Fort Gibraltar collapse: The family's second trial

A new lawsuit filed in the Court of Queen's Bench in Winnipeg claims an 11-year-old boy lost the use of his left hand and arm as a result of a walkway collapse at Fort Gibraltar.

An elevated walkway at a replica fur trading fort in St. Boniface collapsed on May 31 during a field trip. 17 people from St John's Ravenscourt School were injured and taken to hospital.

Defendants named in the lawsuit include the City of Winnipeg, which owns the site, and the fort's operators, Festival du Voyageur and Gibraltar Dining Corporation.

The lawsuit, filed on Feb. 1, claims the boy fell about 20 feet and broke his left arm. The complaint alleges that shortly after the incident, she lost feeling in her left hand, wrist and fingers due to nerve damage and never fully recovered.

“His ability to perform basic tasks such as dressing, performing daily hygiene, eating and playing was significantly affected,” the lawsuit said. “Whether surgery is needed to repair the nerve injury or whether the nerve injury will improve is not yet known.”

According to the claim, the child suffered psychological damage and was also deaf.

The suit asks the defendants to “prove at or before trial” damages for general, special, punitive and emotional distress.

The lawsuit alleges that the city “failed to design, construct or supervise the design and construction of the Fort, specifically the elevated walkway, in a manner that was safe and consistent with its intended purpose.”

They also allege the city failed to warn the public of any unsafe conditions at the castle and failed to ensure that proper inspection protocols, if any, were followed.

No statement of defense has been filed, and none of the claims have been tested in court.

Both the City of Winnipeg and Festival du Voyageur said they have no comment on the lawsuit at this time.

In August 2023, the parents of another child sued the city and Festival du Voyageur, claiming their child was “at risk of permanent disability” from injuries sustained in the fall.

The city and the Festival both denied the lawsuit and asked for it to be dismissed.