19-Year-Old Walmart Employee Found Dead in Walk-in Oven at Halifax Store

A tragic incident at a Walmart store in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has resulted in the death of a 19-year-old employee, Gursimran Kaur, who was found inside a walk-in oven in the store’s bakery department. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, October 19, 2024, when Kaur’s mother, who also works at the store, grew concerned after not seeing her daughter for an extended period and being unable to reach her by phone.

Kaur’s mother, who regularly checked in on her during their shifts together, began searching the store and eventually found her daughter’s charred remains inside the walk-in oven. The discovery has left the mother in a state of psychological agony, and she is receiving counseling and support from the community.

The Halifax Regional Police have launched a complex investigation into the incident, which involves several partner agencies, including Occupational Health and Safety and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service. The police have urged the public to be patient and mindful of sharing speculative information on social media, as the investigation is expected to take a significant amount of time.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Kaur’s family, particularly to help bring her father and brother from India to Canada for the funeral. The page has already exceeded its $50,000 target, reflecting the community’s support for the family during this horrific time.

The store remains closed while the investigation continues, and Walmart has assured that employees will continue to be paid during the closure. The company has also expressed its deepest condolences to Kaur’s family and is providing support to its associates, including on-site assistance and grief counseling.

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration has issued a stop-work order for the bakery and the specific equipment involved, highlighting concerns about workplace safety following the incident.