Enjoy Winnipeg’s river ice in safety

Wildwood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/03/2023 (1150 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When walking on Wildwood’s trails along the banks of the Red River in winter, I often see skiing and walking trails on the river and wonder if I can venture out. But I also see open spots on bodies of water in mid-winter and generally stay off natural ice unless I ask someone with expertise or am in an approved area.

I asked a friend with some ice knowledge, Darrell Bushuk, about such open spots and ice safety. He says currents affect ice thickness and may pick up around bridge piles.

Bushuk has created an ice rink on the Red River below his house on Kingston Crescent since 2000. His two boys have grown up playing hockey with family and friends on the river. The work involved in creating a large rink pays off when a group gets together for some shinny on a sunny winter day. It’s a great experience, says Bushuk.

Bushuk uses an ice-fishing auger to measure the ice and ensure the rink’s safety. He makes sure the ice is at least a foot thick and continues to test the rink ice regularly.

If you’re like me, with little knowledge of ice, you’ll probably want to stick to natural ice kept and tested by those with solid ice knowledge. The Nestaweya River Trail is checked for thickness regularly, as are park ponds. The city doesn’t check creeks, rivers, or retention ponds.

In general, ice has to be 10 cm thick or more for ice-fishing, cross-country skiing and walking – even thicker for activities such as snowmobiling. The colour of ice tells of its safety: blue ice is the strongest, while grey ice is unsafe.

Christopher Love, the water smart and safety management co-ordinator for Lifesaving Society Manitoba, recently said “people must always be aware when near ice,” noting it’s never 100 per cent safe and is always unpredictable. Love says to enjoy the ice with others and to supervise children.

In Winnipeg, we are blessed with various waterways on which we can enjoy winter ice. Bushuk’s son Mitch, who lives in Princeton, N.J., has a friend, Piero. who had never skated on natural ice. Piero heard of the family’s river rink and recently visited the city with Mitch. The extended Bushuk family and Piero all enjoyed some hockey on the rink and hit the ice trails at The Forks, ensuring he got a proper Winnipeg winter experience.