Boardwalk Centre residents left with water damage, falling ceiling after July storm as repairs stall

Boardwalk Centre residents are demanding immediate action as water damage from a late-July severe thunderstorm remains unrepaired weeks later, leaving tenants facing mold, ceiling collapses and insurance complications.

On the 17th floor, resident Nikita Butakov is dealing with damage on his balcony after bricks fell from the building during the storm, which brought 120-kilometre winds. Boardwalk installed a temporary wooden wall to block the affected area, but Butakov says it's not safe without permanent repairs. "It feels pretty sad and frustrating because they're not so cooperative. They didn't respond," he said.

Boardwalk told media Tuesday that engineering requested the fallen brick remain in place for analysis after inspections were completed, and cleanup would proceed later that day. Bricks remain on the ground outside the building.

On the 20th floor, residents Amanda Proudfoot and Jensen Maitland are living with far more serious damage. "We got up and the water was pouring out of our air intake down the wall. It was like a lake in here," Maitland said. Proudfoot added: "We're living in mold, and we can't have our kid here. I have a senior cat, a very senior cat. We're both asthmatic."

After a second major flood, their ceiling started falling. "We asked for asbestos testing, which they refused to do," Maitland said. "They came in and drilled holes into the ceiling and walls." The couple is now pursuing legal action.

Maitland said Boardwalk told them it would cooperate with their insurance company, but progress has stalled. "We haven't heard much," he said. Insurance complications run deeper: the couple was told that if damage is caused by negligence — such as a failure to fix the roof — their insurance becomes void.

In a statement to media, Boardwalk said it "takes all reports of water intrusion, property damage, mold, or concerns regarding living conditions seriously" and works "closely with resident members and their adjusters by supplying information necessary to support the claims process."

Butakov is asking for immediate repairs and compensation for water damage. Neither Boardwalk nor the city has disclosed the total number of affected suites or the full repair timeline. The July storm caused at least $20 million in damages across the city according to Edmonton's city manager.