Tourist visiting Canada stuck in CN Tower elevator for 40 mins: 'What if it falls?'
But the reset failed. A technician was called, but would take about 40 minutes to arrive. The atmosphere in the elevator was 'tense,' said El-Mahdi.
Article content
'For the 40 minutes we were in there waiting for that technician to arrive, not once did they call again to check how we are doing,' she said. 'I know they couldn't do anything because we're stuck inside the elevator, and they couldn't get us anything anyway, but at least check in on us see how we're doing.'
Article content
She added: 'I was scared, obviously, because I mean, it crosses your mind: What if the elevator falls?'
Article content
According to a statement from the CN Tower, its elevators 'are rigorously maintained and have multiple redundant safety systems, which ensure they stay safely in position or move in a controlled manner at all times.'
Article content
The technician finally arrived and the elevator was lowered to the main observation deck after a few minutes. El-Mahdi said a staff member 'silently' let them out 'without a word of concern, explanation, or apology.'
Article content
El-Mahdi and her husband waited for the next elevator to get to the ground floor. She was able to text her son throughout the ordeal and he decided to wait for them at the bottom of the building.
Article content
A CN Tower spokesperson confirmed there was an elevator delay from The Top on July 15. A safety sensor was triggered at 8:42 p.m., per the statement. Throughout the delay, the spokesperson said that the security team maintained contact with the guests and gave them updates.
Article content
'An elevator technician was on-site at 9:15 p.m. and the elevator guests were safely unloaded at 9:19 p.m. After investigating and confirming there was no safety issue, the elevator returned to service approximately 45 minutes later,' the statement continued.
Article content
'Our team welcomed guests back to the Main Observation Level, apologized for the delay, thanked them for their understanding and made every effort to ensure they felt acknowledged and supported. While some guests left before we could speak with them, we've made efforts to follow up with them to hear about their experience and ensure their satisfaction.'
Article content
Article content
During peak hours of operation, the CN Tower has an elevator technician on-site to respond. However, during off-peak hours, technicians are available on-call, 24/7, and respond within 45 minutes or less, per the CN Tower's statement.
Article content
'The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. Every aspect of the CN Tower experience is built on rigorous safety standards, ensuring that every visit is not only unforgettable, but also exceptionally safe,' the statement said.
Article content
Out of concern for privacy of its guests, the CN Tower does not disclose personal information; however, a spokesperson said the guest services team 'attempted to speak with all occupants of the delayed elevator.'
Article content
'There were some guests that abruptly left the area,' per the spokesperson.
Article content
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
5 hours ago
- CBC
Jasper wildfire now the second most expensive fire event in Canadian history
The wildfire that devastated Jasper a year ago is now the second most expensive fire event in Canadian history. And lengthy delays in rebuilding have some calling for a national agency devoted to disaster recovery.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Kidical' mass ride promotes cycling safety in Carlington
A large group of cyclists came together in Ottawa Saturday to highlight the importance of road safety for cyclists and drivers. CTV's Camille Wilson reports. A mass bike ride was held Saturday morning in Ottawa's Carlington neighbourhood to promote safer streets for kids. The gathering brought together families and community members who want to see streets that allow kids to walk, bike and scooter to get around the city. The 'Kidical Mass Ottawa Bike Ride' started at Meadowvale Terrace Park and took riders through the community and the Experimental Farm. 'As more kids want to be able to get around independently and sustainably, we need to have space so safe for them to be able to do so,' said Cassie Smith, vice president of the advocacy group Bike Ottawa. The family-friendly event hosted by the Queer Bike Club of Ottawa welcomed everyone of all ages, abilities and skill levels. 'Coming to an event like this is great because we get to meet with other families who are all about the same thing, which is safe streets for our kids,' said Caitlin Davis, who attended the bike ride. Many came together from across the province to promote safe cycling. Andrea Bidgod travelled from Guelph for the ride. 'I saw that Kidical Mass was meeting in our old neighborhood. We used to live two streets over and I just thought it was perfect,' says Bidgod, 'I really enjoy that we are listening to families and children, especially for what they need to feel safe on the roads. Not only to give children their own agency and freedom to travel, but giving families that option as well to get where they need to go safely.' Kidical Mass is an international movement inspired by 'critical mass' to emphasize the biking community's call to celebrate the joy of biking, while asking cities to make streets safe for kids and the public. Kidical Mass Ride Jeff Dudka and his son Riley at the Kidical Mass Ride in Ottawa on Saturday, July 26, 2025. (Camille Wilson/CTV News Ottawa) 'I think it's important to be able to meet people who share the same values as you and for young people. The more we expose them to different ways of getting around the city at the youngest age, the more it breeds future behaviors,' said College Ward Coun. Laine Johnson. 'I just think we need to celebrate other ways of moving around the city and take up some of the space. That's why I wanted to bring my kids today.' Chris Hircock says he's attended almost every ride with his daughter since the first event in the fall of 2023. 'This is about celebrating the joy of riding a bike and having freedom of mobility for older kids like Adele. It's about independence of being able to make those trips without always having to rely on mom and dad for a ride in the car and to do that, we need those safe places to ride,' says Hircock, 'It's about making it comfortable, safe and convenient to ride our bikes and walk the places we need to go.' About four to five rides take place every year with this being the third one of the season. The day included a chance to decorate bikes, dance, chalk and blow bubbles before the ride. Once the ride was complete, people were encouraged to bring snacks or picnics while listening to a storyteller. 'It's really about having a joyful time on your bike and enjoying how that can bring community together,' says Smith. For some the ride was also about creating some nostalgia. 'These are the bikes that I rode as a kid from the 1980s - BMX bikes. As an adult, I still ride mine around and I've shared this passion with my son,' said Jeff Dudka. 'I bought this before he was even here, and I knew someday my son would ride this bike and this is his first summer on it, so it's pretty special being able to ride with my son like this.' Kidical Mass Ride The Kidical Mass Ride in Ottawa gathered in Carlington to promote cycling safety. (Camille Wilson/CTV News Ottawa) The event comes on the same day a woman in her 70s was killed while riding a bike near Manotick on Saturday. A pair of nine-year-old's were struck while riding bicycles in separate incidents in Stittsville and Barrhaven earlier this week. Both suffered non-life threatening injuries. The organizers are asking the City of Ottawa for wide and separate bike lanes that provide access to children's destinations like schools, libraries, parks and community centres. They are also seeking reduced speed limits on residential streets. The next 'big ride' will be in September.
CTV News
8 hours ago
- CTV News
Yorkton water park shuts down on Monday as maintenance work begins
WATCH: Yorkton's water park will be getting a well deserved break, as it is set to close down for renovations on Monday. Fruzsina de Cloedt has more. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual As Yorktonians go on their summer vacations, one of the city's landmarks is also taking a well-deserved break. Yorkton's Access Communications Water Park at the Gallagher Centre closes down for renovations on Monday. David Balysky, general manager at the Gallagher Centre gave CTV News and Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle a tour of the mechanical room on Thursday, a narrow space, which is always locked from the public. The noise of machines beyond the blue door were inaudible. Behind the door, an unseen part of the public pool opened up. A series of pipes and tubes ran along the ceiling, big barrels were humming and something made a clanking sound. Balysky pointed out that one of the barrels has such a small opening that only one technician can fit their arm in there to clean it. Yorkton pool Yorkton's Access Communications Water Park at the Gallagher Centre closes down for renovations on Monday. (Fruzsina De Cloedt / CTV News) 'On Monday we'll begin, draining the pools here, early in the morning,' explained Balysky earlier. 'And then we'll get into the thick of the project.' They have plenty of work cut out for them. The pool is on a bi-annual maintenance schedule. According to Balysky, they will work on 'tile repairs, and just a good deep cleaning of the water park, as well as the changing facilities.' This year is different, however, as some new tech will be installed. 'The current filtration system was installed, I believe, in 2004, so we've gotten just over 20 years of life out of it,' Kienle said. 'And we're now upgrading from what was an ozone filtration system to an ultraviolet - a UV-- filtration system, and hoping to get another 20, 25 years off of that.' Hopes are that it will provide a cleaner, safer environment for all users. Yorkton is not the first to adapt this technology. 'Other aquatic centers in the province and in the country are sort of moving away from [the ozone] system just due to the difficulty in sourcing parts and maintaining the system,' Balysky said. In the mechanical room, Balysky pointed out where the ozone filtration system used to be. Ozone tanks, as well as the associated piping and pumps were removed in May, when preliminary work began. This big undertaking is not cheap, as Kienle explained. 'The replacement of the ozone to the ultraviolet is just over $1 million, 1.1 million, and then the rest of the renovation that's happening is bringing it up to about $1.5 million,' he said. The project was awarded at the March 23 Yorkton Council meeting, with Ful-Flo Industries Ltd. as the contractor. Due to the maintenance work, East-Central Saskatchewan's only water park will be closed from July 28 through Oct. 2. Balysky encourages everyone to visit Yorkton's Shape Your City website to check what city projects are ongoing and what has been completed. 'That's the best place to go,' he said. 'We try to post weekly updates on there, what's going on with pictures, so people can kind of see those behind-the-scenes areas that they normally wouldn't see.'
