Toronto City Council votes to lift tobogganing ban at 45 hills
Toronto City Council has voted to reverse a ban on tobogganing at 45 hills that were deemed unsafe by park staff.
During Wednesday’s meeting, councillors approved a motion to remove signs prohibiting tobogganing at those locations and instead install new signs advising about potential risks associated with the activity.
In January, the city banned tobogganing at several parks it deemed “unsafe” because they did not have clear paths for sleds to glide from top to bottom without the obstruction of trees, ditches, trails and fences.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The motion was put forward by Coun. Brad Bradford, who represents Beaches-East York, where one of the parks was banned for tobogganing.
“Torontonians have spoken loud and clear: they want their city to embrace opportunities for fun outdoor winter activities like tobogganing,” Bradford wrote in his motion, which Mayor Olivia Chow supported.
“Rather than prohibit this beloved activity in certain locations, the City will use warning signs to allow park users to make informed decisions about the risk of tobogganing in all locations staff determine a warning is appropriate, along with information about the designated tobogganing hills in the city.”
Bradford’s motion also directs staff to re-install hay bales that were previously in place at those hills.
Concerns over the safety of tobogganing are not new.
In 2017, the city adopted a toboggan hill inspection program. Since then, officials have been surveying popular tobogganing sites to ensure continued safety. The city has 27 parks with designated toboggan hills, which are inspected regularly.
With files from CTV News Toronto's Hannah Alberga and Brooklyn Connolly
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING NEWS Joe Biden drops out of 2024 race, endorses Kamala Harris to be Democratic nominee
U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for re-election after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about the incumbent's fitness for office with the election just four months away. It was a late-season campaign thunderstrike unlike any in American history.
What happens next: Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here's how that might work
With U.S. President Joe Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year.
Justin Trudeau reacts to Joe Biden announcing he won't run for re-election
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden won’t run for re-election Sunday, calling Biden a 'true friend.'
Harris, endorsed by Biden, could become first woman, second Black person to be U.S. president
Kamala Harris could become the first Black woman to head a major U.S. party presidential ticket after U.S. President Joe Biden abruptly ended his re-election bid and endorsed her.
Read Biden's full text announcing the end to his re-election campaign
U.S. President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump. He announced his decision in a letter posted on social media. Read the full text.
LCBO workers ratify tentative agreement, strike ends Monday
The union representing 10,000 workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has ratified a tentative agreement, which will officially end its two-week strike at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
Joy in Newfoundland after 'Lucky 7' fishers survive harrowing days lost at sea
There was a powerful word being repeated in the joyful Newfoundland community of New-Wes-Valley on Sunday: 'Miracle.'
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
NEW YORK (AP) — Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.
A 12-year-old girl is accused of smothering her younger cousin over an iPhone
A 12-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged with murder, accused of smothering her eight-year-old cousin as the younger girl slept. A relative said they had been arguing over an iPhone.