LaSalle tragedy that claimed life of 3-year-old girl raises concerns over inflatable play structure safety
Posted June 3, 2026 4:00 am.
Last Updated June 3, 2026 4:23 pm.
The death of a three-year-old girl from a bouncy castle tossed into the air by strong winds in Montreal over the weekend is drawing mourners to the area and creating questions over the safety of inflatable play structures.
As the community continues to mourn, support for the young girl’s family is pouring in. Thousands have stepped forward to help. An online fundraiser has now received more than 3,000 donations, raising over $350,000 since Tuesday when it was posted.
“It’s like the little community over here, all the Italian community, and yes we support one another,” said Rosella Peluzzo, who witnessed the tragedy on Sunday.
At Ouellette Park in LaSalle, a memorial of teddy bears and flowers was set up under a tree, along with notes from family and friends.
“Just to see the memorial just shows how much love and hope. People care and are there for the family even if they don’t know them,” said Alex, a LaSalle resident.
Peluzzo says the community is in shock. “Me myself I never witnessed something like that so I don’t know, like there is no words… they’re all like they have no words about it they all feel sorry for this little girl who lost her life.”
Eleven people were injured when a bouncy castle and a tent were tossed by the wind at the park in LaSalle.
While experts emphasize strict anchoring, surface selection, and pausing operations during wind gusts over 30 km/h, the incident highlights a regulatory gap in Quebec regarding these devices.
“For extra regulations make sure people anchor the games, respect the weight and capacity of the games,” said Rodrigo De Saro, who owns Cool Games and rents inflatable play structures.
De Saro says installation requires a flat surface, proper grass area, secure anchoring, and anchors placed at an angle, keeping structures away from fences, hard surfaces, and walls. Weather also plays a role, as rain can affect the electrical motor, and open spaces can increase wind exposure.
Environment Canada says wind speeds were up to 50 km per hour on Sunday afternoon during the party held by a church.
Unlike amusement rides, inflatable play structures are not regulated by the provincial agency that oversees construction of buildings and other facilities.
–With files from The Canadian Press
