Bon Soo 'bum slides' cancelled due to lack of snow

No bum slides at Bon Soo 2024 Sliding, a popular children's activity at Bon Soo, has been cancelled due to the ongoing mild winter.

As Sault Ste. Marie's premier winter event is set to kick off this week, mild weather is prompting some changes to the schedule.

With snow in short supply, the popular Bon Soo ‘bum slides’ are a no-go this year.

"When you think Bon Soo, it's one of the things you automatically think of," said Bon Soo coordinator Josh Ingram, who said the cancelation was a tough decision to make.

The Polar Bear Plunge is still happening outside the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. However, with very little ice to stand on, swimmers will be plunging into the St. Marys River from the shore.

The Polar Rush obstacle course at Bellevue Park will go ahead as planned, but with soggy, muddy grounds, organizers said it could get messy.

"It might look a little bit more like a 'Tough Mudder' this year, but we're still going," said Ingram, who said there is still plenty to do at Bon Soo despite some event cancelations.

"You shouldn't be worried about the warm weather," he said.

"There's not going to be one spot where we turn you away. You come down Monday night, there's Bon Con, there's Fire & Ice Hot Sauce Challenge, there's something for you every day at Bon Soo whether you're a tot, or whether you're ready to get a pint."

Ingram said there some events are weather dependent, and any further changes to the event schedule will be posted online.