Remove barriers so everyone wins at winter

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/03/2023 (1263 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Make no mistake, Winnipeg is a winter city. Just ask any runner, skier, or outdoor enthusiast and you’ll be met with a frosty “hell yeah.” As outlined in the Free Press’s Feb. 20 editorial (Winnipeg finally embracing ‘winter-city’ tagline), we’re on the right track to become a world-class winter city but, we’re not there yet, and we never will be until we remove the barriers.

The editorial references the Wolseley Winter Wonderland and the communal spirit in which it was created. For clarity, the Wolseley Wonderland is a two-kilometre stretch on the Assiniboine River adjacent to Wolseley. It is one of many such volunteer-driven parkways that dot the Assiniboine, Red and Seine rivers within the Perimeter Highway.

The Wolseley Wonderland is maintained by a handful of neighbours who are highly invested in the civic health of our neighbourhood. Another 40 or 50 volunteers (we call them “angels”) quietly lend a hand when they have an hour or two to spare.

We shovel snow (lots and lots of snow), improve accessibility, flood skate trails, install art, build and maintain ski trails and rinks, create cosy shelters with fire pits and generally enhance the winter-city river experience.

Here’s the rub.

Should someone hurt themselves while enjoying the Wonderland, volunteers may be held liable. Further, our volunteer base does not have the means or skill set to build accessible ramps or stairs, which further increases the risk of bodily harm.

Volunteers have created a hodgepodge of access steps and railings and although our efforts are honourable and appreciated by the community, none of these builds is universally accessible. Short of carrying a person living with a physical disability to ice level, there is no safe or dignified access.

Wikipedia defines winter city as “a concept for cities in northern latitudes that encourages them to plan their transportation systems, buildings and recreation projects around the idea of using their infrastructure during all four seasons rather than just two seasons”. If we accept this universal definition of winter city then, clearly we’re not there yet.

There are two barriers to Winnipeg becoming a world-class winter city: liability and accessibility.

First, we must shift the liability barrier away from volunteers to the City of Winnipeg. Volunteers should not be placed in the untenable position of assuming 100 per cent risk while the larger community benefits from their hard work. If we agree that the Wolseley Winter Wonderland is exemplary of the winter-city concept, why is it that we do not have the support of our city?

The solution is for the city to extend the same blanket liability coverage to Wolseley (and other river parkways) that is provided to The Forks’ Nestaweya Trail. Communities requesting liability insurance for their river parkway may contribute a nominal fee to help defray costs. Yes, there are endless issues and questions arising from this proposal, but we don’t know what we don’t know. In other words, let’s start the discussion.

The second barrier is universal access. There are five city-built access points along the Wonderland, which is positive. The trouble is they end just before the steep river bank, leaving people wanting to access the Wonderland no choice but to scramble down (or claw their way up) the frozen muddy bank. This is where slips and falls happen, which can result in broken bones or sprained limbs.

Volunteers’ solutions range from ropes tied to trees, steps carved out of frozen mud, railings, and recycled wooden steps. These are all creative solutions but they only work (marginally well) for people without physical disabilities.

The solution is for the city to install safe and universally accessible ramps. The ramps would allow access for all people, including those in wheelchairs, and those who use adaptive mobility devices. The ramps could be built locally and are not big-ticket infrastructure. As with the issue of liability, we can explore a cost-share scenario with the city.

Our rivers are a diamond in the rough. The Nestaweya River Trail is a positive first step to realizing the full potential of our rivers, but we can do better. To become a world-class winter city we must remove the barriers to full community participation.