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Incident at Vancouver’s Former Howard Johnson Hotel Raises Safety Concerns
A bar owner in Vancouver’s entertainment district and a resident of the now-closed Howard Johnson hotel are sharing contrasting accounts of a dramatic incident that led to one individual’s entrapment in the building’s ventilation system for nearly two days last summer.
On August 29, 2024, Alan Goodall, the owner of Aura Nightclub, received an alarming call from his bar manager, indicating that someone had been trapped in the building’s attic for at least 10 hours. Initially, police were skeptical about the possibility of entrapment in such a confined space. However, after assessing the situation, Vancouver Fire Rescue Services was dispatched to investigate the ventilation shaft leading outside.
Upon arrival, firefighters found a man stuck inside the vent. Captain Matthew Trudeau recounted that the discovery was unexpected, and the crew had to guide the individual through a self-rescue process, ultimately enabling him to extricate himself without injury. “How they got there or why they got there, I think that’s probably a better question for VPD,” Trudeau remarked during an interview.
Goodall later showed Global News the location of the incident, describing the small ventilation system through which the man had accessed the attic. “Once you’re up here, if you don’t know where you’re going, it would be next to impossible to get out of here,” he explained.
The Vancouver Police Department reported receiving a call on August 27, two days prior, indicating someone was seen entering a duct approximately 10 inches wide on the roof of the former hotel; however, they were unable to confirm the sighting.
Goodall expressed relief that firefighters managed to rescue the trapped individual, stating, “I couldn’t think of anything more horrifying than to be stuck in a vent.”
Eyewitness Account and Conflicting Narratives
Stewart Holcombe, the resident who became trapped, described a tense ordeal that he believed lasted a day and a half. “It was scary,” Holcombe recalled. “I didn’t know what to do.” Holcombe explained that he had gone onto the roof to assist with cleaning up debris that had accumulated there, which he thought posed a risk to pets in a nearby park.
During his cleanup efforts, he recounted that some debris fell into the ventilation opening, and when he attempted to reach down, he quickly found himself stuck as his head couldn’t fit through the opening, leaving his arms pinned behind him.
Goodall, however, contested Holcombe’s narrative, suggesting it was a misguided attempt to break into Aura Nightclub. He claimed that a “partner in crime” had confirmed their intention to enter the club, as they were concerned about Holcombe’s welfare after he failed to reemerge.
Holcombe firmly disagreed, insisting his motivations were purely related to cleaning and not attempting any break-in. “No, I was cleaning the ledge actually, and there was debris falling into this hole,” he stated. Months later, remnants of the incident remain: one of Holcombe’s shoes and a drill are still situated in Aura’s attic, and the vent he accessed has not been sealed.
Goodall voiced concerns about the lack of safety measures, stating, “The thought of someone dying up in my attic and not knowing they’re there … it seems to me a pretty easy fix to prevent it from happening again.”
Despite his concerns, Goodall mentioned that no steps have been taken to address what he views as a significant safety risk. BC Housing has informed Goodall that inquiries about making repairs to the ventilation system should be directed to Community Impact Real Estate Society (CIRES), the organization that manages the commercial lease at the building.
CIRES stated that upon learning of the entrapment incident in December, they immediately informed the housing operator, Atira, to address the issue, noting that the ventilation system falls under the residential portion of the building—a domain that is outside their direct oversight.
Executive Director Steven Johnston of CIRES acknowledged the need for repair and expressed a willingness to collaborate with BC Housing to expedite the process, stating, “If during the completion of the work there is a role for CIRES, we’d be more than happy to partner with BC Housing and the residential operator to complete it.”
Meanwhile, Holcombe expressed his gratitude to those who assisted in his rescue, emphasizing his appreciation for their efforts.
Broader Operational Challenges at Aura Nightclub
As the incident continues to resonate within the community, BC Housing has indicated that they have agreed to conduct ceiling repairs at Aura Nightclub due to extensive water damage linked to multiple floods from the sprinkler systems in the adjacent Luugat SRO. Over 200 flood incidents have been reported, according to Goodall, who has already incurred significant costs—over $51,000—to replace the flooring to remediate the damage.
BC Housing noted they are working to develop a repair schedule that minimizes disruptions to the nightclub’s operations; however, Goodall remains skeptical that the repairs can be completed without temporarily shutting down the business for two to three weeks. He hopes this situation will lead to some compensation, such as a rent reduction, while the necessary work is being carried out.
Source
globalnews.ca