Sudden death outside Gardens highlights stairway safety issue

Sault Police has confirmed a person found unresponsive Thursday under an external stairway at GFL Memorial Gardens has died.

Lincoln Louttit, spokesperson for Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, confirmed the death on Friday.

"Detectives are investigating a sudden death," said Louttit, in an email to SooToday.

Later this month, locked doors will be added to the two semi-enclosed stairwells on the south-end corners of the building. A contract was awarded to S&T Electrical Contractors, Inc. for a total of $293,143.

Those new locked doors will prevent people from loitering around the stairwells on that end of the arena — but not the east-end stairwell, where the person was found unresponsive on Thursday.

"This staircase area serves as a crucial emergency exit for the middle of the facility and has a corresponding exit on the other side of the building," said Tessa Vecchio, corporate communications officer for the City of Sault Ste. Marie. "Since these areas remain unenclosed and exposed to weather elements, they are not included in the project."

Ward 2 councillor Lisa Vezeau-Allen said city staff has been taking the lead on securing the staircases.

"They have staff monitoring this area as folks have been gathering at this location," said Vezeau-Allen.

She called the death tragic for the individual and their family.

Vezeau-Allen noted she is in constant contact with the Downtown Ambassador program staff, as well as homelessness and housing team staff.

"Added funds to the Ambassador program plus the opening of the Neighbourhood Community Centre will give more services for our vulnerable," she said.

Vecchio said material and fabrication delays have pushed the installation date of the new locked doors to later this month.

"The project is now expected to commence around late-August, allowing time for completion before the hockey season begins," she said.

Asked if there have been other deaths in the stairwell areas, Vecchio said she could not answer.

"We would not disclose any information related to personal and private matters nor are we privy to or receive updates on the outcome or follow-up of any police or emergency medical services calls," she said.