Neck guard sales jump after Sask. hockey player slashed by skate
21h ago
More adult players are now investing in the protective equipment.
Another true sign of spring has sprung.
Fishing shacks need to be removed from the ice on bodies of water south of Highway 16 by the end of the day Monday. The deadline for shack removal north of the highway is March 31.
In a release by the Ministry of Environment on March 3, the province said every year, shacks are left abandoned on the ice.
“When the ice melts, these can pose a danger to boaters, water-skiers and others enjoying our lakes. Pieces of abandoned shelters can also wash up on shore, causing environmental hazards,” the release states.
Shacks must be moved to a location where they can be loaded and transported away by the owner, and all litter must be picked up when the shacks are removed.
If they aren’t moved, owners may be prosecuted and the shack and any items found may be moved off the ice and confiscated.
The ministry also said anyone travelling on the ice should take “extreme caution.”
“Slush indicates that ice is eroding from above and below at an advanced rate. Changing temperatures can cause thermal cracks and pressure ridges, which are indicators of unsafe conditions,” the release continued.
Yvonne Raymer, the assistant fire chief with the Saskatoon Fire Department, said within the city limits, travelling on the river is a no-go.
“(It’s) never an option in the wintertime, because it’s unpredictable,” she said.
“For the ponds, testing was done on March 9 (and) we closed the ponds just due to some open water around the edges as well as the thicknesses ranging in between six to eight inches, depending on where the crews were drilling. It’s now recommended that (ponds) are not being used for recreational use.”
Raymer said there were more phone calls during the spring this year than normal, with people asking if it was safe to travel on the bodies of ice.
The assistant fire chief said if you see someone in trouble on the ice, call 911. If it’s you that is in distress, she offered a tip.
“If you lay down horizontal and start crawling, your weight distribution is spread out over further mass. If you’re standing upright, all your weight is in one spot,” Raymer said.