Notification of controlled detonation on Fort Garry campus

Out of an abundance of caution, City of Winnipeg Emergency Services have decided to proceed with a controlled detonation to address the presence of a potentially unstable chemical found in Parker Building this morning. The controlled detonation will take place after 4:00 PM at an outdoor location, secured by Emergency Services and university personnel. There will be no impact on air quality. It is difficult to predict how loud this event will be for those on campus, but it is expected to sound similar to a loud firework. A safe perimeter has been established, and everyone is asked to respect the boundaries in place.

If you are experiencing unease as a result of today’s events, please speak with your supervisor about working remotely for the remainder of the day. Supervisors are encouraged to be flexible and support remote work in light of these events.

Regular use of Parker and other affected buildings will resume following cleanup, which is expected to be complete later this afternoon. The disposal is being carried out in the safest possible manner in partnership with Emergency Services. 

The university will review all chemical storage protocols following this discovery and ensure we have every necessary practice in place to support the safe storage of all substances.