CENTRE WELLINGTON, Ont. – Regardless of the latest onslaught of snow, residents may need a more durable time discovering locations to toboggan on the town this winter.
In line with a new report coming to Centre Wellington council subsequent week, workers are recommending the township develop a formalized winter actions danger administration program together with tobogganing and group ice rinks for full implementation within the 2026 winter season.
Within the meantime, workers are recommending tobogganing “be prohibited on all different township lands” till a remaining report is taken into account by council.
Employees are additionally recommending allowing tobogganing at Foote Park and Southridge Park in Fergus for the rest of the 2025 winter, inclusive of interim danger administration practices. The tobogganing ban at Ferrier Park in Elora is really useful to be maintained with obstacles put in to “deter exercise.”
Thus far for ice rinks, workers suggest common inspections and putting in acceptable signage at Southridge Park and Bissel Park in Elora and Highland Park in Fergus. The township at the moment manages 11 skating rinks on township property.
The township put in “no tobogganing” indicators at a number of township parks like Foote Park final month “to mitigate potential dangers” after considerations have been raised concerning residents’ well being and security whereas utilizing township parks for tobogganing or ice skating.
The report says this “non permanent motion” allowed workers to coordinate with the township’s insurance coverage supplier and conduct a complete danger evaluation of designated tobogganing hills and outside ice rinks in Centre Wellington.
Employees stated there will likely be monetary implications because the proposed program exceeds present staffing capability throughout winter months and is recommending a brand new non permanent, full-time winter seasonal labourer place be created. The place is anticipated to value $12,000 in 2025 and $29,000 in 2026.
A remaining report on this system will come to council for approval in June 2025.
The complete report is obtainable here.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Native Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
Characteristic picture by iStock.com/omgimages
