Toronto councilors vote to ban sledding on 45 hills – Toronto

While there may be a lack of actual snow on the ground, Torontonians can officially go sledding on all 45 of the city's previously designated “dangerous” hills after a wave of public pushback.

Toronto city councilors on Wednesday voted (21-3) to lift the city's ban on sledding, which was implemented on Jan. 14 and has seen no-sledding signs posted on 45 hills.

Mike Colle, Stephen Holliday and Gord Perks were the three council members who voted against the proposal.

At Wednesday's city council meeting, councilors approved a proposal by Beaches-East York Councilor Brad Bradford to remove signs in the city prohibiting sledding and install new signs warning of potential hazards associated with the service, as well as information on where to find other designated sledding hills in the city. .

City crews will also re-establish hay bales that previously existed on hills where sledding is prohibited.

In January, the city banned sledding in several parks, deeming it “dangerous” because the hills “may pose a sliding hazard.”

“I think it's ridiculous,” Toronto resident Bill Martin told Global News at the time, referring to signs at some parks prohibiting anyone from sliding down the hill.

The City of Toronto said the reason for its signs is to stop children or other wintertime enthusiasts from crashing into trees, poles or other obstacles.

— With files from Global News' Isaac Callan and Noor Ibrahim

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