Skating postponed as weather, usage weakens ice at Trout Lake
Posted January 8, 2017 10:55 am.
Last Updated January 8, 2017 11:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If there’s one bright side to all the cold weather in Vancouver, it’s the rare opportunity to do some outdoor skating.
However, one of the city’s most popular skating spots has been used so much, it’s had to close. Trout Lake will not be open for skating today.
The Park Board says conditions aren’t safe to keep it open to the public. Warmer weather and heavy use have weakened the ice.
Jen Garnet can only stand outside the yellow caution tape surrounding Trout Lake with skates in her arms and a sad look on her face.
“It’s kind of sad because we’re seeing a bunch of Parks people walk along the lake, so it looks kind of frozen to me. But I guess the must know something,” says Jen, who recalls she was six years old the last time she was able to skate on a frozen lake in the Vancouver area.
On the other hand, people like George Malburg aren’t deterred by the warnings.
“I’m an adult,” he says. “I don’t need 20 people to tell me that it’s unsafe or that it’s closed. I can tell that myself…I’ve skated on the Assiniboine River in winter. I can assess risk for myself.”‘
City workers forced George and other determined skaters off the ice.
The Park Board say there were nearly 2,000 people out skating yesterday. The board says it will look over conditions on Monday to reassess the situation.
.@ParkBoard says #TroutLake outdoor rink proving to be popular! pic.twitter.com/WWyJAdm9QT
— CityNews Vancouver (@CitytvNews) January 6, 2017
The lake has proven to be a popular spot for skater and winter enthusiasts over the last few days.
