'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
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.