The Province of Manitoba’s Fishing Guide requires shelters to be removed by March 10. If any remain beyond that date the owner’s could face fines.
Ice experts say the spring thaw is creating unpredictable conditions.
To demonstrate the danger, the Red Cross held a cold water rescue demonstration on Monday, March 11.
“With that water coming down the river, we don’t know what it’s going to do with the thickness of the ice,” said Shawn Feely of the Red Cross.
Gordon Giesbrecht of the University of Manitoba, who is known as Professor Popsicle, volunteered to demonstrate what happens when somebody falls through thin ice.
He skated to a weak spot on the Red River and plunged into the icy water.
“It’s very cold and we’re just trying to get people the message that it’s thin ice month,” he said, “The ice is thinner than you think and stay off the ice.”
He was pulled from the ice by the Water Rescue Unit.
Not everyone is wary of the danger.
Ice fisherman Trevor Gifford thinks it is too early to remove shacks from the ice.
“Winter’s not done yet. I wish it was up to your own discretion as to when you want to take the shacks off,” he said.
But Raj Sharma with the Winnipeg Fire Department’s Water Rescue Unit says at this time of year it is impossible to be too cautious.
“People are accustomed to thinking the ice is safe and then one day they walk on it and it won’t be as safe,” he said.
Water rescue crews in the province say on average they respond to more than 200 calls per year with a third of those happening during the spring thaw.
