British ColumbiaA police investigation continues after a girl fell off a balcony in Vancouver and died. The mother and her eight-year-old daughter were well-known in the communityThe initial 911 calls reported that a child had fallen from the 23rd floor to a balcony on the 7th floorAlanna Kelly · CBC News · Posted: Nov 14, 2025 8:05 PM EST | Last Updated: 4 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence. Police are investigating after an eight-year-old child fell to her death from a balcony at this building in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood on Nov. 11, 2025. (Andrew Lee/CBC)The community of Squamish, B.C., is supporting a grieving mother after her eight-year-old daughter fell to her death from a balcony in Vancouver. Vancouver police said officers were called to a residential high-rise building in Yaletown around 2:30 p.m. PT Tuesday after the child fell from a balcony. She was pronounced dead at the scene, despite life-saving efforts from first responders.The child attended school in Squamish.In a letter to parents, the principal of a school in the Sea to Sky School District said she was “a lovely, friendly girl who will be very missed by all.”Counselling is being offered to students and staff in the community. Friends and co-workers have identified the mother as Mahsa Hedayatzadeh. She works at the Willowbrae Academy Squamish, according to owner and CEO Geoff Stollery. He said Hedayatzadeh and her daughter are well-known in the community.“She is an unbelievably caring and loving mother and her daughter meant everything to her,” Stollery said. “Her daughter was a very, very special child full of joy and happiness and kindness.” The family is asking for privacy at this time but is tremendously appreciative of the outpouring of love and support, Stollery said. Hedayatzadeh is currently on leave from work and is pregnant. WATCH | 8-year-old girl dead after falling from high-rise balcony in Vancouver:8-year-old girl dead after falling from high-rise balcony in VancouverVancouver Police say an eight-year-old girl has died after falling from the balcony of a residential building in Yaletown on Nov. 11. Officers were called to a building near Nelson Street and Expo Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon. As Yasmine Ghania reports, first responders gave the child first aid at the scene but she didn’t survive.Superintendent of Schools Chris Nicholson said in a statement that their thoughts are with the student’s family and friends, as well the entire school community. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of a student from the Sea to Sky School District. Out of respect for the student’s family and their privacy, we are not able to share further details at this time,” Nicholson said.A parent in the community set up a fundraiser that is being overseen by Stollery, who said the funds are directly going to the family. “We’re just hoping for substantial support so that’s the last thing that they need to even think about as they deal with the loss of her daughter,” Stollery said. Hedayatzadeh’s colleague, Sukhi Sandu, wrote that she “has always been a kind and compassionate person, touching the lives of countless children and families with her warmth and care.”VPD Const. Tania Visintin said police investigate all sudden deaths to determine whether criminality is involved.Visintin confirmed in an email to CBC News that the investigation is ongoing and there have been no arrests.ABOUT THE AUTHORAlanna Kelly is a CBC News journalist based in Squamish, B.C., covering the Sea-to-Sky region, including Whistler, Pemberton and the Sunshine Coast. You can email story ideas to alanna.kelly@cbc.ca.
Outpouring of support for Squamish mother after daughter dies in Vancouver
