Canadian city relents (somewhat) on anti-tobaggan law

with files from CBC

Canadians across the country have been outraged by a recent spate of municipal by-laws against the iconic Canadian winter sport of tobogganing down snowy winter slopes in city parks.

The city of Hamilton Ontario is now loosening its own stance on this trend across Canada banning the joyful winter sport on city property.

In the face of lawsuits from people injuring themselves while sliding on city property, many jurisdictions have enacted by-laws against the age-old activity.

Hamilton was among those and had a potential fine of up to $2000 if convicted of sliding on city hills.

In fact the city has had an anti-sliding bylaw since 1970 following a lawsuit.  Most residents weren’t aware of the law, until the issue came to light again in 2004 after a lawyer successfully sued the city for $900,000 after he injured himself sliding even though the hill had been posted as a no-sliding zone.

Report on sliding ban

As the issue came to light once again recently following a spate of several other cities banning tobogganing, and howls of protest, a group in Hamilton gathered at a local hill for a tobogganing protest.

A 10 year-old also wrote to city councilor Terry Whitehead saying, ““All I asked Santa Claus for Christmas was for a toboggan so I could go sliding. I now have the toboggan but my dad says I can’t use it in the city of Hamilton. Please, Mr. Whitehead, allow me to use my toboggan.”

Hamilton musician Laura Cole, wanted to slide down a local hill a couple of years ago, but spotted the “No Tobogganing” sign and not only started a petition against the bylaw but wrote the song “You can’t toboggan in the Hammer anymore”.

In the face of the angry backlash from residents, city council has relented somewhat by voting to look into setting up designated sliding locations on city property, and asking the province to amend certain laws to reduce liability in the case of a sliding accident.