Body of P.E.I. man recovered months after fatal accident at Alberta oilsands site
Kenneth Joseph MacAulay, 66, of Souris, P.E.I., was working at Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills operation on Jan. 13, 2026, when the heavy equipment he was operating sank into the muskeg. The cause of the accident is still being investigated by the province.
Kenneth Joseph MacAulay was recovered earlier this week by emergency workers
Vincent McDermott · CBC News
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Emergency workers have located and recovered the body of a Prince Edward Island man who died in a January workplace accident at an oilsands mine north of Fort McMurray, Alta.
The man was working at Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills operation on Jan. 13, 2026, when the heavy equipment he was operating sank into the muskeg. The worker’s family has confirmed to CBC News that the victim was Kenneth Joseph MacAulay, 66, of Souris, P.E.I.
MacAulay's family learned on Tuesday that the body was recovered, according to a statement from the family provided to CBC. A Suncor spokesperson did not confirm when MacAulay’s body was recovered.
“Recovery has remained our top priority with continuous efforts underway since the event. These activities were technically and operationally complex, and we needed to ensure the safety of response personnel at every stage,” said Suncor spokesperson Tara Weber in an email.
“Our thoughts continue to be with the individual’s family, friends and colleagues.”
A statement to CBC News from MacAulay’s wife and two stepdaughters described MacAulay as a selfless and dedicated family man and “loyal friend,” as well as a “dearly loved and respected” volunteer with the Alcoholics Anonymous community.
The family thanked the emergency workers for their efforts, and said the recovery will help bring closure to MacAulay’s friends, family and community.
Kenny MacAulay, centre, with his stepdaughters Sasha Bruce and Deanna Chaisson. (Supplied by Sasha Bruce)
“Our hearts remain incredibly heavy as we continue to navigate the grief of losing him. But through that heartbreak, we hold onto the hope of finding some peace and closure, knowing that Kenny is finally coming home to us, to the place he loved most,” read the statement.
“While these past nine months have been nothing short of heartbreaking for our family, we recognize that this has not been easy for anyone involved, and we are deeply thankful for their dedication, compassion and perseverance.”
The cause of the accident is still being investigated by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety. No charges have been issued.
Previous workplace fatalities at Fort Hills include the 2019 death of Jonathan Murphy, who was run over by a vehicle, and the 2020 deaths of two workers in a pickup truck that came into collision with a bulldozer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vincent McDermott covers Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo region for CBC News. He was previously the editor of Fort McMurray Today, where he was part of a team that won a National Newspaper Award for coverage of the 2016 Horse River Wildfire. He is also a former contributor to the official magazine of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He can be reached at vincent.mcdermott@cbc.ca
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