Air North’s president announces enhanced security measures and safety training review following a coroner’s inquest into a man’s death at the Whitehorse compound in 2022. The incident involved a Whitehorse RCMP officer fatally shooting Hugh Riffel, who had entered the compound armed and made threats to himself and Chieftain Energy employees, a subsidiary of Air North.
The Yukon coroner initiated the inquest after a report from the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) in 2024 deemed the police’s use of fatal force justifiable. The jury concluded that Riffel’s death was a homicide and issued four recommendations to Air North concerning the compound’s security protocols.
The recommendations included implementing an emergency lockdown protocol, providing safety training and annual emergency response drills for employees, ensuring all workspaces have door locks, and relocating staff parking outside the secure area accessible by staff ID cards.
Air North’s president, Joe Sparling, responded formally to the recommendations, noting the existing emergency response protocol aligned with regulatory standards but acknowledging the need to update training procedures based on the jury’s input. Sparling mentioned ongoing revisions to the safety manual and emergency response protocol, with plans to incorporate the jury’s suggestions for future enhancements.
Regarding employee awareness of emergency plans, Sparling acknowledged the need for improved communication and stated that safety training would be reassessed. Changes to employee parking arrangements were also mentioned, with a construction project underway to relocate the access gate and create a secure parking area outside the compound.
Additionally, Sparling confirmed the installation of door locks in indoor work areas since 2024, aligning with feedback from some employees during the inquest. This proactive approach aims to address security concerns and enhance safety measures within the Air North compound.