By Patrick Newhook/January 6, 2022
Ice skaters will now have more options when it comes to sporting helmets in Mount Pearl rinks.
The policy change has come as a result of years of inquiry from city residents and a review by city staff.
Council’s community development committee chairperson, Chelsea Lane, announced the policy revision to the city’s helmet policy at the last public council meeting.
“The current city practice is to require individuals who are using these facilities and premises to wear a CSA approved hockey helmet while on the ice service. Users have posed questions regarding the use of other helmets and devices,” said Lane.
The revisions will include changes to the types of helmets worn for recreational skating on city ice services.
According to the City’s minutes, the purpose of this revision is to ensure safety and to reduce the risk of injury while using the ice.
“To require that CSA approved hockey helmets be used for hockey related activities…to require that a CSA approved hockey helmet, recreational alpine skiing and or snowboarding helmets to be used by all individuals partaking in recreational skating, broadly to ensure its applicable to all city facilities and premises with ice surfaces including the proposed outdoor ice surface and to prohibit the use of other kinds of helmets,” said Councilor Lane.
Councilor Jim Locke supported the revision and described it as a positive change in policy.
“I agree. If you’re alpine skiing or if you’re just out for a leisurely skate, then it makes sense,” said councilor Locke.
