Inmate’s Death at Edmonton Remand Centre Marks Third Case Under Investigation in Two Months
An inmate at the Edmonton Remand Centre was found unresponsive in her cell on Friday, marking the third death under investigation at the facility in less than two months.
Alberta Justice spokeswoman Louise McEachern confirmed that correctional staff performed CPR immediately and contacted police and emergency responders. Despite their efforts, the woman was pronounced dead Friday afternoon. Her next of kin has been notified.
According to McEachern, the cause of death remains unknown, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting a full investigation. An internal review is also underway “to determine what, if anything, could be done to prevent a similar incident in the future.”
This incident follows two earlier deaths reported in May.
On May 5, 29-year-old Carol Lee Bivand died in her cell one day after being declared mentally unfit to stand trial. Although her identity was confirmed publicly in mental health court, the government did not verify it due to privacy laws. A close friend noted that Bivand had struggled with addiction and mental health challenges prior to her incarceration.
On May 19, another inmate — a man — was also found unresponsive in his cell and later died. Both cases remain under review.
Alberta Justice has said that findings from the internal reviews will eventually become public through a fatality inquiry, which only takes place after all investigations and legal matters have concluded. These inquiries often occur years after the original incident.
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Correctional staff acted quickly by performing CPR — a reminder that immediate response can be critical during life-threatening emergencies.
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