not conclusively certain) that she had died. We will never confidently know the answer to these troubling concerns," Belanger said.
The inquiry report praises then-premier Dalton McGuinty, describing his concern and support through the ordeal as “genuine and constant.”
“He gave hope and renewed determination when the rescue effort had ebbed to its lowest point,” Belanger said of McGuinty.
The involvement of Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha was similarly described as “unflagging and tireless.”
Mantha represented “the best of what is expected of our elected representatives,” the report said.
Belanger also commented on evidence presented to the inquiry that Elliot Lake Fire Chief Paul Officer’s nomination of some local firefighters for the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery Award had been placed on hold until the inquiry released its report.
“These awards should wait no longer. They are richly deserved,” Belanger said.
The following are other conclusions from Commissioner Belanger on the response to the 2012 mall collapse:
- The Toronto Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Unit (HUSAR/TF3) could have deployed more rapidly.
- The deployment speed of the OPP’s Urban Search and Rescue Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Response Team (UCRT) was exceptional.
- Both HUSAR/TF3 and UCRT deployment numbers were not optimal, particularly at the command level.
- The lack of an incident action plan was detrimental to the rescue effort.
- The incident management system was improperly applied: no one understood or respected its mandated command structure.
- The relationship between HUSAR/TF3 and UCRT was occasionally problematic.
- There was a failure to resort to crane/ rigging operations early and consistently – they were relegated to a solution of last resort.
- Record-keeping and note-taking were deficient.
- Communications among responders, with victims’ families, and with the media and the general public were poor.
- Although it was proper to remove the rescuers from the building because of the dangerous state of the rubble pile, the rescue was called off, instead of being paused while alternatives were considered.
- The services offered by Ontario Mine Rescue should not have been ignored.
- The role of Ministry of Labour officials was widely misunderstood.
After-action debriefings and many after-action reports were either non-existent or poorly done.
- Provincial legislation, including the Coroners Act, does not allow an official to demolish a building to retrieve a body.
- The premier of Ontario, his office, and other provincial authorities acted with leadership, genuine compassion, and assistance when hope seemed lost.
- Ontario’s urban search and rescue system needs a careful re-examination to provide better overall coverage and quality of service.
Belanger praised the aggressive intervention of then-premier Dalton McGuinty after rescue efforts were called off on June 25 because the site was considered too unstable and dangerous.
“I find that Premier McGuinty’s actions and those of his staff were appropriate, responsible, humanly genuine, and warranted in the circumstances.
“They properly concluded that the response team must consider all possible alternative options and resume the rescue, even if the chances of success were slim.
“Their intervention led to a renewed sense of urgency and determination. The premier’s leadership had re-energized and encouraged the emergency response teams.
”It also provided much needed reassurance to the public and to the families that they had the whole-hearted support of senior officials in the provincial government. In short, it gave renewed hope.”
Frustration over the abandoned rescue effort had risen to such a level in Elliot Lake that when the premier advised Michael Mantha later on June 25 that rescue operations would resume, the MPP was so excited that “he ran as quickly as he could to city hall to let people know that the rescue efforts were back on track.”
“He wanted to bring some of the frustration level down,” Belanger said in his report. “Although Mr. Mantha did not have the details of the steps being taken by the responders, for him ‘the important thing... was that the rescue efforts were starting up again, and that is what the community needed to hear.
“Mr. Mantha’s announcement appeased the group of people that had gathered following the news of the rescue being stopped. He did not speak directly to the victims’ families, but he shared the news with relatives of the victims who were present. The mood in the community improved.
“That evening, Mr. Mantha made himself available, walking on the street, listening and talking to people. He found they were extremely happy that the rescue efforts were back on and moving ahead.
“He gave this message to everyone: ‘Be patient. These are the professionals. They know what they are doing. Equipment is coming... It is going to take some time, but it is moving ahead.’”
As it turned out, the rescuers saved no one.
The bodies of the victims were recovered on June 27.
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