A woman who lost her son in a tobogganing accident six years ago has taken sides in the recent debate over local tobogganing bans.
Robin Ferguson, of Colborne, Ont., agrees with parents who turned out for a recent protest in Orangeville, Ont., that the popular winter pastime should not be outlawed.
“If we take away tobogganing, what’s next?” asks Ferguson. “Do we take away riding a bicycle or skating on a pond?”
Mitchell Ferguson’s death
Ferguson’s son Mitchell was 14-years old when he was killed in Dec. 2008.
He died after his toboggan hit a tree, causing severe head trauma.
Under the snow was a sheet of ice that may have sped up his sled.
Ferguson calls the accident “a fluke” and says she still believes the sport can be enjoyed safely.
Orangeville’s ban
Orangeville, Ont., banned tobogganing after the town’s insurance company said it may be a liability issue.
A “no tobogganing” sign had been posted at a popular sledding spot called Murray Mountain in 2009, but was recently moved to a more visible place, according to the town.
After it was noticed, parents organized a “sled in” on social media. They showed up last Sunday and defied the rule, replacing the “no tobogganing” sign with one that said “save tobogganing.”
Orangeville’s mayor later said there was no official by-law prohibiting tobogganing and he would revisit the issue with the insurance company.
Helmets could help
Ferguson says that making tobogganing safer would be more reasonable than bans.
Dr. Vikram Ralhan, an emergency room physician at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland, Ont., agrees.
He told CTV Barrie that he sees many injuries from tobogganing – and that helmets may have prevented them.
“You can't stop anyone from going tobogganing,” he says. “But at least you can try and protect yourself to reduce your chance of head injuries.”
