After a year-long investigation by Ontario’s public safety regulator, an Ottawa-area waterpark is being accused of a number of safety violations, some of which resulted in serious injuries.
The Technical Standards & Safety Authority announced Tuesday that it had filed 20 charges against Calypso Theme Waterpark – each of which carry a maximum fine of $1 million.
CTV News has learned that the Limoges, Ont. waterpark is also facing three lawsuits – including a $1 million lawsuit by a man who fractured his skull last summer after being knocked onto the pavement during a water slide accident.
According to the TSSA, the charges relate to a series of incidents on three of the park’s slides, some of which resulted in serious injuries.
Waterpark officials responded Wednesday saying the charges stem from incidents over the past few years.
“We had received recommendations from TSSA. We had implemented all the recommended changes. In fact, we met with the TSSA last month and nothing was mentioned,” Calypso Waterpark spokesperson Annie Boucher told CTV Ottawa.
Boucher also said the park works with regulators on an ongoing basis and its 600 employees are well trained.
The park, located about 40 kilometres southeast of Ottawa, is also charged with failing to make sure its water slides were staffed with properly trained attendants and for failing to operate its slides in a safe manner, the TSSA said.
The agency said it launched an investigation after receiving complaints from park patrons over the last two years.
“The investigation was one of the most comprehensive investigations of an amusement park TSSA has ever conducted,” the authority said in a statement.
Calypso Waterpark owner and operator Guy Drouin said Wednesday that the park is “strongly committed to the safety and security” of its visitors.
“Since Calypso opened in 2010, we have worked closely with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit and the TSSA to ensure we meet every regulatory requirement," Drouin said in a statement.
He noted that the TSSA only regulates the park’s waterslides, while the Eastern Ontario Health Unit is responsible for the “bulk” of the operations, including the pool, water quality, and lifeguards.
Drouin said Calypso has implemented all of the TSSA’s safety recommendations to date, and noted that when park staff met with the agency in June no additional concerns were raised.
Lawrence Greenspon, the lawyer for the park, said he was shocked to learn of the charges.
“The laying of these 20 charges is a surprising abuse of power. All of these allegations have been addressed to ensure the public's safety. They are already the subject of another process with the same Ministry responsible for TSSA,” he said.
In a statement from Dan Chenier, general manager of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services, the city announced it has immediately stopped all visits to Calypso Waterpark by city camps and programs.
“Until more information is made available to the public or the charges are dealt with later in August, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department has notified staff of an immediate temporary moratorium on all visits to Calypso Water Park for our camps and other programs,” Chenier said in the statement.
Calypso Park will face the charges in court in August.
The park says it is Canada’s largest theme water park, and draws around 400,000 visitors a year.
With files from CTV Ottawa
