Renewed push for criminal charges 5 years on from Kelowna, B.C., crane disaster

Half a decade after the crane collapse in Kelowna, B.C., and more than two years after the RCMP recommended criminal charges be laid, families are still waiting.

Renewed push for criminal charges 5 years on from Kelowna, B.C., crane disaster 5 people died when the arm of a tower crane collapsed at a residential construction site Five years on from one of the deadliest workplace incidents in B.C. history, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) has renewed calls for the Prosecution Service to lay criminal charges. On July 12, 2021, five people died when the arm of a tower crane at a residential tower construction site in downtown Kelowna, B.C., collapsed and crashed into a neighbouring office building.

The crane had reportedly been in the process of being dismantled. Construction workers Cailen Vilness, Jared Zook, and brothers Eric and Patrick Stemmer were killed in the incident, along with office worker Brad Zawislak, whose body was only discovered two days later. In February 2024, the Kelowna RCMP recommended a charge assessment for criminal negligence causing death in connection with the crane collapse.

In a statement at the time, the B.C. Prosecution Service said "the complex police investigation and charge assessment process [was] ongoing.” Calls for accountability go unanswered More than two years after the RCMP report was filed, and half a decade on from the event, charges are yet to be laid.

In a written statement, the Prosecution Service said it had not yet come to a decision, and advised CBC News to check back “later in the year.” The Kelowna RCMP told CBC News it was unable to provide further details in order to “preserve the integrity of the investigation.” A separate investigation by WorkSafeBC wrapped up in May 2023 but was not publicly released.

“A decision has been made, in consultation with the RCMP, to not release the WorkSafeBC investigation report ... to ensure it does not jeopardize the ongoing and concurrent criminal investigation,” the agency said in a statement. IUOE business manager Brian Railton said the delay was an insult to victims’ families. “It’s really unacceptable,” he told CBC News.

“It takes far, far too long to get answers and we don’t want this to become another one of those events that we’re still talking about in another three years. “At the end of the day, the investigations have wrapped up, we’re now five years on, I don’t see a reason why we aren’t moving forward with charges.” The Liebherr tower crane was owned and operated by Stemmer Construction, which has since been embroiled in various civil proceedings instigated by the families of those who died.

Railton said the union would keep pushing for justice. “We are launching a letter-writing campaign and many of us are going on a trip this weekend to the memorial in Kelowna.” The RISE Memorial Gardens, a permanent installation to honour the deceased, was officially opened in Kelowna’s Knowles Heritage Park a year ago.

New rules for crane operators In March, the B.C. government announced a new crane licensing and permitting program through WorkSafeBC. “British Columbia will be a leader in crane safety,” said Premier David Eby. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside said workers who had died on the job “deserve our commitment and action to ensure that every worker in British Columbia can come home safe at the end of their shift.”

On Monday the province went further, declaring that crane operation would become a skilled trade requiring certification. Tower and mobile crane operators have one year to register as apprentices with WorkSafeBC, or undertake certification as a journeyman — with provincial and federal support available to help cover training costs through the transition period. With files from Ben Low-On