The City of Kitchener is reversing course on its boat ban at Victoria Park. New signs went up at the beginning of June warning visitors that recreational activities were not permitted in the water, including swimming, fishing and ice skating. Another image, of a person paddling in a boat, was also crossed out. “The lake is part of the city’s municipal stormwater system with specific regulatory requirements as a stormwater facility. Recently, the city updated signage at Victoria Park to align with safety signage across all stormwater facilities in Kitchener,” the city explained on June 8. The change was disappointing to urban canoeist Matt Morris, who regularly paddles in Victoria Park Lake. He was one of residents who urged the city to reconsider the rules. “We’re in the core of this beautiful city, and it’s a beautiful waterway, and so I did what I could to try to get the city to relook at it,” Morris told CTV News. On July 3, a sticker was placed over the “no recreational activities” symbol. “The city recognizes that this is a unique and beloved feature of our community and is once again allowing boating at this site in recognition of its historically differentiated status,” they said in an email to CTV News. “Our goal is to balance safe community use with the long-term stewardship of this valued public space.” Victoria Park is located in Ward 9, which is represented by Councillor Debbie Chapman. “It is a stormwater pond, which was the reason staff first brought the prohibition into place, which I understand,” she explained. “But given the reality of how the pond is structured, I think we all agree that it’s safe enough to allow boating to continue.” Morris was also pleased with the reversal and was back on the water Friday. “It was fantastic,” he said. “Even though it’s, I think feels like 40 degrees [Celsius] or something today, there’s something cooling about being on the water.” Morris was also hopeful more people would take the opportunity to go out on the water. “It’s just an urban oasis, and I encourage even hardcore canoeists to grab your canoe and come on down.” Eric Knight recently moved to downtown Kitchener and wants to go boating in Victoria Park. He plans to buy his own canoe. “It’s something to keep out of trouble. It’s something peaceful to do.” In the past, boat rentals were available at Victoria Park. Chapman said that could return in future but, for now, she’s just pleased to see people paddling in the park. “There is an interest in it and we’re happy that we can be able to provide that.” “We’re not in Lake Huron or Erie or Ontario,” added Morris. “We don’t have a big piece of water, but we do have water right in the core, just a few steps from the LRT for goodness sakes, and so why not make use of that water.” With reporting from Karis Mapp.
