Lessons in the wake of the L'Isle-Verte's seniors' home fire

While many mourn an entire community of elderly people in L'Isle-Verte, Quebec, it was - as we now know - a building that "met code" even without a sprinkler system. And there are thousands of seniors' residences without them. Today, we're asking about the political will to protect our elderly.

Protection of the elderly ... Our parents, Our grandparents and eventually Ourselves

"We will be there expressing our sympathy and our support for all of those who are left behind and those who have been lost. I can't say anything more at this time. It's already a lot for me".Roch Bernier, the owner of the Quebec seniors' residence speaking publicly for the first time after attending mass in L'Isle-Verte

A thick layer of ice covers the remains of the Résidence du Havre. And Beneath the thick layer of ice covering the it, the remains of a fire that killed at least 10 people, and likely many more. Officials say another 22 people remain missing and presumed dead.

Many residents were older than 85 and had limited mobility. Authorities are using steam to melt the ice so they can reach the wreckage beneath. The building had a partial sprinkler system, but it didn't cover the older part of the building. There is no official word yet on the fire's cause. Police say it's too early to say that a cigarette started the blaze.

The incident in L'Isle-Verte is one of the deadliest seniors' home fires in Canadian history. But there have been many others.

In 2009, Denise Collins was a personal support worker at the Muskoka Heights Retirement Residence in Orillia, Ontario. She was the only staff member working the night a fire broke out. Four people were killed. Denise Collins was in Orillia.

Cyril Hare is a retired fire chief from Mississauga, Ontario, and is now a fire safety consultant with Cyril Hare and Associates. He was the chief fire inspector in 1980, when a fire at the Extendicare Nursing Home in Mississauga killed 25 people. And he was fire chief when eight seniors died at the Meadowcroft Place retirement residence in 1995. Cyril Hare joined us in Toronto.

If you or one of your family members live in a seniors' residence, you may now have urgent concerns about their safety.

Christine Taylor is a former nursing home administrator. She created the web sites, NursingHomeRatings.ca and InformedSenior.ca, both of which provide forums for residents and their family members to share experiences.

Do you have thoughts to add to this discussion on safety in seniors' residences?

Tweet us @thecurrentcbc or e-mail us through our website. Call us toll-free at 1 877 287 7366. And as always if you missed anything on The Current, grab a podcast.

This segment was produced by The Current's Karin Marley, Gord Westmacott, Pacinthe Mattar and Alexa Huffman.