Child burned at Calgary summer camp

A Calgary mom who says her child was injured at a summer camp claims the camp counsellors were being negligent while on duty.

Kiana Layden says her five-year-old was burned at the Vivo Health for Generations summer camp on Friday, Aug. 26.

“I had so many questions and I just didn’t really know what to feel because she is my only daughter and I was so nervous,” Layden said.

A Facebook post about an incident at Vivo for Healthier Generations’ summer camp that saw a child suffer burns to her hands.

“The first thing that I said when I walked in the summer camp was, how did this happen? And the Vivo staff? There was a lady sitting there and she said, ‘All I can say is she (Ayla) put a pin in a socket and suffered from this electrical shock.’ I was kind of angry, I was anxious.”

Layden’s daughter, Ayla, suffered second-degree burns.

“I just stuck the pin in. I flew back and then all of the kids came to me, and then the counsellors came too,” Ayla Blair recalled, claiming the counsellors were in another room at the time.

The hands of Calgary child Ayla Blair, who suffered burns while at summer camp. (Courtesy of Kiana Layden)

In an email to CityNews, Cynthia Watson, CEO of Vivo, confirms the incident took place. She notes the City of Calgary has reviewed the situation, adding it “indicated that unfortunate as the incident was, it was handled appropriately and no further risks are posed to guests.”

Vivo says first responders were called to the facility and that EMS and the Calgary Fire Department attended. A statement goes on to say that the scene was “surveyed … for any potential dangers.”

“We contacted the emergency contact provided and the camper was released to the care of their family,” the statement continues. “We are glad the young camper is doing ok and understand the distress caused to the camper, their family, and our other campers. We take the safety and well being of all of our guests very seriously, so we are conducting a thorough investigation of the matter, its circumstances, and what we can learn from it.”

Statement from Vivo for Healthier Generations regarding an injury that the child of Kiana Layden went through.

Ayla’s mother says she is disappointed with the statement, adding she personally visited the facility and asked Vivo for more information as well as CCTV footage.

“I got a call from Cynthia Watson around 3 p.m. Monday. She told me she cannot comment any further towards this situation. She cannot provide me with any information or statement or incident report, video footage, etc. She also told me her insurance company has been notified and that they will be doing the communication and that is why she cannot comment any further,” Layden said.

While Ayla is recovering, Layden says her child’s middle finger is still without sensation.