Toronto city council votes to reverse ban on tobogganing at 45 hills

City staff will remove signs prohibiting tobogganing and install ones warning of risks instead

CBC.ca
Feb. 8, 2024
Muriel Draaisma

Coun. Brad Bradford, who represents Beaches-East York, is pictured here in East Lynn Park, a popular park that slopes down from Danforth Avenue near Woodbine Avenue. (CBC)

Toronto will reverse a ban on tobogganing at 45 hills in city parks, council decided on Wednesday.

Council made the decision 21 to 3 at its meeting on Wednesday. Coun. Brad Bradford, who represents Beaches-East York, moved a motion on the issue and Mayor Olivia Chow seconded it.

Councillors Mike Colle, who represents Eglinton-Lawrence, Stephen Holyday, who represents Etobicoke-Centre, and Gord Perks, who represents Parkdale-High Park, voted against the motion.

Council will direct city staff to take down signs prohibiting tobogganing at the 45 hills and install new signs warning about the potential risks of the activity. The new signs will also let residents know where they can find designated tobogganing hills that the city inspects regularly and maintains.

As well, council decided to direct the acting general manager of its parks, forestry and recreation division to put back hay bales that were placed on hills where tobogganing had been prohibited.

"We all understand how important this is to our communities," Bradford told council in its chambers.

"Sometimes, city council, as elected officials, we need to stand up and really advocate hard for our communities, even if that puts us in a different position than perhaps the staff perspective. That's okay. We're all professionals. We work together," he added.

"At the end of the day, I want to make sure our communities are places for families where people can have fun and have access to the outdoors in a safe and accessible way. We're going to get there with this."

City no tobogganing sign
Signs like this one will be taken down after the city council decision on Wednesday. (CBC)
City staff told councillors before the vote that they classified tobogganing hills into three categories: hills designated for tobogganing, hills that were considered grey zones that were not inspected or maintained for tobogganing, and hills where tobogganing was prohibited.

According to staff, there were 29 toboggan hills in 27 city parks designated for tobogganing and 45 prohibited hills, along with 57 parks with grey zone hills.
Fight over Toronto's ban on tobogganing at 45 hills headed to city council
If city staff need to close a tobogganing hill in an emergency situation, they will still be able to do so through an existing bylaw, Bradford said after proposing an amendment to his motion that passed.

Coun. Paula Fletcher, who represents Toronto-Danforth, said she appreciated the debate.

"I think that we have learned a lot and I hope that staff have learned a lot," she said.

Cost of changes is $13K, staff say
According to a fiscal impact statement provided by the city, the cost of removing the signs at prohibited hills and installing new hay bales is $13,000.

The statement says the city has received eight claims in the past 10 years in relation to toboggan accidents in the city.

It goes on to say that changes to the city's tobogganing program would increase the city's exposure to liability from injuries suffered by members of the public who toboggan.
'No fun': Toronto bans tobogganing at 45 hills across city, says councillor unhappy with move
"As a result of the variable and unpredictable/unforeseen nature of legal claims, the exact volume and costs associated with those claims is difficult to forecast. However, the costs of these claims to the city (including settlements and/or court judgments, legal costs and fees, disbursements, and interest) could be millions of dollars," the statement reads.

Councillors went into a closed session to ask questions of staff about municipal liability before making a decision.

In addition to reversing the ban, council decided to ask the province to work with municipal governments on amending legislation that addresses municipal liability stemming from the use of city property for recreational activities.

The issue arose after city staff placed no tobogganing signs at 45 hills, including at East Lynn Park, a popular park on the Danforth in Bradford's ward. The city had said hazards obstructed slopes.

Bradford raised the issue, saying Toronto was becoming a "no fun" city. "We don't want to live in a bubble-wrapped society," he said at the time.

City staff said in January that designated toboggan hills must have a clear path from the top of the slope to the bottom, without any obstacles or hazards, such as trees, ditches, trails or fencing. The designated hills are inspected regularly to ensure safety, the city added.