Mid-March fire leads to prolonged elevator outage at Telfer Place

Chris Whelan

Editor 

A contained fire at Telfer Place in mid-March has led to an extended elevator outage, leaving many residents with mobility challenges facing weeks of disruption while repairs are completed.

The Paris Independent has received reports from residents and concerned family members that the elevators may not be fully operational until April 30, potentially leaving seniors with limited mobility confined to their upper-floor suites for up to seven weeks. The Paris Independent asked for confirmation on when the elevators would be operational but did not receive a response by press time.

While the fire was contained, the subsequent activation of the building's sprinkler system resulted in extensive water damage to both elevator cabs and their mechanical systems.

According to Emily Williams, a media relations spokesperson for Extendicare Inc, the corporate owner of Telfer Place, the elevators were immediately decommissioned following the fire. "For safety reasons, the elevators must remain out of service until repairs are completed and inspected in accordance with Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) requirements," she stated by email. 

As of late last week, Williams confirmed that contractors have received the necessary replacement parts and that specialized repairs are underway.

As an independent living facility, Telfer Place does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) or the Ministry of Long-Term Care, leaving oversight of the situation largely to the TSSA and internal management.

In response to the crisis, Telfer Place management has implemented several "short-term supports," including:

Delivery Logistics: Staff are delivering groceries, medications, and mail directly to suites.

Laundry Assistance: Support is being provided for residents unable to access laundry facilities.

Mobility Support: Residents with medical appointments or mobility challenges are being asked to contact "home leadership" to be manually assisted down the stairs.

For many families, the primary concern is how an emergency would be handled. Telfer Place says that under standard safety protocols, elevators are not used during a fire and that additional staff are on-site to assist residents with stairwell evacuations if required.

However, for a population that relies on wheels or walkers, the prospect of navigating stairs, even with assistance, it remains a daunting reality.

The TSSA has been notified of the outage and will be required to conduct a final inspection before the elevators are cleared for public use. Until then, the residents of Telfer Place remain in a state of localized lockdown. Management continues to provide updates to tenants and remains focused on tenant safety and well‑being while repairs are being completed.