Statement on the Anniversary of the Winters Hotel Fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2026
Vancouver, BC

On this anniversary of the Winters Hotel fire, Atira honours the memory of Mary Garlow and Dennis Guay, whose lives were lost on April 11, 2022. We remain in solidarity with former residents, families, and community members who continue to carry the grief, trauma, and lasting impact of that day.

The fire at Winters was a devastating tragedy. It remains a profound loss for all those affected, including many within Atira, and we recognize that this anniversary may bring renewed pain and reflection for survivors, loved ones, and the wider community.

Winters was not only about one building, one day, or one moment. It also reflected broader conditions that extend beyond Atira alone: the realities of aging housing stock, the increasing complexity of tenant needs, the pressures facing supportive housing providers, and the consequences when systems are not resourced, coordinated, and strengthened in the ways required to keep people safe. That is part of what made this tragedy so significant, and why its lessons matter across the sector.

The Coroner’s Inquest provided an important public process through which extensive evidence was heard and many critical learnings were brought forward. Atira supported that process, supports the jury’s recommendations, and believes it helped create a fuller and more careful public understanding of the many factors surrounding this tragedy.

Since the fire, Atira has continued to reflect, learn, and strengthen safety practices across its housing sites. This has included enhanced inspection routines, strengthened staff training, improved emergency preparedness, and ongoing efforts to identify and respond to risks as early as possible.

Atira remains committed to safe, supportive, and dignified housing, and continues to work alongside residents, staff, community partners, legal counsel, safety professionals, funders, and other relevant stakeholders in all ongoing processes connected to learning, accountability, and safety improvement.

Today is, above all, a day of remembrance. It is also a reminder of the shared responsibility across organizations, systems, and government to ensure that supportive housing is backed by the conditions, investment, and long-term solutions needed for people to live in safety and dignity.

Media Contact:
Tannaz Alesafar
Communications Director
tannaz_alesafar@atira.bc.ca
(604)830-1923