Stay off the ice! City says waterways aren’t safe to walk on

The city is asking people not to walk on iced over ponds or other waterways as the ice is unstable. Hannah Lepine reports.

As winter arrives and temperature fluctuates, the city is reminding Calgarians to be safe around bodies of water.

It’s a yearly reminder that rivers, the Glenmore Reservoir, waterways and storm ponds are not safe this time of year.

According to the city, there are over 350 storm ponds located across Calgary, that help reduce flooding and clean storm water before it goes back to our rivers.

The ice thickness on these ponds is unpredictable as water flows in and out of them, and gaps of air can form underneath the surface.

“Because water is constantly moving through these systems—and carrying sediment and roadway runoff—the ice can weaken without any warning," says Alex Kwan, Public Information Officer with the Calgary Fire Department.

“Even in long cold stretches, the ice on storm ponds is unpredictable and never safe to walk, skate, or play on.”

The city is sharing the following safety tips:

• Never walk, skate or play on storm ponds;
• Watch for and obey safety signage;
• Play and skate where it’s safe;
• Keep pets away from ponds; and
• If you see activity on a storm pond, call 311
• if you see a person or animal falling through the ice, call 911

Officials urge residents not to enter the water and attempt a rescue. Instead, encourage them to kick and pull themselves up onto the ice and roll, rather than walk towards the edge.

If you fall through the ice, the city says to stay calm and shout for help and try and pull yourself onto the ice shelf. If you can’t get out of the water, anchor yourself to the ice shelf and continue to shout for help. If someone is nearby, have them call 911.