A Fatal Collapse Downtown
A construction worker is dead after a canopy collapsed at the Fairmont Winnipeg hotel work site on Thursday afternoon. The worker, an employee of a subcontractor, was fatally injured when part of an overhead canopy gave way while crews were conducting asbestos remediation work on the building’s exterior.
Graham Construction, the general contractor overseeing the renovation, confirmed the death in an email Friday afternoon. The company said it is fully co-operating with Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health, which has opened an investigation into the incident.
A provincial spokesperson confirmed the worker was not alone at the time of the collapse. Beyond that, officials say no further details about the investigation can be released at this stage.
The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and the Winnipeg Police Service both responded to the scene. City of Winnipeg records show first responders were dispatched just before 3:30 p.m., though a police spokesperson indicated officers arrived around 5 p.m. to assist paramedics at the site. The discrepancy in reported times has not been explained.
The Hotel, the Renovation, and the Response
The Fairmont Winnipeg closed to guests this past summer for a major overhaul, including the remodelling of all 340 rooms. The subcontractor involved was performing work connected to that broader renovation project, according to Barb Perreaux, a spokesperson for Lombard Hospitality, which operates the hotel.
Perreaux said the company was aware of a serious incident but declined to provide further details out of respect for those involved. James Richardson & Sons Ltd., which owns the Fairmont Winnipeg, issued a statement confirming the worker’s death. Management, directors and shareholders of Lombard Hospitality extended their condolences to the worker’s family, friends and colleagues.
Flags at the downtown hotel have been lowered in honour of the worker. As of Friday afternoon, no provincial stop-work orders had been issued for the site.
The worker’s name and age have not been released publicly.
This death adds to a troubling toll. The RCMP responded to six other fatal workplace accidents in Manitoba this year. According to accepted claim statistics from the Workers Compensation Board, four people in the province died immediately or shortly after workplace incidents in 2025 alone. Each figure represents a worker who did not come home — and a regulatory system that continues to face hard questions about whether it does enough to prevent these tragedies before they occur.
