Ep 5. Calamity Comes to Canada

In season 4 episode 5 of Engineering Catastrophes, titled "Calamity Comes to Canada," viewers will be taken on a journey to explore some of the most shocking engineering disasters that have occurred in Canada. The episode will showcase the consequences of some engineering decisions and the devastating effects they have had on the environment, economy, and people’s lives.

The first segment of the show will highlight the failure of the Cheakamus dam in British Columbia, Canada. The dam was designed to generate hydropower and was considered to be one of Canada's largest sources of energy. However, shortly after its construction, catastrophic events unfolded, leading to a massive disaster. The episode will explore the challenges faced by engineers in designing a dam in such a mountainous region and how these challenges ultimately led to the collapse of the Cheakamus dam.

The episode will then shift its focus to the unfortunate incident that occurred at the Elliot Lake Mall in Ontario, Canada. In 2012, the roof of the mall collapsed, killing two people and injuring several more. The investigation determined that the collapse was due to long-term leaks and porous concrete. The episode will highlight how engineers design structures to handle adverse climatic conditions and the consequences of overlooking these critical factors. The incident serves as an example of how a simple engineering mistake can lead to a tragic loss of life.

The third segment of the show will discuss the 2013 oil train derailment that occurred in Quebec, Canada. A train carrying crude oil derailed and subsequently exploded, leading to significant environmental damage and the loss of 47 lives. The episode will explore how inadequate safety regulations, poor track maintenance, and the specific properties of the oil led to this disaster. The engineers involved in managing the train and track were unaware of the risks, which ultimately led to the catastrophe.

The last segment of the show will explore the 1999 Molson Indy car race that was held in Toronto, Canada. During the race, the driver's sudden braking caused a particular stretch of the track to buckle and collapse, leading to a massive pile-up of vehicles. While there were no fatalities, several drivers sustained injuries, some of which were life-threatening. The episode will explore how engineers work to design tracks that can handle high-speed races and the consequences of not anticipating the forces generated during abrupt stopping.

Overall, "Calamity Comes to Canada" is an informative and enlightening episode that takes viewers through some of Canada's worst engineering disasters. The episode serves as a warning to the world about the importance of proper engineering practices and the need to recognize and address potential risks. It challenges engineers to continue designing and implementing safety measures that will help prevent such catastrophes from recurring in the future.