The Nest is closed indefinitely.
Carbon monoxide was detected in the kitchen of NAIT's on-campus restaurant on Thursday, and two kitchen staff were taken to hospital. Both were released the same day and are doing well, according to the college.
"The Nest will remain temporarily closed while we work with NAIT to investigate concerns with the kitchen environment following an incident today involving heat-related symptoms and the detection of carbon monoxide," the NAIT Students' Association said in a release.
What happened
Alberta Health Services says first responders reached NAIT at about 12:30 p.m. for 10 possible patients, all in stable, non-life-threatening condition.
One person was assessed on scene. Two were transported to hospital, remaining in stable condition throughout.
Further details weren't released due to patient privacy.
The summer work didn't fix it
This is the part that matters.
The Nest operates in a NAIT-owned facility, and the students' association says NAIT completed significant work over the summer to address longstanding kitchen ventilation and temperature concerns.
College spokesperson Veronica Jubinville said the improvements were designed to increase cool air supply and improve heat exhaust in the cooking area. The work was inspected by the City of Edmonton, which issued an occupancy permit on August 21.
Then the semester started.
"During our first three days of operation this semester, however, we have continued to experience excessive temperatures in the kitchen," the students' association said.
"Today's incident has made it clear that further investigation is required."
Three days of operation, and the problem the summer work was meant to solve was still there.
What the college says now
"There is no ongoing emergency or risk to the broader NAIT campus community," Jubinville said.
"Additional monitoring and assessment measures are in place, including ongoing carbon monoxide monitoring by an industrial hygienist."
An industrial hygienist is the specialist who assesses workplace exposure to airborne hazards. Bringing one in is a step beyond routine facilities maintenance.
The students' association says it's working with NAIT facilities management and development, along with technical professionals, to determine the source of the carbon monoxide and assess the performance of the kitchen's ventilation and exhaust systems.
Why carbon monoxide in a commercial kitchen
Gas-fired cooking equipment produces carbon monoxide as a normal byproduct of combustion. In a properly ventilated kitchen, exhaust removes it faster than it accumulates.
When ventilation underperforms, two things happen at once. The ro
m gets hot, because heat isn't being exhausted either, and combustion byproducts build up.
That's consistent with the sequence the students' association described: excessive temperatures first, then a carbon monoxide detection.
Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless. You cannot detect it without an instrument.
Early symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, shortness of breath and confusion. They resemble heat exhaustion and the flu closely enough that people routinely attribute them to something else, which is what makes it dangerous in a hot kitchen specifically.
If you experience those symptoms and suspect carbon monoxide, get to fresh air immediately and call 911.
The Nest is a landmark
This isn't a food court kiosk.
The Nest opened on NAIT's main campus in 1988, built through a partnership between NAITSA, the NAIT Board of Governors and the Government of Alberta. It has always been owned and operated by the students' association.
A major front-of-house renovation in 2012 produced the larger bar, fireplace lounge, accessible stage and keg system it has today.
It's a full-service, fully licensed restaurant serving an average of 200 to 600 walk-in guests a day.
It won Best Campus Bar in the People's Choice awards in 2019 and 2020, and took the number one Campus Best Bar None award from 2014 through 2020.
The last extended closure was during the pandemic, when it shut until September 2022.
What students are saying
The timing is the sore point. This is the first week of the fall term.
"When you're at the Nest, you can enjoy some time with your friends and you can have a bite to eat with some quality food," DT Scales told CBC News. "It's a real shame that it's closed today, especially on a Friday afternoon, when everybody wants to get their lunch and wind down for the long weekend."
"It's like our one highlight of the day: going to the Nest, grabbing a beer, 10 a.m., noon, whatever," said Stone Dzioba. "But you can't even do that now."
What's still unknown
The source of the carbon monoxide.
Whether the summer ventilation work was inadequate, incorrectly executed, or addressed a different problem than the one causing this.
How long the closure lasts. Both the college and the students' association have called it temporary without offering a timeline.
Whether Alberta Occupational Health and Safety is involved. Workers were sent to hospital from a workplace, which is the kind of incident that typically triggers a report.
Where else to eat on campus
NAIT lists open food service locations and hours at nait.ca.
Sources
Nest Eatery — NAIT Students' Association
NAIT Students' Association news release, September 3, 2026
Statements from Veronica Jubinville and Alberta Health Services, and comments from students, as reported by CBC News. Nest awards and closure history as reported by The Nugget.
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