I stood at the edge of the apartment complex’s outdoor perimeter, watching as emergency vehicles filtered out from the narrow entrance at 33 Cordella Avenue. The midday July sun cast harsh light over Mount Dennis, a community now reeling from unimaginable tragedy.
A young child had fallen from a high floor of this west Toronto apartment building just hours earlier, a devastating incident that left neighbors shaken and first responders visibly affected despite their professional composure.
“The call came in around 10:45 this morning,” said Toronto Paramedic Services spokesperson Stuart Oakley, his voice steady but solemn. “Our team arrived to find a child with critical injuries consistent with a fall from significant height.”
Toronto police confirmed the child was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The exact circumstances – which floor the child fell from, whether any adults were present – remain unclear as investigators work through the painful details of what happened.
What is clear is how quickly this community mobilized. Several residents told me they heard screams, then saw building staff running toward the scene. One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, described the heartbreaking moment when paramedics arrived.
“They worked so fast. You could tell they knew every second mattered,” she said, wiping away tears. “This is the kind of thing you never expect to happen where you live.”
The 14-story building on Cordella Avenue sits just north of Eglinton in the Mount Dennis neighborhood, an area experiencing rapid change as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT nears completion. Many families with young children call these apartments home, drawn by relatively affordable rents in a city where housing costs continue to soar.
According to municipal records, the building is managed by Medallion Corporation and houses approximately 150 units. Several residents mentioned ongoing discussions about safety improvements in common areas, though none wanted to speculate whether any building conditions contributed to today’s tragedy.
Toronto police have cordoned off an area behind the building while investigators document the scene. A specialized team that handles incidents involving children has been deployed, standard procedure in cases of this nature according to Toronto Police Service protocols.
“Our priority right now is supporting the family and gathering facts,” said Constable Marco Delgado. “We’re asking anyone who may have witnessed anything to please come forward.”
This incident comes amid troubling statistics about childhood injuries in urban environments. According to Parachute Canada, falls remain the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations for Canadian children, with high-rise buildings presenting particular risks for young families.
Dr. Ellen Thompson, an emergency physician not involved in this case but who specializes in pediatric trauma at a downtown Toronto hospital, explained the unique challenges these cases present.
“Children’s proportionally larger heads and developing motor skills make them both more susceptible to falls and more vulnerable to serious injuries when they do fall,” she said. “Window guards and heightened supervision are crucial preventative measures, especially in multi-story buildings.”
Back at Cordella Avenue, community support was already mobilizing. A local church announced plans to host a prayer vigil, while neighbors began organizing meal deliveries for the affected family.
City Councillor Rhonda Sherwin arrived mid-afternoon to speak with building management and residents. “This community is tight-knit despite its challenges,” she noted. “Right now, everyone just wants to support this family through an unimaginable time.”
The apartment superintendent declined to speak on record but confirmed that building management is cooperating fully with authorities and reviewing all safety measures.
Parents in the building appeared visibly shaken, many holding their children’s hands tighter than usual. One father, carrying his toddler, stopped to ask if there was any update on the injured child’s condition.
“We’re all praying,” he said simply before continuing toward the elevator.
As dusk approached, a small memorial of stuffed animals and candles began forming near the building’s entrance – a heartbreaking testament to how deeply this incident has affected the community.
Toronto’s history with similar tragedies has led to improvements in building codes and safety requirements over the years, though advocates argue more can always be done to protect vulnerable residents, especially children.
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation‘s most recent housing standards report, buildings constructed before certain safety code updates may have windows that don’t meet current specifications for preventing falls.
As police continue their investigation, residents of 33 Cordella and the surrounding Mount Dennis neighborhood are left to process this tragedy together, a community united in grief and hope for a child’s recovery.
Toronto Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact 12 Division or Crime Stoppers.
