Family of engineer who died at Nova Scotia Power reservoir 'will never be the same,' court hears

Josh Hoffman · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 28, 2025 5:46 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

The household of an technologist who drowned successful a Nova Scotia Power reservoir much than 4 years agone accidental they've struggled to determination guardant since the tragedy. 

Fifteen unfortunate interaction statements were work during a proceeding Friday successful Halifax provincial court in the lawsuit of Andrew Gnazdowsky, 26, who died successful the Marshall Falls reservoir successful Sheet Harbour, N.S., connected Oct. 16, 2020. 

"I don't admit my beingness anymore," Richelle Gnazdowsky, Andrew's mother, told the courtroom. 

Glen Gnazdowsky, Andrew's father, said successful his connection the fallout from his son's decease has torn his household isolated and they "will ne'er beryllium the same."

The unfortunate interaction statements were portion of a two-day sentencing proceeding for 3 companies convicted successful narration to Gnazdowsky's death.

Nova Scotia Power, Brunswick Engineering and Consulting Inc. of Saint John — the institution Gnazdowsky worked for — and Gemtec Consulting Engineering and Scientists Ltd. of Fredericton were found blameworthy successful August for failing to person a rescue vessel connected site when helium went into the h2o to effort to retrieve a portion of malfunctioning survey equipment.

The absorption of the sentencing proceeding was for the tribunal to perceive the statements and for the Crown lawyer and defence lawyers to marque submissions connected what penalties to the companies should look like. 

However, the unfortunate interaction statements were delayed aft the lawyers for the companies raised concerns implicit the contented of the connection prepared by Nicole Gnazdowsky, Andrew's sister.

Victim interaction connection redacted

On Thursday, the defence lawyers asked Judge Elizabeth Buckle to reappraisal Nicole's statement, arguing determination was truthful overmuch inadmissible accusation successful it that she should beryllium fixed the accidental to enactment with the court's unfortunate services to rewrite it. 

Crown lawyer Alex Keaveny agreed determination were parts of the connection that the justice could not trust connected erstwhile considering her condemnation for the companies.

"This is antithetic that I person to prosecute successful this exercise," Buckle said connected Thursday. 

The justice said she would vet the connection overnight and present a determination earlier the proceeding continued Friday greeting connected what could beryllium shared with the court. 

Buckle yet ruled important portions of the connection would beryllium redacted because those parts incorporate respective purported facts that person not been proven. 

Nicole told the courtroom that her intelligence and carnal wellness has deteriorated since her brother's decease and lone the outpouring of emotion for Andrew from household and friends has got her done it. 

Arguments for extent of penalties

The defence lawyers argued penalties to their clients should bespeak the offence they were convicted of and thing more.

The lack of a rescue vessel didn't straight origin Andrew to die, said Brian Casey, the lawyer representing Brunswick Engineering. 

He argued Brunswick Engineering should beryllium fined $45,000 for its relation successful the incident.

The fines should scope from $30,000 for Gemtec Consulting to a maximum of $50,000 for Nova Scotia Power, according to the defence lawyers. 

Keaveny said a good of that magnitude would beryllium "totally meaningless" for a institution arsenic large as Nova Scotia Power and argued for a maximum good of $500,000 that would enactment arsenic a deterrent to different companies. 

Buckle is expected to present her determination connected sentencing connected July 3.