Could helmets soon be mandatory on BC ski hills?
Posted December 13, 2011 4:18 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Is it time for BC to follow Nova Scotia and make helmets at ski hills mandatory? Nova Scotia has had 11 skiers and snowboarders suffer traumatic brain injuries over a decade and a new law would carry fines of $250.
Not every one thinks it is a good idea. A past board member of the Brain Injury Association of Canada feels education not legislation may be the way to go. Richard Kinar is worried about the possible impact on tourism.
“There are a lot of tourists that come from outside of the country the could potentially arrive without a ski or snowboard helmet, or be opposed to wearing helmets. It creates interesting questions on how you deal with issues like this, particularly surrounding obligatory helmet use.”
Kinar says the idea of mandatory helmets makes for interesting discussion.
“I believe this is going to put a lot of pressure on the ski industry and will open up a healthy debate about how we deal with health care issues and personal freedom’s.”
West Vancouver Sea to Sky MP John Weston, doesn’t see regulations on the horizon, noting the role of government is not necessarily to make new regulations, but sometimes to help raise awareness.
Ski and snowboard helmet usage among Canadian skiers is said to be around 80 per cent in Canada.
