Rescue crews have recovered the body of a person who died in a building collapse in North Vancouver on Wednesday morning (Aug. 25).

Around 9:45 am Wednesday morning, emergency service personnel were called to the scene of the old Empire Theatre building in North Vancouver’s lower Lonsdale neighbourhood. Reports indicate demolition work was being done on the building when the partial collapse occurred.

Crews were able to rescue one individual who was taken to hospital and is now in stable condition.

North Vancouver RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit has assumed conduct of the investigation to determine if any criminality was involved in this incident. DeVries said that investigation is likely to take weeks.

“We have no information that leads us to believe [criminality was involved]. This is a standard protocol that occurs when there is a workplace death,” he said.

Emergency personnel continue to work at the scene. Chesterfield Avenue between West 1st Street and Esplanade remains closed to traffic and will be for ‘some time into the foreseeable future’ DeVries said. Anybody transiting through that area is being asked to find an alternate route.

Abbotsford News