‘No winter activity is worth risking a life’: Unstable ice raises safety concerns across Waterloo Region

As winter ice builds and then thaws, CTV’s Hannah Schmidt shares some important safety reminders.

With fluctuating temperatures, rain and melting snow, safety officials are warning everyone to stay off ice-covered bodies of water across Waterloo Region.

Local fire crews and conservation officials say what may look frozen can quickly turn dangerous.

CTV News met up with Jeff Lipskie, Deputy Chief of the Woolwich Fire Department, on Tuesday at Conestogo River where he pointed out hazards along the waterway.

“You can see at the shore, where it’s a lot thinner due to the movement of the current, and that’s where a lot of the accidents occur. The ice could look solid, but it can still be very dangerous,” he explained.

He said ice across Woolwich Township and the wider Grand River watershed right now is unpredictable, unstable and potentially deadly.

“Ice conditions and thickness vary due to temperature, water flow and snow cover,” Lipskie said. “We obviously say no ice is safe ice at the end of the day. Ice thickness is unpredictable. So, we do recommend to stay off the ice.”

It’s a message echoed by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA).

“The flow underneath the ice sheet can be eroding it with the warmer water as well,” explained Katelyn Lynch with the GRCA. “Snow can hide weak spots on the ice and insulate it from further creating a thicker ice.”

With the recent up-and-down temperatures, Lynch said it’s a recipe for danger.

“Ice conditions can change very quickly during these freeze-thaw conditions. With the water levels rising, it can create unstable and unsafe ice.”

Signage posted at the Low Bridge over Conestogo River stated that access is limited, and for good reason.

“That’s just for safety reasons,” explained Lipskie. “This area is prone to flooding. So, we keep it closed in the winter months.”

One wrong step could send someone into the fast-flowing river below.

“No winter activity is worth risking a life. That does put us at risk too. You’ve got to keep in mind when we go in the ice and there is a rescue, that also puts our volunteer firefighters at risk too. We want to avoid that also,” Lipskie said.

If residents do head out on the ice to take part in recreational activities, officials said it’s imperative to check the thickness of ice.

The Lifesaving Society of Ontario suggests the following minimum ice thickness measurements for:

• a snowmobile or ATV - 5 inches (12 cm)
• a single car - 8-12 inches (20-30 cm)
• a vehicle (full-size pick up truck) - 12-15 inches (30-38 cm)
• a single person - 4 inches (10 cm)

“The dark blue ice is the safest. White ice is not as safe and the dark gray ice is very unpredictable and dangerous,” Lipskie said.

Officials are reminding residents to avoid stormwater ponds, which are not designed to hold weight and can give way without warning.

“I know lots of people want to do recreational activities or access the ice to cross in areas, however, it’s very unsafe to do that at this time,” Lynch said.

Fire crews and conservation authorities are urging parents and pet owners to be especially cautious, saying the safest choice right now is to stay off of all ice-covered water bodies.