Loch Lomond Ski Area pleads guilty to charge related to fatal 2009 incident

A local ski hill has been fined $70,000 following the death of an 18-year-old man there in 2009.

Jordan Duchene and his father Kenneth were doing roof repairs with an aluminum ladder at Loch Lomond Ski Area on Sept. 2, 2009 when he was electrocuted after the ladder touched an overhead hydro wire.  Kenneth Duchene was also critically injured in the accident.

The ski hill faced three charges, along with another three for owner Ward Bond, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. After pleading guilty in provincial offences court on Friday, five of the six charges were withdrawn. The ski hill was convicted on one count of failure to ensure safety measures and procedures were in place, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

In his ruling, Justice of the Peace Bob Michels said that the tragic accident shows that the Ministry of Labour needs to put more resources into prevention when it comes to workplace accidents. But, he added, Loch Lomond could still not be absolved of its guilt.

After the hearing, Bond said the fine wouldn’t put the ski hill in financial jeopardy and that he hopes the Duchene family can eventually put the accident behind them.

“We feel for the Duchene family and we hope that these bad days can be over for them soon,” Bond said.