Thursday, January 1, 2026
ADVT 
National

Human error factor in fatal dam spill

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Oct, 2020 06:47 PM
  • Human error factor in fatal dam spill

Metro Vancouver says human error is the clearest factor in the fatal release of water from a dam last week.

The preliminary findings were issued Thursday by Metro Vancouver commissioner Jerry Dobrovolny, who says the error was related to the programming of the control system for the spillway gate at the Cleveland Dam.

He says the Metro Vancouver regional district takes responsibility for the mistake and its deepest sympathies go out to those affected.

Five people who were fishing downstream were swept away when a large volume of water rushed from the dam down the Capilano River on Oct. 1.

The body of one man was pulled from the river and a second man hasn't been found, while the others were rescued.

A statement from Metro Vancouver says it is looking at implementing system enhancements, including a public warning system and increased monitoring downstream to the dam.

"Metro Vancouver is committed to ensuring that this type of event never happens again," the statement says.

The district says it is bringing in expert advisers to assess its practices and procedures, and to provide advice on strengthening its operations and maintenance systems.

It says the most recent safety review, which included an assessment of public safety measures, was in 2016.

MORE National ARTICLES

Metro Vancouver home sales down 39.4 per cent in April to near 40-year low

Metro Vancouver home sales down 39.4 per cent in April to near 40-year low
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says home sales dropped by 39.4 per cent in April from a year earlier to hit an almost four-decade low.

Metro Vancouver home sales down 39.4 per cent in April to near 40-year low

More remains found as helicopter search turns to recovery

More remains found as helicopter search turns to recovery
After scouring a littered seascape with its NATO allies, a Canadian Forces warship formally ended its search for survivors Friday after its maritime helicopter crashed off the coast of Greece.

More remains found as helicopter search turns to recovery

Real estate firm Colliers International says about one in five surveyed commercial tenants requested April rent relief as the COVID-19 shutdown hits business activity

Real estate firm Colliers International says about one in five surveyed commercial tenants requested April rent relief as the COVID-19 shutdown hits business activity
Real estate firm Colliers International says about one in five commercial tenants surveyed requested April rent relief as the COVID-19 shutdown hit business activity. The company says that 21 per cent of the 7,100 retail, industrial, and office tenants in its managed portfolio across Canada requested relief, and close to half of that share indicated they could not afford to make their rent payment.

Real estate firm Colliers International says about one in five surveyed commercial tenants requested April rent relief as the COVID-19 shutdown hits business activity

Teachers in B.C. agree to new contract with provincial government

Teachers in B.C. agree to new contract with provincial government
B.C. teachers have voted to approve a new, three-year collective agreement with the provincial government. The deal with the B.C. Public School Employers' Association includes general wage increases of two per cent every year along with a mediated process on how to better support negotiations in the future.

Teachers in B.C. agree to new contract with provincial government

B.C.'s $1,000 worker benefit online today

B.C.'s $1,000 worker benefit online today
Finance Minister Carole James says thousands of people applied for British Columbia's $1,000 tax-free emergency benefit in the first minutes of the program going online today.

B.C.'s $1,000 worker benefit online today

Vancouver police are reporting a spike for April in anti-Asian hate-motivated incidents

Vancouver police are reporting a spike for April in anti-Asian hate-motivated incidents
Vancouver police are reporting an increase in anti-Asian, hate-motivated incidents in recent weeks. The department makes the announcement as it seeks public help to identify a man seen scrawling graffiti on several large windows at the Chinese Cultural Centre on April 2. 

Vancouver police are reporting a spike for April in anti-Asian hate-motivated incidents