Ministry of Labour investigating North York pool chemical mishap, no serious injuries reported

Chemical hazard in North York condo pool area sends 8 to hospital

Ontario’s Ministry of Labour says it is investigating a “workplace incident involving chemicals in North York” on Sunday night.

A spokesperson told CTV News Toronto that an inspector has been assigned to the case.

“As the investigation is ongoing, no further details are available at this time,” they wrote in an email.

The incident, which Toronto police have described as a “chemical hazard,” happened at a three-tower condo complex in the Willowdale neighbourhood, at 78/80 Harrison Garden Blvd., which is just east of Yonge Street and north of Highway 401.

Toronto paramedics said they assessed 13 people at the scene, transporting eight of them to the hospital for further observation. All of the patients’ injuries were considered minor, they said.

‘Noxious odours in the building’

Toronto Fire Services, meanwhile, said they received a call shortly after 5 p.m. for reports of “noxious odours in the building.” At the scene, crews say they found there had been an issue with some pool cleaning supplies in the pool maintenance area.

Toronto fire previously told CP24 that crews arrived and “isolated the area and ventilated the building,” which has since been cleared.

The lobby of the residence was also evacuated. People were told to shelter in place when they realized the fumes were wafting throughout the building and not restricted to the pool area.

In total, 30 residents were temporarily displaced. TTC buses were brought in to shelter them.

“We heard the speakers announcing what was going on and we stayed in the apartment,” one resident, who lives on a higher floor and was not directly affected by the incident, told CTV News Toronto on Monday.

Another said they “smelled something but we received an email that it was nothing dangerous.”

“They just asked us to stay inside the unit ...all the windows were closed,” said a third.

Roads in the area were temporarily closed but have since reopened.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Janice Golding