Western Quebec ski hill reopening after girl died following chairlift incident

The family of a teen girl who died after being caught in a ski lift at Centre Vorlage is thanking the community for its support. CTV’s Stefan Keyes reports.

A western Quebec ski hill will gradually reopen for skiing this week, after a 13-year-old Ottawa girl died following a chairlift incident at the hill last week.

Centre Vorlage has remained closed since the incident at the hill near Wakefield, Que. last Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, Centre Vorlage said it will begin a “gradual return of operations” on Monday with the reopening of the Hub restaurant, followed by a “light reopening” of the ski hill on Tuesday.

“Safety remains an absolute priority for our entire team, and the resort will continue its efforts to ensure a careful and respectful return to normal operations for everyone affected by this tragic accident,” the owners of Centre Vorlage said on Sunday.

“We would like to thank the entire Wakefield community for the messages of support we have received.”

In a separate statement Sunday evening, Centre Vorlage said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of the death of the young girl.

“We extend our most sincere condolences to her family, loved ones, and the members of her school community as they mourn this devastating loss,” said the statement, signed by the “entire Centre Vorlage family.”

“We continue to cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and will provide all necessary support to our employees and our community.”

The family of the 13-year-old girl said she passed away on Sunday.

The girl was on a school trip to Centre Vorlage near Wakefield last Wednesday, when her clothing got caught on a ski lift as she attempted to dismount, the MRC des Collines de l’Outaouais police said.

The MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais police said the investigation into the incident is ongoing and “aims to clearly determine the causes and circumstances of the incident.

The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), the organization that inspects ski lifts in Quebec, has also conducted an onsite inspection of the lift involved in the incident, according to police.

“It was this government entity that ordered the centre’s closure to allow for several checks,” police said on Monday.

“Operations will resume with the approval of the RBQ.”

The ski hills at Centre Vorlage are located 30 kilometres north of downtown Ottawa. Centre Vorlage has 20 trails and four lifts, according to its website.

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