Technical Safety BC identified non-compliances at Cultus Lake Waterpark after school children suffered electrical burn injuries
Technical Safety BC has identified electrical non-compliances at Destination Cultus Water and Theme Park in British Columbia's Fraser Valley, following a June 15, 2026 incident that left 12 people with electrical burn injuries, including 10 elementary students on a school field trip. The park remains closed with no timeline for reopening.
"Preliminary findings have identified electrical non-compliances at the site," Technical Safety BC said in a statement provided to Canadian Occupational Safety. "In order for the park to reopen, we will need to conduct further investigation, and the park owner will need to correct all hazards."
Technical Safety BC confirmed it is leading the investigation, with safety officers on-site conducting a thorough assessment of both the electrical and amusement device equipment involved in the incident.
Park kept operating for two hours after 12 hospitalised
Despite 12 people being transported to hospital, the waterpark did not close immediately. According to reporting by The Globe and Mail, staff shut down only the slide closest to where the incident occurred. Other rides continued operating, and students at the park went back to using waterslides once the ambulances had left. The park was still open when the Minnekhada Middle School group departed approximately two hours after the incident.
WorkSafeBC was notified of the incident at approximately 11:20 a.m. in the 4100 block of Columbia Valley Highway in the Cultus Lake area and issued a stop-work order. The order will remain in place "until it is safe for work activities at the park to resume," according to a statement from WorkSafeBC.
"WorkSafeBC is working closely with Technical Safety BC and the employer to gather more information and determine next steps…Preliminary reports suggest that no workers were injured."
Students among those treated in hospital
The 12 people taken to hospital suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Chilliwack RCMP, and were transported in stable condition. Ten of those hospitalised were students from Minnekhada Middle School in Coquitlam, who were at the park for a Grade 6 and 7 end-of-year field trip.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Carmen Kiener confirmed officers responded shortly after 11 a.m. and determined the incident was not the result of a "deliberate action by a person," according to reporting by The Globe and Mail. The investigation was subsequently transferred to WorkSafeBC, with police support.
BC Hydro said an initial review identified an electrical issue originating on the customer's side of the infrastructure rather than from the utility. "The safety of the public is our top priority, and we're continuing to work co-operatively with the waterpark operator," BC Hydro said in a statement reported by The Globe and Mail.
No reopening until all hazards corrected
Technical Safety BC oversees the safe installation and operation of technical systems and equipment across the province. When an incident or equipment failure occurs, operators must make all necessary safety improvements and repairs before returning to service. The agency said it remains committed to working with the park to support its return to operation once all outstanding issues have been corrected.
"We understand that the closure of a popular summer attraction is disappointing for visitors and families looking forward to their summer activities," said Technical Safety BC. "However, the safety of the public remains our top priority."
Cultus Lake Waterpark said it is fully co-operating with the authorities. "We are determined to ensure that something like this does not happen within our facility again," the park stated on social media.
