The City wants you to be safe when using the lakes, ponds, streams and rivers for recreation this winter.
If you plan to skate or play hockey or take a snow mobile or small car out on any ice surface, check the ice thickness first and keep these tips in mind:
Clear, blue ice is strongest, white opaque or snow ice is half as strong and grey ice is unsafe because it indicates the presence of water.
For skating or hockey, 20 centimetres or 8 inches of ice is required and if you want to take your snowmobile on the ice, you will need at least 10 inches of ice or 25 centimetres to travel safely and 30 centimetres or 12 inches for small cars and trucks.
Ice that forms over rivers, streams and lakes with currents is not safe. The City’s Parks and Landscape Service will inform the public when it's safe for skating at Lily Lake. Until then, many city arenas are offering free public skating and to find out more click here
For more on ice safety, click here
