Journal of Commerce | Lindsey Cole | January 28, 2026
This July it will be five years since five young men lost their lives in a tower crane collapse at a development under construction in Kelowna, B.C.
While many years have passed, there’s still no word on if and when any criminal charges will be laid or any more details related to the investigation.
In an email to the Journal of Commerce, the communications counsel for the BC Prosecution Service said: “This complex police investigation and charge assessment process is ongoing, and we do not have a timeline for completion.”
The Kelowna RCMP detachment released an update in February 2024 on the conclusion of an investigation by its serious crime unit into the July 12, 2021 crane collapse which resulted in the deaths of Cailen Vilness, Eric and Patrick Stemmer, Brad Zawislak and Jared Zook.
A report was then submitted to the BC Prosecution Service for charge assessment for criminal negligence causing death, where the review continues.
WorkSafeBC’s own independent investigation of the incident has been complete since May 16, 2023, but it has not released its report in full in order to not effect next steps in the legal process. However, the organization has implemented regulatory changes in the wake of this tragedy and others that followed it in recent years.
For Bryan Railton, business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115, the investigation is simply taking too long.
“Since the death of these five young men back in July 2021, another woman has lost her life in a tower crane incident, yet families remain without justice,” he said.
“Without full transparency, we cannot restore public trust or give families the closure they deserve. How much longer must grieving families wait for justice?”
The union has been steadfast in its call for action from the BC Prosecution Service, and just last July asked them to move forward with a criminal trial.
“Like other tragedies before it, the Kelowna tower crane collapse has yet to result in meaningful consequences,” says Railton. “As workers and industry, we are deeply disappointed by how long this has taken. Every day without answers undermines confidence in our system and sends the wrong message about the value of workers’ lives.”
The memory of the lives lost in the collapse does carry on through a memorial called RISE Memorial Gardens.
Ground was broken on the project in early spring 2025 after years of planning, with Ecora Engineering tasked with bringing the vision to life. On July 12, 2025 it was officially unveiled, along with a website, which was built to honour the lives lost, celebrate the community that came together in their memory and preserve the story behind the garden for generations to come.