The province is investigating whether construction material that flew off a building during a savage windstorm, striking and killing a small child, was properly secured.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) spokeswoman Fiona Wiseman yesterday said investigators were called to assess the hotel construction site at 118 9 Ave. S.W. after the fatality happened shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday.
"There might have been some contraventions of the OHS code," said Wiseman, adding officers are investigating whether the construction material on the upper floors had been secured properly.
"We're continuing to investigate."
A six-metre-long piece of corrugated sheet metal swept off one of the top floors of the 20-storey hotel, Le Germain Calgary, crashing onto a family walking below.
Fire crews had to ensure other pieces of construction material on the upper floors were well secured before the scene was deemed safe for paramedics below.
Le Germain Calgary is a high-end hotel, office tower and residential development being built opposite the Calgary Tower by Grenville-Germain Calgary Ltd.
Christiane Germain, co-president and CEO of Groupe Germain and a spokeswoman for the construction company, wouldn't say whether the constructional materials at the site had been properly secured because the investigation is ongoing.
"I understand the winds in Calgary last night were really extraordinary, so the tragedy has definitely involved that act of God thing," said Germain.
TARINA.WHITE@SUNMEDIA.CA
