TORONTO – Sharif Abdala, a resident of Reunion Crossing, a recently constructed condominium complex situated at 1808 St. Clair Avenue West, found himself in a harrowing situation when the gym‘s ceiling abruptly collapsed during his workout session on Wednesday night. The incident occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m., just east of Old Weston Road.
Abdala, who was inside the fitness facility at the time, described a nerve-wracking experience as debris narrowly missed him. Despite wearing headphones, he discerned faint sounds reminiscent of wood cracking, which were soon followed by a thunderous crash.
As Abdala looked upward, he was alarmed to discover that the ceiling had become distorted. Realizing the potential danger, he promptly warned a fellow gym-goer, a woman on a treadmill, to evacuate the area.
Reflecting on the near-miss, Abdala disclosed, “If it fell without those warning noises, I would have been in the hospital. If I stayed there, the roof would have fallen on me.”
Photographs of the aftermath reveal a gym floor blanketed by the fallen ceiling, engulfing workout equipment in a sea of gray debris and beige insulation. Dangling wires further added to the chaos.
A spokesperson from the development company, Diamond Kilmer Developments, issued a statement to CTV News Toronto, confirming that no injuries were reported. The statement attributed the incident to a “finishing detail in the design of our fitness facility” that became dislodged from the ceiling. According to the Toronto Fire Services, their assistance was not required in this case.
In response to the incident, the affected area has been temporarily cordoned off to facilitate an investigation and “necessary repairs.” The statement reiterated that the structural integrity of the building and its units remained uncompromised, emphasizing that the incident appeared to result from a design element failure.
Construction on the condominium complex, which commenced in June 2020, had previously experienced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as detailed in the condo’s construction updates online.
Abdala expressed his gratitude for escaping unharmed and ensuring the safety of the woman on the treadmill. However, the unsettling close call has prompted him to contemplate finding an alternative residence.
