A meditator has died and dozens of others were injured after a tent collapsed due to severe weather at the Westlock Meditation Centre in Busby, Alberta, Canada. The incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m. on 31 July, approximately 70 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital Edmonton.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported that a severe storm with high winds caused the collapse. “A severe weather storm came in with some severe winds, and at one point, the tent structure collapsed on many occupants,” said RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff. (MSN)
Westlock Meditation Centre spokesperson Michael Nguyen stated that about 400 people were attending an 11-day monastic retreat. Organized by the Edmonton Buddhist Research Institute since 2002, the retreat invites participants to live as monks and nuns. The institute declined to comment when contacted by CBC News.
Nguyen clarified that all participants were adults of various genders from Australia, Belgium, Germany, the United States, Vietnam, and other countries. Most attendees were gathered in a large white event tent for dinner when the storm struck.
The area where the meditation center was located was under a severe thunderstorm watch on 31 July. Efforts were underway to move the participants to safety when the wind intensified, leading to the collapse.
The RCMP did not release information about the deceased individual’s age or hometown, however Nguyen confirmed that the victim was not from Canada.
On 1 August, the meditation center was cordoned off, with tape, revealing the remains of the collapsed tent and black support poles. Sheets of white plastic were scattered over tables and chairs.
Emergency response to the incident was swift, with at least nine ambulances transporting about 40 injured individuals to hospitals in the area. According to Cpl. Savinkoff, all the injured were in stable condition. STARS air ambulance transported a woman in her 70s to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. Her condition remains unknown.
At least 50 more people suffered minor injuries, some of whom were treated onsite. Cpl. Savinkoff described the scene as “organized chaos,” with more than 20 police officers from nearby communities responding, including Westlock, Morinville, Parkland County, and Barrhead. (MSN) Firefighters from Busby, Pickardville, Clyde, and the Town of Westlock also responded to the incident.
Westlock County councilwoman Reeve Christine Wiese expressed the community’s grief in a news release: “This incident has deeply impacted our community, and we stand together in mourning and support.” (MSN)
Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis expressed condolences on X (formerly Twitter). “My heart goes out to the friends and family of the loved one who was tragically lost last night and to those injured in the tent collapse in Westlock,” Ellis posted. “Alberta’s government expresses its deepest condolences to loved ones of the deceased and is here to support our first responders and the community during this difficult time.” (MSN)
Provincial Occupational Health and Safety investigators have been onsite since the evening of 31 July, assessing the incident. The RCMP is also investigating. “We do have investigators that are on site. They’re going to be interviewing everybody there. So as you can imagine, that’s quite the large investigation,” Cpl. Savinkoff said. (CityNews)
“This is a real tragic incident,” said Cpl. Savinkoff. “We have one dead person. We’ve got some serious injuries. It’s going to be a long time before people recover both emotionally and physically.” (MSN)
Nguyen mentioned that the Westlock Meditation Centre was consulting with lawyers regarding the collapsed tent and deciding how to proceed with the retreat, which formally began on 1 August. Despite the tragedy, the organizers plan to continue the retreat, although they are considering changes to the program.
Nguyen added that medical professionals and mental health workers from the organization would visit injured participants in the hospital to offer support. The retreat, an important event for many international visitors, will proceed with adjustments to ensure safety and provide necessary care to those affected.
See more
1 dead, dozens hurt in tent collapse at Buddhist meditation centre near Edmonton (MSN)
Alberta meditation centre tent collapses in high winds, killing 1 and injuring dozens (CityNews)
Fatal tent collapse at Buddhist meditation centre near Edmonton (CBC)
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