Outdoor skaters ignoring warnings about unsafe ice in Toronto

Outdoor skating enthusiasts are ignoring warnings about unsafe ice, prompting calls to police and bylaw officers.

Signs are posted all around Grenadier Pond in High Park saying that skating is banned on the ice, but people still continue to skate on it.

“It’s beautiful,” said Mike, who has been skating at Grenadier for decades. “The ice is very clean and smooth.”

There is never any guarantee that the ice is safe, which is why the city keeps sending bylaw officers over to try to keep skaters off, but they keep coming back.

“It’s unbelievable when it’s dark and the moon is out and stars are out, it’s like magic,” another skater said.

“Do you worry about falling through?,” the person was asked. “No” was reply.

The city is worried about injury and liability, but skaters say they should be able to decide for themselves whether it’s worth the risk.

On Sunday, City Rinks Toronto, which is run by skating enthusiasts, said a bylaw officer was sent to Grenadier Pond in the afternoon.

“He stood on the edge of the pond blowing a whistle to signal to skaters to get off,” the post read.

It also notes that the ice is not measured by city staff, and at the time, it was 30 centimetres thick.

 

Do you think people who skate on ice where it’s banned should be ticketed? Share your comments in the space provided below.

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