‘Electrical non-compliances’ found at B.C. waterpark where kids were burned

CULTUS LAKE — The agency that oversees safety at B.C. amusement parks says investigators have found “electrical non compliances” at Cultus Lake Waterpark where a group of 12 schoolchildren suffered electrical burns on Monday.

Technical Safety BC, which is leading the investigation into what went wrong at the park, said in a statement on Wednesday that the finding means the park in the Fraser Valley will be shut until the problems are fixed and there is no timeline for reopening.

The regulator said its safety officers are “conducting a thorough assessment” at the park where the group suffered electrical burns requiring hospitalization.

The waterpark posted a statement on its website on Tuesday that said it was “fully co-operating with all authorities as they complete” their investigation.

“Cultus Lake Waterpark will not reopen until approval is given from WorkSafeBC, Technical Safety BC and Fraser Health,” the statement said.

“This incident was tragic and we are deeply upset by what these children experienced at our park.”

It said the incident happened near its “Zero to 60 waterslide attraction,” where the victims are believed to have come into contact with a steel-framed tent structure with handrails.

The park said it will be closed without a confirmed reopening date and “updates will be provided as they become available.”

Technical Safety BC said in a statement that the park’s owner will need to fix “all hazards” before reopening, and while the closure may be disappointing for families, public safety is the top priority.

Police in the Fraser Valley said Tuesday that the incident didn’t appear to involve any criminal acts, and WorkSafeBC said it issued a stop-work order at the park after the incident.

Chilliwack RCMP said the children from Minnekhada Middle School in the Coquitlam School District made contact with a railing beneath a ride in the area where people line up.

The school district has said that the students in Grade 6 and 7 were on a field trip to the park at the time, while Const. Brad Holditch with the RCMP’s Upper Fraser Valley detachment said those hospitalized were between 12 and 13 in age and were “doing well,” without releasing further details.

Two of the 12 students had to be airlifted to hospital after the incident.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2026.

The Canadian Press