Elliot Lake residents need 'time to heal' after inquiry

Now that the public inquiry into last summer's roof collapse at the Elliot Lake mall isover,some in this small northern Ontario town say there is asense of relief.

For the past seven months, the community of Elliot Lake has heard sometimes shocking evidence about what led to and followed theAlgoCentre Mall roofcollapse on June 23, 2012.

One resident, who was in the malls food court when the roof gave way, said he found it too difficult to listen to the months of testimony about what happened there.

Im trying to move forward. Im trying to forget about it, Jean Marc Hayward said.I kept getting too many flashbacks.

Hayward was blasted by dust and debrisbut, remarkably, walked out of the mall that tragic day.

He said hes hoping the inquiry report will address some key questions:What could have been done, what should have been done."

Memorial planned for two victims

The mayor of Elliot Lake said planning has begun for a memorial for the two women who died in the mall collapse.

Rick Hamilton said no decisions have been made yet on where a memorial will be located, but said there have been preliminary discussions with their families and city council.

We want to make sure that the families are very closely knit to that decision, Hamilton explained.

Give it a little time to heal. Make sure it is appropriate. Make sure it is topical. Make sure it is in the right place.

He said he expects a memorial will come together within the next year.

Future of mall site unclear

An empty dirt lot sits in the middle of town where the mall used to be and a sign for the stores that used to be in the mall is now covered with black tape.

Hamilton said the future of the site rests with owner Bob Nazarian.

I really cant say much about it, other than it's private property, Hamilton said.

Of course, as a private property owner, he has certain requirements he has to live up to, and as far as I know, he has done that.

When Nazarian returned to Elliot Lake in July to testify at the inquiry, he said he wants to build again on the site, but he has not responded to recent requests from CBC News for an update.

'People didn't do their jobs'

The public inquiry's hearings wrapped up Wednesday with the man who calledthe judicial inquiry.

DaltonMcGuinty, only the third Ontario premier or former premier totestify at a public inquiry in about 70 years, was the last of 125witnesses to testify over 117 days during thehearings,which began March 4.

"All my political instincts told me that this warranted athorough and thoughtful review," he said of his decision to call
the inquiry."A search had been on, and then it was off."

He noted the inquiry is also addressing concerns about theavailability of heavy equipment and expertise, especially in more remote areas.

One resident, Roger Hachey, said he thought McGuinty had comeacross as "really real" and "genuine."

Hachey also said he was glad the hearings were over, and waslooking forward to the recommendations Commissioner Paul Belangerwill make, likely next March, based on 28,900 pages of transcriptsand 11,000 exhibits.

"People didn't do their jobs, provincially, municipally,"Hachey said."That's one thing that has to change: if you're in position ofresponsibility, do your job."

Scars will 'likely never be erased'

The inquiry previously heard how the poorly designed and builtmall a critical hub in the town of 13,000 leaked from theget-go. No one, however, tackled the expensive-to-fix problemsubstantively and decades of water and saltpenetration causedextreme rusting.

Ultimately, a single weld gave way, and part of the rooftop parking deck came crashing down.

Belanger will still hear from expert panels in November andDecember as he forges his recommendations.

"The scars left behind from the deaths of Doloris Perizzolo andLucie Aylwin will likely never be erased," Belanger said in hisclosing comments."But still, one cannot help but admire the spirit of thiscommunity."

Darrin Latulippe, Perizzolo's son-in-law, who has been fiercelycritical of the way the rescue was handled and relatives were keptinformed about what was going on, expressed gratitude for McGuinty's participation.

He also thanked Belanger for "maintaining the dignity andrespect of our lost loved ones."