‘The team at Upper Beaver is currently cooperating with local authorities to determine the cause of the incident’
An employee died at Agnico Eagle’s Upper Beaver mining project in northeastern Ontario, triggering regulatory and police investigations into an underground workplace fatality.
The incident occurred May 1 at the project site in the Township of Gauthier, where Agnico Eagle is advancing mine development.
Agnico Eagle disclosed the death in a public statement, acknowledging the impact on its workforce and the surrounding community.
“It is with immense sadness that Agnico Eagle announces that a fatal incident involving an employee occurred at the Upper Beaver Project, in Ontario, on Friday, May 1, 2026,” the employer said in a Facebook post.
The company said its on-site team is assisting investigators. “The team at Upper Beaver is currently cooperating with local authorities to determine the cause of the incident,” Agnico Eagle said, adding: “On behalf of the entire Agnico Eagle team, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of our colleague.”5
Provincial labour ministry leads investigation
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) confirmed to CTV News that a formal investigation is underway into the underground death. The ministry “was notified of a fatality underground at the Upper Beaver Mine at the Township of Gauthier,” it said in an email to the outlet.
According to the ministry, “two ministry inspectors attended the scene to begin an investigation. As the investigation is ongoing, no further details are available at this time.”
The Ontario Provincial Police said officers are assisting the ministry. As of publication, no information has been released about the worker’s identity, job classification or the specific task underway at the time of the incident.
Agnico Eagle is working to develop the Upper Beaver deposit into a gold and copper mine, a phase that typically involves intensive underground construction, ramp development and installation of critical services.
