'I don't think a fish is worth your life,' Experts caution ice anglers on risky conditions
The fluctuating weather conditions have police warning yet again against venturing out on icy lakes, adding the risk is real.
"I don't think a fish is worth your life," said Const. Luke Hoekstra, York Regional Police Marine and Underwater Recovery Unit.
"Just as recent as yesterday, we've had permanent ice huts fall through in as little as three to four inches of ice in areas where there should've been a lot of ice," the marine unit officer added.
With the Brechin Lions Club Ice Fishing Derby slated to be full this weekend, local fish hut operators are making the necessary safety adjustments.
"We had our huts out two to three [kilometres]," said Aaron Willis, Brechin Point Hut Rentals co-owner. "So we brought all the huts back."
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Police urge those eager to get on the lakes this Family Day weekend to check with experts about the quality and thickness of the ice daily.
"Oh, it can change in a heartbeat," Willis noted.
Police say that rapidly changing conditions could send the most experienced ice-goer into the water.
"You've got 10 minutes of actually good motor function to help yourself, and then you have one hour to survive in a lot of cases," Const. Hoekstra concluded.
While businesses like Lagoon City's Pier One Resort hope for a financial boost from the fishing derby this weekend, authorities want everyone to keep safety top of mind.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Feds hope to table foreign interference legislation next week: LeBlanc
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to table legislation this week to help the federal government address foreign interference, but he wouldn't say whether the proposal will include a foreign agent registry.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.